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Avatar universal

Is it okay to drink a little alcohol while on/taking Viread?

Basically I've been on Viread for just over 1 year being very consistent everyday with it, and my 21st birthday is going to be later this year. Now regardless of my surroundings (college campus), I've been very conscious about the fact of not drinking any alcohol (wasn't really planning on it in the first place), and in general don't really feel the desire to. Before being told that I was Hep B positive, I always had the idea that I'd have one drink of whatever on my 21st birthday, and just leave it at that, most likely no other drinking after that (my family doesn't drink).

But since being told about Hep B (passed from my mother at birth), and being placed on Viread, I'm a little unsure now-- is it still okay if I drink a little (probably not even a full glass of like wine or something) on my birthday? It wouldn't be a normal and daily drinking habit, just a one off on that day really, I just wanted to see/make sure that one drink wouldn't mess me up forever or anything (definitely not drinking to get drunk), and I haven't been able to ask my liver specialist quite yet (though I will probably the next time I see him).
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Avatar universal
First off, I will say you are making the right decision by asking your doctor. I'd lean towards whatever he tells you on this. With that said....

You really should avoid drinking any alcohol at all costs with this disease. However, not everyone does that (myself included).

For me, when I went on meds, I asked my doctor if it was ok and his response to me was "2-3 beers or 1-2 glasses of week are ok but no more and you really should try and avoid it if you can to help your liver heal". I used my own judgement though and really only drink maybe a glass of something on a special occasion. Usually that sees my birthday, Christmas, a wedding or New Years. More often than not, I just avoid it all together. I actually went a year and a half without any drinks from 2015-2016 (2017 was a tougher year to avoid this) and plan to stay clean this year as well. It will only help the healing process.

However, having a drink, will most likely not have any adverse affects with the medicines (It won't stop working) or you.. unless you have a severely damaged liver. Again, ask your doctor, as they would know best.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Thanks for your response! Drinking's just not something that I really am stressed about or anything, just wanted to see other's possible input or experience about it was, since it's almost certain that that's going to be the only time I'll actually try anything. I'll definitely try to remember to bring it up the next time my parents and I get ahold of him, but in the mean time thank you! (and my viral counts are super low now, and my liver has no swelling/scarring as far as I've been told by him, so there's that I guess) :)
Avatar universal
Yes u can take alcohol while on antiviral regimen but don't take them concurrently. Occasional drinking won't harm much provided u r not overweight or have already decompensated liver
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Alright, thank you for your response! :)
Avatar universal
my doctor told me the same thing. occasional drink is ok and won't really harm you.

I am very conservative and usually only have a few drinks during christmas/new years. The rest of the year i rarely drink.
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Avatar universal
I dont want to get you all excited about drinking but my doctor told me that I can have up to 4 cups of wine per week together with food, not on a empty stomach and one cup per day of course.

I was very surprise wth his answer but the truth is that i feel guilty every time i drink, so I try to avoid as much as possible.

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Avatar universal
i have not taken a sip since when i started taking Tenofovir ....today i completed 1 year on tenofovir.
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