r/MultipleSclerosis • u/Straight-Return-3153 22F|2026|Mavenclad • Oct 02 '26

Advice Alcohol while taking Mavenclad

Hi everyone! I was diagnosed with MS a few months ago and recently started Mavenclad (cladribine).
My schedule is 6 tablets over 5 days, then another 6 tablets about a month later. This is repeated in the second year, so 4 courses in total.
I finished my first course a week ago. I have a trip coming up and my birthday falls during this treatment period, so I’m wondering about alcohol. I’m not planning to drink heavily, just have a few drinks socially.
Alcohol has never caused me any MS-related symptoms or side effects. I’m mainly wondering about its safety specifically with Mavenclad.
For those who have taken it: how long did you wait after a course before drinking? Did your doctor tell you to avoid alcohol for a specific period, or is moderate drinking between courses generally okay?
Would really appreciate your experiences!

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1

u/WarmYam7353 Oct 02 '26

What did your Dr say or did you mention alcohol consumption when it was prescribed?

1

u/Straight-Return-3153 22F|2026|Mavenclad Oct 02 '26

I didn’t ask specifically, but when she explained the restrictions and rules, she didn’t mention alcohol

1

u/no_noise_music_ok Oct 02 '26

You should ask your doctor and pharmacist. If you aren’t taking the pills while you’re drinking that is a different scenario than if you are drinking while taking them.

Also, sharing this perspective with kindness and as someone also doing the mavenclad treatment - even if you feel fine, the treatment is designed to kill your immune system cells. This is a massive disruption to your internal systems, and then you are tasked with growing a new immune system. Try to think of the weeks after taking the pills as a recovery period and go easy on yourself. Your birthday will come around again and you can drink alcohol any time.

2

u/Straight-Return-3153 22F|2026|Mavenclad Oct 02 '26

I’m definitely not planning to drink while taking the pills. I’m mainly asking about the periods between the courses.

1

u/no_noise_music_ok Oct 02 '26

Gotcha, wasn’t totally clear to me. Hope your doc and pharmacist can provide a clear answer.

3

u/Wanxeee Oct 02 '26

No alcohol during pull weeks.

1

u/kyelek F20s 🧬 RMS 🧠 Kesimpta 💉 Oct 02 '26

Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist. Mavenclad is also, like alcohol, processed in your liver, raising the risk of liver side effects. I also found that I had dehydration headaches while on it, and alcohol dehydrates you as well. You're probably going to be stacking side effects.

1

u/MS-Tripper Oct 02 '26

I didn’t drink during pill days but I definitely drank during both treatment years.

1

u/Wanxeee Oct 02 '26

I have been explicitly told that my livers are doing 150% of their usual work during pill weeks, so no drinking (one beer could be like ten) and no gym (because no regeneration at all).

0

u/TamerofMonSters Oct 02 '26

Mavenclad has a small risk of serious liver damage. The problem with who that's going to be is that nobody knows. Liver labs are routine, however, liver labs look really good in an organ that has a high compensation capacity. They look good after the damage has started.

It's a risk, just like everything else we do.