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Methotrexate and alcohol

Posted , 104 users are following.

kirknap
kirknap

Hi there,

I've only yesterday started on my methotrexate tablets and have just started reading the online forums and have became very worried! The number of people who are losing their hair seems incredible, is this a common side effect?

I'm 23 years old and drinking and work in a bar while i'm studying at University. Drinking and going out is a massive part of my life and I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if it's still possible to carry this on at all? I usually go out roughly twice a week and can drink up to 3 nights. I know of course I will be cutting down massively, but can I still do it at all?

I can only find negative forums on here about the drug and it's making me feel like the side effects aren't worth the risk... Does anyone feel like they can still live their lifes on this drug and it is worth taking?

Thanks for any advice you can give! A bit worried here...

7 likes, 107 replies

107 Replies

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  • keely28967
    keely28967 kirknap

    Posted

    Hi there! 

    I'm 18 years old and was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and wrists. I'm starting on 20mg of methotrexate today as it has already started to spread! I was just wondering what your thoughts and advice on drinking would be as I just turned 18 and this kinda sucks!! 

    Thanks,

    smile 

    • kirknap
      kirknap keely28967

      Posted

      Hello! 

      In only 24 and work in a bar so I know what you mean, it does suck! If you've just started on the meds they should be testing your liver every two weeks for a while so you can see if the drinking does have a really bad effect on it, so what I did was take it easy when I first started methotrexate and kept an eye on my liver when I did start drinking more regularly with those tests. I've managed to carry on drinking almost as normal, apart from the really bad hangovers! So if you just keep yourself healthy and don't put any more strain on your liver with bad diets and painkillers and stuff you should be able to keep having nights out. 

      Saying that this is just how it's worked for me and I don't want to say it's definitely the same for everyone just incase! 

      Hope that helps at all, the meds really helped me aswell and I've no pain at all now so hope all goes good for you smile

    • Charlie.Chatz
      Charlie.Chatz kirknap

      Posted

      Heya,

      I am starting Met tonight. What time do you usally take yours? I am thinking of taking it after my main meal in the evening so I can hopefully sleep off any side effects. 

      Do you take the Folic Acid after 24 hours? 

      Thanks cheesygrin

  • charliibear
    charliibear kirknap

    Posted

    Hi!

    This has really put my mind at ease. I've just been diagnosed with Adult Onset Stills Disease. We're getting good results with 20mg prenisone, but I've just been given the leaflet on Methotrexate and told I may have to start in 2wks if my inflammation peaks when we reduce my steroid use. Not being able to drink is my biggest fear, especially with the bank holiday coming up! My rheumatoligist said only 2-4units per week!! Fingers crossed it wont come to it, but big help with all the replies and your experiences on it smile

    • ajacleap
      ajacleap charliibear

      Posted

      How much is 2-4 units?  2-4 drinks, ounces, or ?  I see that advice about 2-3 units but I am not sure what is considered a unit of alcohol.

       

    • connie49452
      connie49452 ajacleap

      Posted

      In the UK 1 unit is half a pint of regular strength beer/larger or 1 small glass of wine (125 mls) or 1 small measure of spirit e.g vodka. It also depends on the alcoholic volume of the drink. You should be able to Google this & find out what this means for where you live. 
  • jm92911
    jm92911 kirknap

    Posted

    Hi

    I thought I'd add my 2 pennies worth. I am now 50 and was diagnosed with RA over 20 years ago. I have been on methotrexate for at least 12 years now. Only 7.5mg and I’d say it was a god send as it has certainly slowed down my RA progression hugely. Without it I think I’d be in a wheel chair and out of work. I also was advised to remove alcohol from my life which I did and was teetotal for 18 months - a big deal for me as, like most people my social life revolved around bars and dinner parties. My blood tests were good and I asked my specialist if I could have the occasional drink. He said officially not but off the record as my blood results were stable one or two glasses of wine a week might not hurt. So I slowly stated to up my consumption over a year. Now I am back to what I call a normal range – And yes I would certainly say binge drinking or over indulgence leads to the worst hangovers so learn to avoid that.

