Methotrexate users: moderate drinking does not risk liver damage says new research
People receiving methotrexate can drink moderate amounts of alcohol without risking liver damage, according to a new study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Methotrexate is often to prevent or limit disability and joint damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis. People receiving methotrexate are usually advised to abstain from alcohol, as methotrexate and alcohol together may increase the risk of liver damage.
But until now it has not been known if adhering to a modest amount of alcohol would lower the risk.
So experts looked at data from 11,839 people with rheumatoid arthritis who were taking methotrexate and had a minimum of six liver function test results a year. They found:
- There was no increased risk associated with drinking 14 units or less, compared to people who drank no alcohol at all;
- People drinking 15 to 21 units had a 33% higher probability of liver damage;
- People drinking over 21 units had an 81% higher probability of liver damage.
The findings do confirm that heavy drinking in combination with methotrexate poses an increased risk of liver problems. But it also clarifies the effects different amounts of alcohol will have, so healthcare professionals can provide clearer guidance.
“This is the first study to provide estimates of risk of liver damage for different levels of alcohol consumption in this drug,” explains Prof Will Dixon from Arthritis Research UK. “It also quantifies the risk for doctors so they can be clear about the extent to which different levels of alcohol will cause problems across a population of patients taking methotrexate.”
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