Alcohol?

Re: Alcohol

by H van Dyk - 2023-06-01 18:26:31

I limit myself to one or two drinks a day. No problem.
A better question might be if your medication agrees with your drinking habits. For instance: Alcohol and betablockers is not an ideal combination.

Alcohol

by Julros - 2023-06-01 20:20:14

I agree that drug interactions are possible. Your pharmacist is a good source of info for this. Some people find that alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation. 

For me, I enjoy a small glass of red wine at bedtime. I find as I get older, I have less tolerance. Even though I enjoy a good porter or stout, I just can't finish one and stay upright. 

Alcohol

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-01 22:00:14

Having a pacemaker doesn't impose any limits on drinking.  However, a pacemaker doesn't make being able to have a drink any better that without it.  This is a question for your doctors. The answer will be different for each individual (and doctor).

Betablockers

by docklock - 2023-06-02 10:56:02

The last alcohol I drank was Labor Day 2021. The next day I went into the hospital for two days while staff monitored my new Rx  --- Sotalol.  I was already taking Carvedilol as well. 

I asked several of the heart specialists (as this is also a teaching hospital) and every one said NO!. With emphasis on NO.

My local heart guy also chimed in with NO.

I don't think the PM made any difference, so I asked again when it was implanted and got NO.

I used to enjoy a good IPA, but don't want to endanger my heart.  My choice, but I don't miss it anymore. 

As AgentX86 stated:  This is a question for your doctors. The answer will be different for each individual (and doctor).

Alcohol.

by Selwyn - 2023-06-02 11:31:20

Yes.

Amount?

Interaction with drugs depends on amount.

If you have an arrhythmia amount is important. That is nothing to do with how a pacemaker functions.

Clearly, sucking a wine gum is neither here nor there. Having a skinfull is harmful. Doing a lot of alcohol on a regular basis is harmful. A regular pre-dinner drink could easily see you over the recommended limit. It is definately better to have irregular alcohol consumption - a few days off here and there!  

The odd predinner drink is not likely to make much difference. I was on warfarin and doing my own anticoagulation, and found that you really need a lot of alcohol ( I never did this!) to upset the INR.

14 units per week in general is thought to be OK. I don't think I would try all 14 units at once though! And, a unit means a unit, not a glass full!

Some people have noticed an increase mortality in tee-totallers.

https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/26/3/523/742166?login=false

I believe red wine is particularly beneficial.

Personally, I would try the malt whisky ( please note the spelling, as Scotch is something to discover). I knew there had to be some benefit of living in the UK! Even better, PACESISTER, I see you are in Scotland !! Try Strathisla - they put this in Chivers.

Indulge

by godrew - 2023-06-02 13:41:55

Enjoy a pre meal beverage, just take it easy.  
sip it slow and enjoy. 

I Blame Selwyn !

by IAN MC - 2023-06-02 15:07:37

I was about to have a coffee and read Selwyn's warning that becoming tee-total could increase my mortality so I'm having a malt whisky instead !

Cheers

Ian

P.S.   Don't feel too guilty, Selwyn. I have a malt whisky every evening and have done so for over  50 yrs . My GP tells me how well I look on it and my pacemaker doesn't object at all.

14 units per week

by AgentX86 - 2023-06-02 18:47:53

There is a lot of controversy about this. Many researchers have problems with the way the studies were done. Correlation doesn't equal causation, is just one problem. Much of the discussion is mental vs. physical, so and comparison is iffy, at best.  It's also impossible to have a double-blind test on this sort of thing. That said, right after my CABG my cardiologist said that one drink a night wouldn't hurt me and might even help. I asked how big the glass was, spreading my hands 3' apart. My wife whacked me (I am a victim of spousal abuse).🤪

There is also something to be said for QOL.  If there is an issue with alcohol, at low levels the risk has to be low (or there would be no controversy..  A glass at dinner may be of more benefit to your QOL than some minor health problem that it might happen 20 years from now.  Frankly, I'm not much worried about twenty years from now.

BTW, I'm a total teetotaler.   I drank enough when I was younger to float a navy. I don't need more. 

If my typing is particularly bad, I gouged the end of my middle finger with a router yesterday. The bandage is larger than the keys.

Alcohol with pacemaker? The answer has two parts

by Gotrhythm - 2023-06-03 16:31:11

Should you drink alcohol after having a pacemaker inserted? It looks like one question but it's really two. 1) Should I drink alcohol? 2) Does alcohol affect the pacemaker?

Let's answer the second question first.  The pacemaker is implanted just under the skin for convenience. If they didn't put it under the skin, you'd have to carry it in your hand, or a backpack or something. And then you'd have wires all the time getting in your way. But to work, the pacemaker doesn't have to be in your body at all. Once inserted it doesn't become part of your body processes. It isn't connected to your brain or your nervous system. Its performance isn't/can't be affected by anything you eat or drink or smoke, including alcohol and drugs. It's also unaffected by heat, cold, and dark of night.

Now for the first question, should you drink alcohol?  Your heart, blood vessels, liver, and endocrine system are the same ones you had before you got the pacemaker. Your body can still be affected by alcohol. If drinking was a stupid thing to do before, it's stupid now. If moderate drinking seemed to support your overall health before, it probably still does now.

In any case, my opinion of whether drinking is a good idea or not, doesn't matter much. It's a question to put to your doctor.

Alcohol

by Lavender - 2023-06-05 09:09:53

My cardiologist said a glass of red wine a day is great. However, my gastroenterologist said no alcohol. So I have been alcohol free for about five years. I would love a margarita, used to visit a lot of wine trails, younger days thought nothing was better than a hot bath and cold beer while soaking. Ahhhhh

Ask your cardiologist! They know you better and know about any meds you're on😉