Methotrexate and alcohol

I can still drink but not as much, maybe a glass of wine a day. I depend on my 6-week blood tests to monitor my liver and the effect it might be having. It must be hard for you being young and working in a bar. The drug has helped me so much after a year that it's worth not drinking as much. Don't worry!

Hi, I have been taking Methotrexate 5 months. I am not a regular drinker but about a month ago a had a pretty big drink. My following blood test my ALT went up from 32 to 60. I thought it was the drink but my next test it went up again to 75. I only had a couple of pints a few days before my test. Not sure if the drink is making it rise but it is the week before Xmas and I would be gutted if I could not  have a few. Has anybody else had an ALT this high? If so, how high will it reach to be concerned? My doc just says have another test in 2 weeks. Has anybody with a level this high still drinking? Might sound a little selfish to want to drink but I don't drink hardly at all, only special occasions.

Was was on it for about 3 months and did not dare to drink, I was so glad to think I was getting better.  Turns out I was not my CED rate doubled and they took me off it said it was not working.  I was dignased about 1 1/2 year  ago. Wish I know how long it stayed in your system, I sure would love a glass of wine over the holidays. I wish you well and a happy holiday

Looking for people's experiences on this drug. I have had a dodgy knee now for a couple of years and today I was told it was Psoriatic Arthritis. I've had mild Psoriasis for the last 30 years (I'm 44), not too bad, I go to the gym regularly and am fairly active. I'm not liking what I am reading about this drug particularly the drinking aspect, especially with my stag weekend coming up at the end of January and wedding/honeymoon in early March. I'm going to see the Doc early Jan to start the treatment but I'm thinking it may be wise to postpone until after the wedding given some of the possible side effects. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

I've been on methotrexate for the past month and the only real side effect I am getting is extreme fatigue/headaches the day of and the day after taking the drug. I am also seeing a homeopathic Dr. She has advised me to take Marshmellow Root and Milk Thistle (triple dose) the day of taking the drug. Otherwise I take 1 tsp of these supplements daily. Also drink lots of water to flush the kidney/liver. Eating beets is also another good thing you can do. I was worried about drinking but after reading this I am no longer afraid to have a glass of wine!

I found Methotrexate to work really well. I could barely move when eventually diagnosed and it pretty much brought me back to normal. I had to take Naproxin to help with my back. I have been taken off it since it was making my Alt levels high. Bit gutted but starting a different med in Feb. Any body doubting the drug, it worked well for me and drinking the odd occasion I don't thinks a problem but cutting back a little in returned for a fit a free body can only be good. 

I have started this drug and on 10mg in jag format, I have not drank for a month and now going on a night out tonight, I usually take the metoraxte on a Friday but on pencillian (for a slightly infected throat but is clearly up) I will continue the jag Friday coming. Can someone give me advice on my alcohol consumption tonight, if any?

From what I've read and understood - and actually experienced myself, its best not to drink after taking the MTX for the first 48 hours. I used to take it on a Friday but gradually moved it over to a Monday in case I wanted to enjoy the occassional glass of wine. I've never had more than 2 drinks - due to the fact that others have said not to exceed 2 glasses because it makes you feel like you've been slammed by a mack truck - or another way to put it is it's a hangover times 10.

I have psoriatic arthritis and, I'm ashamed to say, a little bit of a drink problem. Basically, once I start drinking I don't stop until I pass out. I've been on methotrexate for about 6 months now and it's not uncommon for me to drink 1.5 litres of vodka and 4-8 pint cans of Stella over the course of a Saturday and Sunday. I take my methotrexate on a Tuesday and have (so far) not noticed any negative side effects. Hangovers are as expected for me. Nothing too bad. The doctor did tell me not to take my pills if I was going on a bender so I stopped taking them over the two weeks of Christmas. Other than that, no problem.

Lastly, I am certainly not condoning alcohol consumption in such quantities but I thought I'd post this comment for the benefit of those who find it difficult to stop at the recommended units.

Please don't judge me!

I am a retired 77 year “old codger” who, until a few years ago was relatively fit and healthy.

Back in 2007/8 I started to develop patches of eczema on my lower legs. This got progressively worse over the years until by 2012 it had covered most of my upper torso.

