INFO - Alcohol and RA medications

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Arthritis Research Campaign

2004

" Drugs for Arthritis: Hydroxychloroquine "

Excerpt:

Q. May I drink alcohol while taking hydroxychloroquine?

A. There is no particular reason for you to avoid alcohol while taking

hydroxychloroquine.

**********************************

Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Today

2001 Archives

Excerpt from " On Call " :

DO ALCOHOL AND RA MIX?

Q. My girlfriend, who has rheumatoid arthritis (RA), always orders a drink

when we go out to dinner. Is it safe for her to do that? Is it OK for people

with arthritis to drink alcohol?

A. In general, people with arthritis should be cautious about alcohol to the

same degree as those without arthritis. Whether drinking alcohol presents a

particular risk to your girlfriend depends on the medications she is taking.

If she is taking NSAIDs, for example, alcohol can increase her risk of

gastric bleeding. Drinking alcohol with the pain-reliever acetaminophen or

with disease-modifying drugs, such as leflunomide (Arava) or methotrexate,

has the potential to cause liver damage.

For people taking NSAIDs or acetaminophen, having a single drink at dinner

(as long as they aren't drinking throughout the day as well) probably isn't

harmful. Those taking methotrexate or leflunomide, however, should ask their

doctors about the advisability of consuming any alcohol.

DR. LEONARD H. CALABRESE, DO

Rheumatologist

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2001_archives/2001_11_12_OnCal\

l.asp

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org