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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/22/2017 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis (pancolitis) recently. I am currently on 25 mg of prednisone (tapering down by 5 mg every week) and about to have my second remicade infusion. I am a 21 year old female, and was wondering when it would be okay to have a drink or 2 again with friends. Is it a bad idea to drink on prednisone at all? If I were to drink, what would be the best thing to drink? If I drink too soon, will it send me into a flare again? Should I just completely avoid alcohol? Any information and advice helps! Thanks!

Post Edited (Hub328) : 7/23/2017 8:14:34 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/22/2017 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
As with everything UC, results vary. I can have a drink or two without issues. For some, alcohol is like a colonoscopy prep. Try a little in moderation and then you'd know. I have a single beer most nights and i have no issue.
Posted 7/22/2017 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
until you get managed, i would not drink.

later if you find drinking is followed by bad days, just stop

i find i can only handle the occasional glass of white wine without problems
Posted 7/22/2017 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Use common sense.....many meds affect and are hard on the liver.

q
Posted 7/22/2017 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I avoid anything with carbonation, a glass or two of wine is fine.
Posted 7/23/2017 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your input! I am being careful and responsible, especially since I was diagnosed not too long ago. It's really helpful for me to hear what works and doesn't work for you all!
Posted 7/23/2017 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
Meh, it's alwsys been my policy to avoid alcohol while on prednisone for two reasons: 1. You're body is obviously trying to heal from a flare, and alcohol definitely won't help 2. Prednisone is hard on your liver and kidneys--so is alcohol.

That being said, you could try a beer or a glass of wine and just see how you feel, but stay away from liquors.
Posted 7/23/2017 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
Vodka never caused me any problems whatsoever. White wine was the devil, and red disagreed with me slightly. Those premixed drinks also caused me agony. If you're going to drink, my recommendation is vodka!
Posted 7/23/2017 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Like others said it really varies person by person. I have no issue drinking alcohol (or coffee) except for the fact that if I indulge too much, my Imuran will make me nauseated. Although that can happen on an empty stomach as well. When I was flaring though I didn't touch the stuff (or almost anything else for that matter). Just feel out your body and you'll find out pretty quickly what you can and can't have.

edit: Also, was Remicade your first option for meds along with the pred? Surprised they jumped straight to biologics.
Posted 7/23/2017 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Doug, I didn't really get any options. I got really sick really fast, had a colonoscopy, was immediately diagnosed, then went straight from my colonoscopy to the hospital where I spent 6 nights. They started me on fluids and 60 mg of IV pred a day and when that didn't make any difference after 5 days, my first remicade infusion. Are biologicals not usually the first step?
Posted 7/24/2017 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
My main concern when flaring was dehydration from diarrhea and alcohol.

I've always drank when flaring and in remission. Sometimes it would hit me hard, other times I could drink without getting drunk quicker than I expected. I think it depends on the state of my bowels.

If you're drinking in moderation than I wouldn't worry too much but as always I'd consult your GI.

My UC required surgery, my first of 2 hospitalizations for UC was for 21 days and in cyclosporine. Mine was very aggressive.
Posted 8/15/2017 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hub328.
I also went into Remicade kind of fast, I was diagnosed in June 2013 and started Remicade 21 days later. My main doctor is a rheumatologist not a gastroenterologist and he has a top down approach. Sadly I had to stop in the 5th infusion because of an allergic reaction.
My colitis was flaring bad when i was diagnosed and stop really fast with Remicade, before that i try Salofalk both tablets and suppositories but it wasn't working.
After the allergic reaction i've been on Salofalk, Pentasa, Prednisone and sometimes nothing. I have flares but never as bad as the first time. I don''t drink much and I stop completely when flaring.

z.
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