I would love to know what everybodys attitudes are towards alcohol. Personally I love a few beers but not had a drink for nearly 3 months. I was newly diagnosed a month ago but the months leading up to my diagnosis I had some really bad experiences whilst drinking alcohol or I should say after drinking it. It was mainly that I simply could not sleep at all leading me to be awake for most of the night. The last time I did have a drink I felt i was having an outer body experience, could hardly walk and just felt generally bad. In affect it was making what I now know to be my Parkinson’s symptoms 10 times worse. I haven’t touched alcohol since. A friend of a friend who has Parkinson’s did say red wine is our medicine!
would love to know if fellow-sufferers have had adverse effects to alcohol and what their general opinon is towards drinking with Parkinson’s
In a way I was glad to read your post - it makes me realise I’m not the only one! I had put the symptoms of sleeplessness and feeling bad down to mixing alcohol with medications ( am on Sinemet and nefopam ).
Like you I have virtually cut out alcohol but I do miss the occasional glass ( or 2!) of wine !
This is always a tricky one because it depends on alot of factors. What meds your on. How much you drink. What effect it has on you. I think most people when trying to manage their health cut out or cut down on alcohol.
I personally like a glass of wine every so often and according to my consultant that's fine. I'm on a dopamine agonist. Too much ie 2 glasses these days is a big night out and I am sluggish next day. So that doesn't happen any more.
I consider myself lucky. I can, and do, drink a whole bottle of red wine in an evening, about once per week. My wife doesn't drink and I feel it is a crime to put a cork back into a wine bottle. The day after, I feel fine and am sometimes surprised at how mobile I am.
If, however, I eat a large steak with the wine, I am an absolute wreak the following day. But once or twice per year I think it's worth it.
The steak thing is an interesting twist, I wonder why that is?? Must admit I do enjoy a bottle of red, however I am reluctant at the moment to try it as 24 hours of mysery is not worth the 2 or 3 hours of pleasure.. Interesting though to hear about other peoples take on the subject
My pd nurse says take meds an hour before protein or 3 hrs after to avoid protein absorption competing with dopamine.
Red wine and aged cheese contain some substances that can alter/interfere with meds so I have swopped to white wine, and anything with bubbles. Added boost is after an evening out , no longer look like a vampire.
Taking my meds (Stalevo, Sinemet plus retard, Neupro 4mg /24 hr & 8mg/ 24hr.) and drinking alcohol has not bothered me. I enjoy a pint, wine, gin, whisky, but not all in the same glass!!. The only effect I would say is that I get more sleep than normal. It has not affected me other than the odd hangover.
iam 82 i totally stopped drinking 1991 which made my family very happy after causing untold problems however in 2013 i was dx with pd following the route the medical profession sends you on i read about red wine and its benefits for pd bearing in mind when i drank previously i had been a beer man however i find drinking red i feel helps perhaps not with actual pd problem but brings back the old dutch courage feeling which in my mind can only be good whats that saying a little bit of what you fancy does you good
