Tecfidera and wine !!!
Hi, I was diagnosed with MS last year at the age of 50 and started Tecfidera 6 months ago. After the initial couple of weeks of gastro problems it settled down nicely and I feel great.....no relapses since ? Problem is my neurologist says maybe stay off alcohol....but the info that comes with the drug says there is no problems with alcohol. Cutting out alcohol is a disastrous thought !!!!.....wine with spag bol.....g&t in the garden..... Has anybody any experience ? ...good or bad !!
On my amitriptyline prescription it says 'do not drink alcohol', but I paid no attention (!) No idea what the effects would be on Tec, though. Have you seen the new alcohol guidelines? Perhaps if you find that alcohol doesn't affect the MS (although that may be a difficult judgment to make), you should drink 'mindfully'. i.e. be very aware of how much and how often, perhaps even record it so that you can tell the neuro what you're doing. This is what I do: alcohol maximum three times a week, preferably only twice and then no more than a couple of small wines - 3 units or less when I drink. Regardless of the MS, at some point a GP will be checking your weight, alcohol intake and all the rest!
Hi, thanks for your reply. I must admit I have been having 2 or 3 glasses of wine...2 or 3 times a week and certainly I have no ill effects. My bloods have been done a few times since I started Tecfidera and my liver/kidney function is fine. I think I will carry on and hope for the best......I would be seriously disappointed if come summer I couldn't sit out with a chilled glass of rose !!!