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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/14/2011
Posts: 1
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Can anyone give me their experience on the taking of alcohol whilst being treated with methotrexate. I am on a dose of 25mg.
American advice is absolutely none. In Europe the advice is a little more relaxed. My specialist didn't seem too concerned at one glass of wine a day.
Incidently the MTX has been brilliant for about 3-4 years now. Hope it is for you too.
Adrian
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 1,524 Location: W. Yorkshire
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Hi Adrian, I know over here drinking alcohol is frowned upon by the specialists when taking MTX but to be honest, i don't see why RA should rob us of everything enjoyable in life! I appreciate that the concerns are for our livers as MTX can affect the liver but i think that in moderation, the odd glass of wine is not going to harm us. I must stress though that that is only my own personal opinion! I take MTX and avoid alcohol for a couple of days afterwards. YES I'VE CHANGED, PAIN DOES THAT TO PEOPLE.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Adrian,
Welcome to the forum!
My consultant told me that alcohol is ok as long as we stay within the recommended guidelines.
I enjoy a small daily glass of wine to no ill effect.
Doreen xx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello Adrian
I was on mtx year before last. I had to come off as it upset my liver. I do like a glass of wine
and on average have a bottle a week. Which is within guidlines. Even though when I stopped all
alchol it did not change the liver problem anyway.
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Adrian, I was told it was ok to have a drink as long as it was within the guidelines, I do not drink anything on the day I take MTX but I do enjoy wine or a gin and tonic from time to time. Hope this is a help to you, I have been on MTX for just over 3 years. Take care Lorna 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Welcome to the forum Adrian
I take MTX 20mg per week and have been told it is alright to drink while I am taking it as long as my liver function test is OK. My readings are normally high teens, low twenties. Have been told that they have to reach the dizzy heights of 70 before they get concerned.
I am not saying and never would tell anyone to drink whilst taking MTX, this is what I was told with the nurse looking at my history of blood results. Been taking SLZ two years before MTX was added, so she had a good history of my liver function tests.
I have to agree with what Julie said about RA robbing us of things. I enjoy red wine and if I can continue participating in a glass or three I will.
Cheers!!!!
Paula x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/4/2010
Posts: 576
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Hmm - think it must depend on how our indivdual livers react. I got "caught" from the Monday blood test after my Friday birthday in December! Had a call to get a repeat liver function test run the next week as it was showing high and had to confess to 2.5 glasses of pink fizzy! I know it was 2.5 glasses as my daughters told me I fell asleep after a few sips of the 3rd glass. Good job I was at home!
To be honest, I've not really fancied any alcohol really. I miss the thought of it more than the taste. I buy Fentiman's Rose Lemonade and pretend! xx Ailsa
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/25/2010 Posts: 1,289 Location: Buckinghamshire
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hi Adrian,
just wanted to say welcome to the Forum,
i currently take Methotrexate but will be coming off of it as unfourtnately it hasn't worked for me.
i don't drink ... but glad you've got your answers.
glad the Methotrexate has worked for you,
Suzanne x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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Hi
the advice is a little glass or 2 is ok. as long as you dont over do it.
dont drink before blood tests.....! how to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 5/19/2010
Posts: 384
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Hi Adrian
Welcome. I'm not a drinker but if I was I'd follow the advice on here.
Anne x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009
Posts: 103
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Hi Adrian,
I was told it was OK to have a drink as long as it was within the guidelines.I don't drink on the day I take MTX and I only have one small glass of wine a week but recently I've changed to non aloholic wine. Brenda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/3/2010 Posts: 44 Location: Horsham, West Sussex
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Hi Adrian
My consultant said that it was OK to drink the same amount as if you were going to drive. I would NEVER drink ANYTHING if I was going to drive but I suppose his point was that an equivalent amount to keep you under the limit on a breathalyser wouldn't harm you physically. He also said to avoid it around the time of the MTX dosage. I've been on it (MTX, not the wine ... although come to think of it ...!) for over 2 years, drank my fair share of wine and never had a liver function problem. Yet, anyway. I suspect that it's not the same for everybody though and I wouldn't want to be seen recommending it and someone getting even more ill.
