MS and alcohol

Can you drink if you have MS?

Love enjoying a drink on the occasional night out? MS doesn’t have to change that. Much the same as with diet and MS, more scientific research is needed to understand the relationship between MS and alcohol.^1,2 What we do know is that alcohol can make your symptoms worse in some cases, so drinking alcohol is generally discouraged.^1–3

Before you decide to drink, learn as much as you can about how alcohol might affect your specific treatment or MS symptoms. It will help you understand whether your MS and alcohol can mix.

As always, the best way to know for certain is to have a candid conversation with your healthcare team.³

Without more research, we cannot say for sure how drinking alcohol will impact your MS.^1–3 And, even though alcohol affects everyone differently, adopting a ‘less is more’ approach could help you avoid aggravation that may make your symptoms worse.^1–3

Let’s take a look at alcohol’s side effects, many of which are quite similar to the symptoms caused by MS:^1,2

• Impaired judgement, balance, and coordination
• The feeling that you need to urinate urgently
• Disrupted sleep
• Potentially dangerous interaction with certain medications
• Altered mood

In short, even if alcohol doesn’t directly affect your MS, it may affect you in other unhelpful ways and can make your symptoms – including coordination, slurred speech, and tiredness – worse.^1–4

I generally try to avoid alcohol – excessive drinking is never a good idea, but drinking alcohol with MS may increase fatigue, and some medications are known to interact with alcohol.

Conner

Living with MS since 2003

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If you have MS and are worried about how you may react to alcohol, the best thing to do is to not drink any alcohol at all. If you are unsure, discuss this honestly and openly with your healthcare team – they will know more about your treatments and symptoms and will better understand how alcohol may affect you.

As we discuss in our Mental Health page,a lot of people with MS experience stress, anxiety, and depression at some point.^5–7 These issues are often linked to excessive alcohol consumption.⁵ One recent study showed that 1 in 6 people with MS drink to excess during their lifetime.⁷

Alcohol may seem like the easy option to help forget about your worries and a short-term fix, but this is not the best option in the long term and can cause additional problems. Although MS should not keep you from enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail on occasion, remember that alcohol could cause worsening of your MS symptoms and make you feel more down.^1–3,5

You are not alone. Alcohol can sometimes help to relieve stress, but so can talking to people about your problems. Reach out to your friends and family or even an MS support group – they are there to help you. Try speaking to your doctor about how you are feeling – they are there to help you, too.

If you have faced these issues and would like to get more help or find out more information, please look at the following websites:

[Placeholder for weblinks for help and advise on alcohol abuse – local affiliate to add weblinks available in their country]

Having MS can make staying connected to the people you love a challenge. But, starting your own MS resistance is all about rising to everyday challenges. Together.

I still love going to parties and restaurants – my MS hasn’t stopped that, and it doesn’t have to stop you either!”

Conor

Living with MS since 2003

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Instead of going ‘all or nothing’ when socialising, why not aim for  a balance between having fun and making the healthy choices?

If you’ve had a busy or stressful week, or just don’t feel up to it, don’t go – there will always be another night out. Do what you feel is best for you in all situations.

Conor

Living with MS since 2003

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Because of my MS, I often urgently have to dash to the toilets. I always make sure I find out where the toilets are as soon as I get to a restaurant or bar – even before I look at the menu! That way I can relax and enjoy myself and feel reassured that toilets are close by.

Grace

Living with MS since 2017

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Why not join an MS support group and socialise with likeminded people who are going through the same things you are.

1. WebMD. Do multiple sclerosis and alcohol mix? https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/features/do-ms-alcohol-mix#1 [accessed March 2020].
2. WebMD. Do multiple sclerosis and alcohol mix? https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/features/do-ms-alcohol-mix#2 [accessed March 2020].
3. MS Society. Diet and nutrition guide. https://www.mssociety.org.uk/care-and-support/everyday-living/eating-and-drinking/special-diets-and-ms [accessed April 2020].
4. Alcohol.org. Alcohol and slurred speech. https://www.alcohol.org/effects/slurred-speech/ [accessed June 2020].
5. McKay KA, et al. Mult Scler J. 2016;22:685–93.
6. Murphy R, et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2017;88:697–708.
7. Quesnel S, Feinstein A. Mult Scler. 2004;10:197–201.