Alcohol and Methotrexate?

Yea find an alternative medication, is he in agony, are his joint's seized, what has he tried upto now, how was it diagnosed

Lol he can drink but no heavy drinking MTX can attack the liver so its best to stick to a couple of beers or wines i know folk who still drink taking them but just think wise and dont get blooterd Lol 🍺🍷 thats ur lot 😁😁

Hi

Ive had RA about 17 yrs. When i was put on MTX about 14 yrs ago along with other meds i wondered same.

I usually went out every wknd missing the occasional one.

The MTX and meds changed all that but not completely.

I probably have a decent night out now about once every 4 to 6 weeks and ive had no adverse effects. I told my Rhuemy what i was doing and he was ok with it. This disease is for life so you have to have an outlet now and again. Hope this has helped.

He needs to tell the doctor. He will have liver problems taking both.  My rheumatologist said there are other medications to take if you can’t give up drinking.  I was never drinker but sometimes things look really good.

Great question,  please don't take my comment as advice.

I am Scottish ( as if it matters ), I like a wee dram, sometimes not so wee,  so I asked my Doc if I could have a drink occasionally ,  I am on Methotrexate, eight pills every Friday and Hydrochloroquine, two pills a day,  I was told no,   so in desperation my daughters friend , a pharmacist , checked for me and said the small dram is ok just lay off it on Fridays....I'm ok so far.      I find it takes any stress off at the end of a day,  I have never smoked and my dear wife feeds me healthily, one and a half years with RA I have no pain or health issues, maybe slight stiffness in the fingers first thing in the morning.

Frank, you should do what your doctor says ,  my doctor said he had to say absolutely no alcohol because it is common for folks to abuse the measure if they are allowed any,  saying absolutely none ensures zero abuse.

Take care.

I am nearly 64 years old and am fond of beer. My daily routine always included exactly two beers every day. I never exceeded this number, but really looked forward to this daily routine. My RA  told me I could have one alcoholic drink a week and explained that both the MTX and alcohol were hard on the liver. 

Now, instead of an everyday drinking routine, I have two beers every Monday. I now have a reason to look forward to Mondays. I am retired, but when I worked, I dreaded Mondays, but not now.

 

Years ago I cheated death when I had a bleeding brain aneurysm. At that time, I quit drinking because of drug interactions. After a couple of years of not drinking, I started drinking non-alcoholic beer. Contrary to popular belief, there is a very small amount of alcohol in it. Approximately 13 non-alcoholic beers contain the same amount of alcohol as normal beer. I drank that non alcohol beer for years with no side effects. This may be an option, but I am no expert. Check first.

It seems as if there much different advise and recommendations on MTX. My rheumy is older and told me just not to drink the day and day after I take MTX. I have a nurse friend in Australia who says the same. Often doctors in the US say no drinking at all. In Europe they generally say occasional drinking. However, I often see people who never drink alcohol who have liver problems with MTX. I recently read a publication that links obesity with liver problems while on MTX. I am underweight and ,although I do not abuse alcohol, have a very social life that resolves around drinking wine. I drink no wine the day of and the day after I take MTX, but have a glass or two (sometimes 3) on other evenings. I take my blood tests every 8 weeks and have not had any problems. I do not suggest anyone else do the same, but it is important to do research and choose what is right for you!

MTX - when you start it within usually the first month the Dr's do a blood test to see how your liver is coping, as it is very hard on the liver, they may then up the dose of MTX especially if the MTX is not helping the RA at the lower dose. 

You do not want to mixing in another liver stressor "alcohol" during this first month, as it is a used a base line for the future. 

Then with experience, you will know yourself it the MTX is helping, what you won't know is how your liver is coping, only the blood test will tell you that.

?My MTX started at 5mg, and then when specialist was satisfied my liver was coping, and my inflammation markers dropped, but not enough, she upped to 10mg, then 25mg, then 35mg, my liver continued to cope, but my inflammation markers stayed the same.

She then said I wonder if you are taking up the MTX through tablets, I nearly freaked when she said injectable, as I am a little needle phobic, she laughed at me, which was the best thing she could have done, and said their are 8-10 year old diabetic's giving themselves injections, do you have a problem with needles any more.

The blood tests for levels of MTX in bloodstream, very low, so have been on injectables since, now about 15 years, and liver copes very well with everything I throw at it, but I do keep the alcohol and straight sugar low, I get really bilious, when I have too much of either, liver stress, probably, but never been pinged on it by Dr's.

Hi, I was diagnosed 3 years ago and put on Methotrexate 20mg weekly. I have never been a big drinker but did enjoy a few wines at the weekend. My liver blood results became worse every month until they ended up at 215 (should be under 40) and my Rheumatologist pulled the pin on the Methotrexate. I am now just on biologic injections  (trying my third one so far!) and feel it’s not enough to vanquish the pain. I have not been drinking now for three months and the liver results are down to 176 which is not good if the alcohol was to blame. Maybe moderate alcohol coupled with a healthy diet might keep the liver happy. I have my blood results send to me as well as my doc and my Rheumatologist and I keep a spreadsheet with them so I can see any spikes. Good luck with it.