Newly diagnosed, can't even drown my sorrows!

I have been on Methotrexate once a week since May.  I just read the fine print that says, "May cause drowsiness, alcolhol may intensify this effect.  Use care when driving a car or operating dangerous machinery."  I generally have a glass or two of wine each evening.  I have had absolutely no problems.  I have not even felt drowsy.  That might not be a bad thing in the evening.  I do not drive because of vision problems, but I would never drive after a drink anyway.  So, anyway for me, it has been fine.  I have had no side effects from the methotrexate at all. Good luck!!!

Hi there ...yes it sure is a bum diagnosis! I am 46 now and was diagnosed in 2008.

I was on methotrexate for over 7 years until recently when my Rheumy put me on Sulphasalazine instead. I wanted to come off Mtx because I was fed up with the side effects ( thrush being the most irritating - pardon the pun!). I took the pills for 3 years and was injecting it for the last four years.

To be honest I was also fed up with having to miss my dose more often than taking it due to infections and always being the sober one at parties!

When I first started Mtx I was told to keep alcohol within recommended weekly limits although some say you should not drink at all.

Over recent years and after having a couple of raised liver results I became virtually teetotal just to be on the safe side, but boy was it boring!

Over the course of my 7 years on mtx I had four raised readings all of which seemed to coincide with a bad infection and the taking of penicillin. Every time it went back to normal within a week.

Mtx is the first line of treatment for psa...it works for many and if you have psoriasis your skin will probably improve too. But there's no getting away from it....mtx is a very strong drug......I would ask your Rheumy directly if you can drink alcohol or not. Make sure you have regular Blood tests so potential problems are discovered early.

As far as 6mths on, 3 mths off is concerned ; I doubt it would work. Mtx takes about 3 months to start working anyway...it needs to build up in your system.

I'm not convinced Sulphasalazine will work for me and my skin is getting worse now Mtx is leaving my system.

I'm in the UK and we have to go through a protocol of drugs before they would consider a biologic I think.

Just gotta keep on going! Good luck to you, methotrexate is a successful drug for many, just follow the advice your Rheumy gives you

I totally agree with 2shaziebabes (love the username!). 6 months on, 3 off won't work as mtx needs to accumulate in your system.

I don't drink but I thought a glass or two at Christmas wouldn't hurt! I had 2 glasses of wine and felt fine, but then when I went for my monthly bloods a WEEK later my liver results were double normal!! I dread to think what they were the morning after my 2 glasses!!! I may have felt the same but my poor liver didn't! I'm teetotal now, it's too risky and no alcohol is worth it to be pain free!

I'd recommend mtx and Enbrel (Entenercept) or mtx and Humira. Sulfasalazine didn't suit me at all.

Goodluck!!

Sorry regard your diagnosis, I have had PsA now for over thirty years, I am now a pensioner at 66 and am still suffering this rotten condition.

When it comes to DAMARD medications I am unable to take them now so -TNF are also blocked to me, they all make me ill and reduce my immune system white blood cells become very low so now I am stuck and have to try and control my condition.in different ways

Where we are, the UK if you are unable to tolerate DAMARDs they will not prescribe Biologics. You are in a catch two situation I have known for so long.

PUVA seems to work in a way as do many of the creams, the problem is however many of the creams are irritants and many thin the skin.

Let me know how you get on, PSA is a condition that effects the immune system the medications reduce the immune system and control the PSA.. It is one big problem as most also effects various internal organs etc

Keep a hold I hope all goes well for you

I have been on medication for this condition for the past 3 years It has not improved really on Sulf or MTX as you are aware there are many drugs to control this condition it is a case of finding which one or combination works for you. 

best wishes 

I know if someone is on Methotrexate they are entitled to drink or not drink, it's up to them.  BUT, it's not how you feel after drinking that counts, it's what the alcohol is doing to your liver that counts and that is something you can't feel until it's too late.  

The only way you'll know if something is going badly wrong with your liver is to have your rheumatology bloods taken reguarly.  Alcohol increases the toxicity of Methotrexate, and can cause problems for your liver, which is why zero alcohol intake is usually recommended.

I'd just hate anyone reading this to get the idea that if you feel ok after drinking, or just the same as you always have, then you're liver is not affected.  It's not how you feel, it's what's happening to your liver that counts and you can't feel that, it only shows up in your blood tests....  

If you can go straight to a biologic in your country I'd go for that...but they are very expensive and many health care systems make it difficult for that reason. Alas we are all our own guinea pigs different biologics suit some people better then others. On/Off is not an option for this disease. See Arthritis Research UK for a good listing of the drug options

Aggressive early treatment is now advised for PA so making do with NSAIDS and painkillers make work ok but the disease could well be progressing.

Not being able to drink on MTX is a pain and initially I found it difficult. Eventually I would drink a glass of wine if I was out and about and seemed to suffer no ill effects. Not drinking at home became easy with time

Hi,

   When i was first diagnosed in 2007, I was given methotrexate and found it really helped, I still managed to drink occasionly and was fine. I was on it for about 3 years and was really better, I could live a normal life again, walking, driving, gardening, etc. As I was so much better I was taken off methotrexate and had nothing, everthing was fine until I had a tumble indoors in 2015 and it all flared up again, going back to rheumatology, she insisted on injections in my knees, the first injections worked ok, until i decided to drive, it all flared up again, I had a second lot of injections in September, which have done nothing, I am living on pain killers until I go to rheumatology and will insist I go on metehotrexate, that was a lot easier although its takes time, I wish I was given that 9 months ago, I might be walking ok now, not relying on a wheelchair. I can't wait to start methotrexate, even though it curbs the drinking, its certainly worth it.

       Good luck.