Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication: Drinks to Avoid

You probably already pay close attention to the foods you eat — and when you eat them — in order for your RA medications to be absorbed properly and work most effectively. But you may be overlooking an important thing you’re consuming: liquids. Many common beverages can have a significant impact on the efficacy of pharmaceuticals.

“Rheumatoid arthritis patients have to deal with taking the same medications for the majority of their lifetimes, and they need to be at their appropriate strength when they are in their body,” says Mohamed Jalloh, PharmD, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at Touro University in Vallejo, California, and a spokesperson for the American Pharmacists Association.

What’s more, some drinks, foods, or substances can make a drug more or less effective or increase the risk of side effects, notes Mayo Clinic. Here are six common drinks people living with rheumatoid arthritis should know more about.