Ivig and alcohol/wine
 

Hello everyone! Hope y'all are all doing well! I had a question about alcohol and ivig. I hardly ever drink - haven't had a drop in over eight months since all this started but we are supposed to go out to dinner with friends tonigh and I would love a glass of red wine or two at the most. I am five days after my first ivig maintence dose and didn't know if it was safe to have a little wine. I don't at all want to risk messing anything up. But after the year it has been a glass of vino sure sounds good if it nt hurt anything! Just curious yalls opinions thanks in advance!

Like so many things around this disease it depends on you and your body. When I went to a MG specialist a couple years ago now I asked about a couple drinks a day and he was fine with it... it *should* not be a problem. Keyword there = should. Pay close attention to how you're feeling and dump the rest of the glass if you need to.

I don't know about alcohol and IVIG, but a lot of myasthenics can't tolerate a drop of the stuff! Alcohol...get ready for this...inhibits the transmission of acetylcholine. Just like myasthenia gravis does. So you can see why some of us find that alcohol makes our symptoms worse (and why I sometimes walk
as if I'm drunk).

Be careful.

Abby

Alcohol does cause decreased transmission of acetylcholine, like Abby said. It also has sedating effects. And you may not know right after you drink that wine how your MG will react. Hours later, when you're sleeping, you may wake up choking, unable to breathe for a few seconds or more. You might not but it's not a pleasant experience. If I have even a teaspoon of champagne, I will have that reaction.

If you're going to test how your MG reacts to alcohol, you might want to do it early in the day. ;) And since you aren't doing well right now, it might be a good idea to wait until you are! Pushing that envelope is not the best idea.

Annie

It's never been a huge problem for me, other than making symptoms temporarily much worse and making me appear VERY drunk, VERY fast. I found it not very enjoyable. However, as far as alcohol interacting with IVIG, there should be no problem at all.

I've tried a small glass of wine a few times since I got MG The alcohol effects are multiplied for me, I get slurred speech and can't walk straight from one small glass of wine One of the times I had wine I felt like a had a huge weight on my chest and it was hard to breath, it really scared me.

Alcohol definitely increased MG symptoms for me.


I've decided that the smallest bit of wine is okay for me in a social situation if I am having one of my better days.

THank yall so much!!! I appreciate it!! I was too afraid to have much - just a sip or too, and I gotta say I did feel wiped out for a while - not sure if it was a coincedence or not.. i had so many people tell me i looked tired after just a little bit of wine! crazy! I still don't have a firm diagnosis.. but they are doing IVIG.. and I am now 6 days after my first maintence dose and i feel AMAZING!!!! I mean I now realize just how bad I felt for so long!!! I feel like myself for the first time in almost a year, and it's amazing!! i went back to work today and made it through the whole day with energy to spare, it was amazing!! I LOVE IVIG!!! :) I feel like i'm getting my life back, and it's the best feeling ever! I hope that it will last and continue to improve! My hands are still a little dysfunctional.. but everything else is almost resolved! its truely a miracle! I just can't stop smiling!!!

That's terrific!! Am VERY happy for you!

I had what I would call a remission in middle Nov and lasted about 6 weeks.
I almost freaked out. It was like a big wonderful dream. I thank our good Lord for those wonderful days. Now I am back worse than before. Starting a 8 set of IVIG. Hope that gives me another 6 weeks.
Mike