Can Parkinson’s Patients Drink Alcohol?

Consuming Alcohol or having a glass of beer with your friends and family is a common thing but if you are a Parkinson’s Patient, you will need to think twice before consuming alcohol. Can Parkinson’s Patients drink Alcohol?

The answer to this question is not very simple but, in this guide, I’ll break it down for you which will help you understand it. Let’s get started.

Here is a related article that might interest you on Can Parkinson’s Cause Vocal Cord Paralysis?

Can Parkinson’s Patients Drink Alcohol?

In my research for this topic, I studied over 5 different studies and all of them had different results. As Parkinson’s is a very complex condition and the exact underlying factors are still unknown, the researchers don’t have answers to a lot of questions.

However, scientists have done some studies on this topic and they have come up with mixed results. There are some studies that indicate that drinking alcohol is not good for Parkinson’s Patients but there are also studies that found a “weak association between alcohol drinking and PD risk”.

However, it might be true that alcohol isn’t associated with PD risk, but it’s true that if you are on Parkinson’s Medication, it can react with the compounds in your medicine and reduce their effectiveness.

What’s The Relation Between Parkinson’s Disease Medication And Alcohol?

It might be okay to consume alcohol when you are not taking medications but if you are on Parkinson’s Disease Medications, doctors recommend that you shouldn’t drink alcohol when you are using the following Parkinson’s Medications.

Levodopa

Levodopa, also known as L-dopa, is a dopamine precursor which is used in many Parkinson’s Disease medications. It basically gets into your brain and replaces missing dopamine which eventually helps you function properly.

However, when you take it with alcohol, the alcohol can mess with your nervous system and increase the levodopa effects which leads to dizziness, drowsiness, and impaired thinking. So, if you are on any medication with Levodopa, you should stop consuming alcohol.

Dopamine Agonists

When levodopa doesn’t work for Parkinson’s patients, doctors often prefer switching to Dopamine Agonists. These medications are very powerful and can come with side effects such as euphoria, psychosis, compulsive behavior, and hallucinations. It’s the reason why doctors only administer them in small doses and see if they are working for that patient or not.

When it comes to consuming alcohol with Dopamine Agonists, you will be fine as long as you don’t drink much but still, it’d be better if you consult with your doctor first.

Amantadine (Symmetrel)

Amantadine (branded name of Symmetrel) is another very common PD medication that basically helps treat symptoms such as muscle stiffness and shaking. When it comes to drinking alcohol with Amantadine, it’s not recommended because when alcohol interacts with it, it can lead to problems such as fainting, dizziness, confusion, and circulation problems. So, if you are on Amantadine, don’t drink alcohol for your own safety.

MAO-B inhibitors

Monoamine Oxidase Type B (MAO-B) is basically an enzyme that is used to break down dopamine in the brain. Doctors use MAO-B inhibitors to treat Parkinson’s symptoms such as involuntary movements and nausea. According to some sources, MAO-B inhibitors can also be used to slow down the progress of Parkinson’s Disease but there is no scientific proof of it available.

MAO-B Inhibitors are known to increase blood pressure when they interact with other drugs and when you consume alcohol, it also raises blood pressure which is the reason why doctors strongly recommend avoiding alcohol when you are using MAO-B inhibitors.

What Is The Effect Of Alcohol On Parkinson’s Disease?

Scientists have done a lot of studies and research on this topic and no study found a solid effect of Alcohol on Parkinson’s Disease. However, some studies found that males with moderate alcohol consumption are at a high risk of developing PD as compared to casual drinkers.

Can You Drink Alcohol With Parkinson’s Medication?

It mainly depends on the type of medications you are taking but generally, you should avoid drinking alcohol with Parkinson’s Medications as they can have negative effects. So, it would be best that you shouldn’t drink alcohol when you are on Parkinson’s Medications.

Another post that will interest you is about Can Parkinson’s Cause Kidney Problems?

Is Beer Good For Parkinson’s?

In my research, I was unable to find any authentic study which supports this statement. So, if you are on Parkinson’s Medication, you should avoid drinking beer with it. If you still want to drink beer with it, make sure that you consult your doctor to avoid any complications.

Does Alcohol affect Parkinson’s Tremors?

Consuming alcohol doesn’t have any effect on Parkinson’s Tremors but you can manage them using Levodopa therapy.

Can Alcohol Make Parkinson’s Symptoms Worse?

If you are on Parkinson’s Medication, drinking alcohol can make things worse and you can experience issues such as dizziness, nausea, euphoria, hallucinations, and other issues. However, if you are not on Medications, there’s no scientific proof that suggests that alcohol makes Parkinson’s Symptom Worse but it’s usually recommended not to drink alcohol with chronic conditions.

Can Wine Help Parkinson’s Disease?

According to new research, Red Wine can help with Parkinson’s Disease and slow its progression. The research says that the antioxidants in red wine may help slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease.

Can You Drink Alcohol If You Take Carbidopa-levodopa?

No, you should avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking carbidopa-levodopa because alcohol can affect your nervous system and increase levodopa effects which can lead to issues such as dizziness and drowsiness.

Bottom Line

If you want to drink alcohol with Parkinson’s Disease, it will mainly depend on the medications you are on. Generally, it’s recommended that you shouldn’t drink alcohol when you are on Parkinson’s Medication but still if you want to drink, it’s recommended that you should consult your doctor first.

However, if you are not on Medications then an occasional glass of alcohol or wine won’t hurt but before you do it, consultation with your doctor is a must.

I hope that you found this guide useful and if you liked it, don’t forget to share it within your circle. Also, check this guide where I have shared Best Parkinson’s Podcasts in 2022.