All living well guides
Lifestyle
Alcohol and Your Medicines
Small amounts of alcohol are fine for many people, but some rheumatology medicines change the math.
Video lesson
Why it matters
Alcohol adds to the liver strain of methotrexate and leflunomide, raises uric acid in gout, increases stomach bleeding risk with NSAIDs, and worsens sleep and fatigue.
What you can do
If you take methotrexate, keep to well within recommended limits and ask what is safe for you. With gout, beer and liquor are the biggest triggers. Never drink heavily, and avoid alcohol on days you feel unwell.
Call your care team if
Your liver tests come back abnormal or you are finding it hard to cut back.
At a glance
Topic
Lifestyle
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
Questions about your own care?
Book an in-person or telehealth consultation with Dr. Tahir.
For education only. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your care team.