    My advice would be (maybe a bit late for most of you)

    1.    Go teetotal for 6 months to let your body adjust to the methotrexate

    2.    Slowly reintroduce yourself to your tipple of choice – and keep doing those blood tests

    3.    Remember kidney and/or liver failure is far more debilitating to your health and lifestyle than most RA symptoms

    4.    Do not mix drinks – spirits wine etc as side effects worse

    5.    Listen to your body – if you’re feeling rundown do not drink

    6.    And as someone else mentioned best avoid drinking on day you take pills – I take on a Monday as this is the day I’m least likely to indulge

    Good luck

    • connie49452
      connie49452 jm92911

      Posted

      I absolutely agree with what you've said. I'm on 20 mg Mtx injections plus 25 mg Enbrel injections. I also take 5 mg of Folic Acid every day except my Mtx day. Ivd been taking Mtx about 3.5 years now. I'm not normally a big drinker anyway but did miss drinking especially on holiday or other social occasions. I did very similar to you and slower introduced more alcohol but the other great discovery I made was low alcohol or alcohol free drinks including wines ) beers. Both look like regular drinks so no face losses there . Becks makes a great no alcohol larger as do Tiger ( a great Indian literature beer.
    • lisa34277
      lisa34277 jm92911

      Posted

      I am 49 & from the US & recently diagnosed with RA (by my PCP last September & then officially by my rheumatologist in March).  I've been fighting going on the methotrexate as recommended about 3-4 months ago (wanted to take as few meds as possible).  I have been on the fence but leaning towards taking it in the past few weeks (as I have had to increase taking Advil for the pain).  Your post has definitely helped me with my decision making.  Thanks.
    • b71810
      b71810 jm92911

      Posted

      Thank you . I'm in the United States. I am 49yrs old.Diagnosed with RA on

      Dec.31,2014 .swelling is limited to the base on my index fingers. I took 1mg.of folic acid yesterday and I took my my first 10mg.dose of MTX last night (jan. 17).the dose is once a week.after 2 weeks i increase it to15.mg. I had a small salad and took the MTX about 45 min later.ZERO

      SIDE EFFECTS.in the two weeks b4 i started on the MTX I focused on eating anti inflammatory foods and foods high in folate. Which aid in protecting the liver. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY

      appreciate your post.i have the normal fears and bad nights sleep and have cried. I feel alone with this and i am happy to seethat I am not . I wish you all the best health. I hope my journey will be a good one.thank you!

  • karabonga
    karabonga kirknap

    Posted

    I just stumbled across this post and just in case your hair loss problem hasn't been addressed:  I take a small dose of leucovorin 8 hours after I take my methotrexate.  My rheumatologist said this plus the folic acid would prevent hair loss, and as far as I can tell, he was right (in fact, my hair is better than it has been in years.)  You got a lot of advice on the drinking already (and yeah, I miss my wine, but unless you have the body of a superhero, you don't need the carbs anyway.)
    • maria06413
      maria06413 karabonga

      Posted

      is the hair loss a bad problem as my son is to start methotrexate tomorrow he also like a drink  but this drug has sent him into a spin with the side effects blisters loss of his hair ect and i have to deal with all this as he is so mad as he was at first told it was the way he stands then that it was mecanical even though he had a count for this ra of 69  now he is told yes he has ra even though thay also say he is lacking sleep as well this may seem a bit muddeled to you but to be frank i am half out of my mind with worry over all this  my son is but he only has me to turn to  so can you please tell me if you have any answers for any of this
  • Clevenger23
    Clevenger23 kirknap

    Posted

    So I have been diagnosed with a disease called sarcoidosis, and they recommend me to take methotrexate because the high side prednisone is causing too many bad side affects and not helping the disease. Long story short my lymph nodes are swelling some are almost four times their normal size. They are starting me at 10mg and said they will have to increase as we decrease the prednisone.  I am just going it will work. But it is very hard to find someone with this disease. I am taking my first dose tonight before bed. And then starting folic acid in the morning.  Not worried if I lose my hair. If the pain I am in goes away then I won't care. I am 26 right now and just hoping that this works. They are saying I may be on this for the rest of my life.
    • bridgetti41814
      bridgetti41814 Clevenger23

