My daughter who is 19, was diagnosed with lupus a few months ago. I am having a problem getting her to look after herself ie not drinking too much alcohol. Her kidneys have been affected and she has been undergoing some aggressive steroid treatment. Do you think that the alcohol will do her kidneys any harm or cause a lupus flare?
There's no evidence that alcohol can cause a lupus flare. However, there is a serious risk that alcohol can interact with medications for lupus, especially blood thinning medicines such as Warfarin. Binges of alcohol are particularly risky in patients on Warfarin. Small to moderate amounts of alcohol may be of benefit in terms of cardiovascular health but this should be discussed with your doctor.