Boringly, it's probably safer not to drink but you have to have some fun in life now and again, don't you?
Kathryn
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Kathryn-H wrote:... I suspect that it's not the same for everybody though and I wouldn't want to be seen recommending it and someone getting even more ill.
Boringly, it's probably safer not to drink ... Kathryn Hi Adrian To continue the theme of 'boring'.  I started methotrexate in 2001 and had to stop in 2010 due to neutropenia. I was told all those years ago alcohol of any sort was a definite "no". Presumably because as Kathryn says it won't have the same affect on everyone. Our bodily systems work differently responding each in its own way to the same treatments. Some are on 7.5mgs of MTX others might be on 25mg of MTX. Clearly alcohol added to the equation could have vastly differing results between people. Some may also be on Leflunomide, in which case alcohol is a definite no anyway, not sure about Sulfasalasine and Hydroxychloroquine etc. We each have our own ideas on what's right for us and the effects we might expect. To recommend to others is perhaps dodgy. Best to do what Doreen did and check with your consultant. We'd love to 'meet' you Adrian. Please post an introduction on the new members bit so we can all say hello! Look forward to getting to know you, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 327
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Hi Adrian
I've been on Methotrexate for about 18 months, but I'm only on a low dose (supplementing other meds). To be honest I'm not a big drinker but I do like a couple of vodka and cokes from time to time and I'm coasting along, assuming that I'm okay. The guidelines I was driven said that, as MTX could affect the liver and so could alcohol, it was obviously sensible not to drink alcohol at all - but that drinking within the guidelines should be okay, as long as regular blood tests were done.
Anthea
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Rank: Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/4/2011 Posts: 14 Location: London
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Hi Adrian, Although I hate to admit it, I do binge drink (typical from being a uni student!) and have one or two heavy nights out a month. I have never had a blood test with any stress being shown on my liver, and have continued this lifestyle the whole five years I have been taking methotrexate. It was even fine when I drank quite a lot about 2-3 times a week! I think it really does depend on your own body and how well your liver can tolorate. Oh dear, this makes me look like a heavy drinker! Post-university I rarely drink, and I 'save my units' for a good night out every now and then! Francesca x Francesca x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/7/2011
Posts: 66
Location: London
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Hi Adrian
I started Methotrexate recently, and my doc said that she wasn't one of the dictatorial people who thought that you should avoid all alcohol and thought that a glass of wine a month would be fine! I guess it's a personal choice, but I've read that people with RA tend to die earlier due to liver or GI problems. So even if my blood tests did look ok now even if I had a few drinks from time to time I'm steering clear of alcohol as I don't want to put more stress on my liver as the drugs we take are pretty rough on it anyway. I've decided that it is more important to give myself best chance possible to be able to withstand the drugs, as they are what's going to keep my quality of life going over next 30+ years. I'm using the money I'm saving on other treats, and making sure that I plan something special each month to accompany my one glass. But it's interesting that we've all been given different advice?
Good luck making your decision,
Polly
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 1,035
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I mostley stay of the drink .I have the odd one birthday christmas party . and the odd half glass odd times .My liver i have to watch it as it goes sky high with stuff it does not like . the only thing i feel fine and would not know unless it was tested . i would rather be well on mtx then worry about missin out on a glass of wine . Christine The chocolate eating housewife ...The washer woman .....naughty lady
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 8/1/2010
Posts: 255
Location: hampshire
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Hi Adrian. i'm on a low dose of mtx -7.5 I was told I could have a glass of wine a day but decided not to have any alcohol as I was worried about the toxicity (is that a word?) of all the drugs I was taking. Anyway, I've never bothered much about alcohol and it is a family joke that my hangover kicks in before I finish a second glass!! Just recently I have had the odd half glass and have been fine. I think we just have to listen to our bodies and be moderate. Keep posting Sue 
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