      Posted

      Hi I've also been diagnosed with sarcoidosis . And your right it's hard to find people with this problem. I just started taking my methotrexate last Friday and also the folic acid which is to help with your hair lost. Yes I was told that my hair my shed a little bit which I'm pretty scared of. I have a lot of spasms in my back . Also one of my fingers which is the pinky finger it curved a little. And I also had and have problems with lymph nodes. The lymph nodes on the inner side of my elbow on both and I had some in my neck as well. My back is always in pain especially when I walk for a while. I also have axitey which I've never had in my life until this sarcoidosis problem. I mean my nerves are crazy bad to the point of social gatherings I can't deal with some days. My specialist said its from the sarcoidosis which works your nerves. I've also learned to eat more healthy with sarcoidosis . I stopped all red meat! I only eat mixed salads like babyspinach , light salad dressing no thick salad dressing or make it yourself. Anyway I eat salads, fish. Shrimp, liver twice a month for protein and other good vitamins in it since I'm not eating meat anymore. And with sarcoidosis you must cut out all sweets!!!!!!! All dairy!!!!!!!! All white bread if you do eat it, no crackers or cakes because of the saturated fats and oils coloring . Basically I've stop eating cookies, candy, soda, juices, chips, pasta, dairy, all of that and some go my lymph nodes left from my neck. Because you know what we eat put us in this sickness anyway which brings on the auto  immune  disease which lead to sarcoidosis . Also chemical in the air depending on where you live. And not a lot of salt!!! And cook with olive oil or vegetable oil. I've changed the why I eat to ease the pain and not make it worse. But like I said I started methotrexate last Friday . I take it on Friday so when I go back to work Sunday I'm not feeling so sick. Made a mistake and had a drink which I'll never do again but the day after is fine. Feel free to ask me anything . Your the first person I've found on here or anywhere with sarcoidosis .  
    • jaccitexas
      jaccitexas bridgetti41814

      Posted

      I have had sarcoidosis for 20 years. The first occasion did not need drugs, went away on its own... Affected my lungs. Second flare up 10 years later required long term prednisone therapy to beat it into remission... Again just affected my lungs. This year it flared again and affected my muscles, nerves and lungs... The pain was unbearable I could hardly get out of bed or walk up stairs. I wondered if I could make it through each day. Prednisone and Methotrexate have been lifesavers for me. Now I am pain free so my doctor is increasing the Methotrexate and decreasing the Prednisone. I know this process to find the right dosage can be a long one and frustrating if symptoms return. I am happy to see that maybe I can enjoy a drink or two now.... Thanks for sharing your experiences! Good luck to all... And listen to your body!
    • annhusa
      annhusa jaccitexas

      Posted

      Hello....I am a 51 yr old woman and was diagnosed with sarcoidosis about 4 months ago. I have been on very high prednisone dosage (60 mg/day) and am now tapering down. I have hated being on prednisone and the side effects that go with it. What dosage of methotrexate have you been taking and for how long? Have you experienced any really bad side effects? Hair loss? In addition to my lungs, I have sarcoids that affect my eye. No pain at all. In fact, I would never have known I had this disease if my eyelid had not become swollen. I just know I have to be done with the prednisone....can not take the "moon face" and sleepless nights any longer!
    • edwina_60905
      edwina_60905 bridgetti41814

      Posted

      Hi nice to met you I to have been diagnosed with sarcoidosis as far as meds I've been on prednisone for a few months for my inflammed lungs about a year ago so far my lungs have been good but ive gotten RA and for that i've been offered methotrexate I quickly declined now that ive read this i will not be taking it unless i really have to thanks for the info on better eating you seem very knowledgeable of this disease we share do you mind me asking how long you have had it
    • Mira488
      Mira488 bridgetti41814

      Posted

      I have just found out that I have scaroidosis about a month ago.  How are you doing with the methotrexate?  Are you able to continue with a normal life?  Where did you get your info on how to eat?  And how is your hair loss?  Any info you can give me at this point will be helpful to me.  I am kinda lost as to which way to turn.  I am not currently on any hard drugs for the disease but do have some pain.  Seeing doctor currently in April and hope to move date into late March or earlier in April if possible.  Thank you for your time.
    • katherine23284
      katherine23284 bridgetti41814

      Posted

      Hi!

      I have a somewhat pending sarcodosis diagnoses and have had a pretty rough last 6 months as they have worked to come to this conclusion. I am currently on predisone and they would like to start one methotrexate. It appearslike i have sarcodosis effecting my lymph nodes, brain, some arteries and will soon be seen by cardio to be screened for heart complications. Anyways I was wondering mostly about how you were handling this drug and what side effects you have encountered or still have. Also, they current have me on 1500mg of calcium, which i take supplements and drink dairy so i was curious about your diary comment.

      Thanks for any feedback you can provide

      Katherine

    • dawnbrenkert
      dawnbrenkert bridgetti41814

      Posted

      I'm wondering how you got the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. That sounds a lot like my husband. He has lupus but his symptoms sound just like yours.

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