Constant use of strong steroid ointments together with a course of steroid pills caused me to put on weight but worse than that was “thinning of the skin” (a common side effect of steroids).

The steroids didn’t seem to be having much effect so I was started on a low dose of methatrexate which did in fact, start to make an impression on the eczema.

Eventually, after many skin biopsies my local dermatologists decided that my “eczema” was more likely to be “Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma”.  Unfortunately, every subsequent biopsy proved “inconclusive”.

I was eventually referred to Guy’s hospital in London whose top specialists agreed with the “Lymphoma” theory but once again, their own biopsy again failed to definitely confirm it.

My methatrexate dosage had by now been increased to 25mg (10 pills on the Wednesday of each week.  In addition, a folic acid pill on each of the six remaining days.

From the start I suffered no side effects whatsoever and my skin slowly but surely began to clear.

Initially, I was warned to limit my wine consumption to 3 x 120ml glasses per week which I rigidly adhered to.

I then had the idea that if I diluted my red wine with a little “Schloer” red grape juice I could have perhaps 4  glasses each week.  Note that I have never been a beer drinker and rarely touch spirits, perhaps the odd (tall) G & T with a Bar-B-Q on a hot summer’s day.

Each month my “bloods” returned normal levels so I stuck to my 4 glasses of diluted red nectar for about another year.

Around this time I began to notice patches of hair loss and that my greying hair was beginning to return to its original colour.  Great for some but in my mid 70’s I quite liked going silver!

My “bloods” were still showing consistently normal readings and so I decided to tempt fate and allow myself a little more wine per week until a year later I had increased my intake to one glass (diluted) per day.

On my next annual visit to “Guy’s” the dermatologist seemed well pleased with the improvement to my skin but still wanted to carry out yet another biopsy on a fairly large lump that still existed on the back of my neck.

This time I emphatically refused.  I had had over the years, five biopsies on the back of my head, all of which had proved “inconclusive”.

Following this, my local dermatologists at Christchurch hospital agreed to stretch my “bloods” from monthly to two monthly tests which suited me very well as I am obliged to travel 16 miles to Bournemouth hospital for each test.  (Note;  If not processed quickly, my blood shows dangerously high levels of potassium).

Again, I began to gradually increase my (diluted) wine consumption to 2 glasses per day which is more or less the same as I used to consume prior to starting methatrexate.

So I am now a relatively “happy chappie”.  I’m pleased to report that my skin looks almost back to normal albe’it still very delicate, my hair has all grown back and the lump on my neck has almost disappeared.

 I have enjoyed my 2 glasses per day for about a year now and my “bloods” continue to return normal readings.  (ALT's consistently around 13).

Take heart! Methatrexate does not have to be the end of your social life!

Bill from Hampshire      

I've been on Methotrexate for a month.  I have had no side effects at all.  I take 15 mg once a week.  I just took my first dose for my second month.  I honestly didn't know I wasn't supposed to drink on this medication, but just noticed when I picked up this month's prescription.  2 weeks ago it was my birthday and I had a few drinks, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.  The only thing I can think is that Alcohol effects the liver and this drug also can effect the liver negatively, so if your blook work (liver functions) seem ok, it's probably not a problem.  I was diagnosed with Psorisis, my mother had bad Plaque psorisis, but I thought I got away scott free, but it came up on 3 of my finger nails.  Boy do they look nasty, and have had some joint issues.  It also apparently is the cause of other things I have had over the years and never knew it.  So I guess I have had systemic psorisis for years.  Who knew.  My Dr is trying to get me on Humera, but the insurance company declined it because he didn't try me on anything else, so I'm hoping to only be on this drug for a short peried of time.

Hi there, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 23. I'm now 53 and take 7.5mg of methotrexate plus one folic acid per week. Apart from some nausea the day I take my metho, I have never experienced any side effects. Even at my age my hair is long and thick. I have recently completed a BA and MA at University with no problems. I go to the pub and really no - one knows about my condition unless I tell them. Please try the treatment, it should control any symptoms and allow you to live a normal life. Don't be put off by the negativity and good luck!

Hot flushes

 

I am 63 and been taking the drug for about 2 months and I have started to get hot flushes, anyone have this problem?