can a person having ms and on the medication rebif still drink beer socially

Hi Faith!

This is an excellent question for your doctor or neurologist.  In researching your question I am going to go with the safest answer and that is...probably not without some risks.

This website offers a warning about the risks when taking Rebif and drinking any kind of alcohol:  "Avoid drinking alcohol while using Rebif. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage."

You only have one liver.  And there are risks even without drinking to your liver when you take Rebif. 

I assume that the risk goes up depending upon the amount you drink.  You might just want to ask your doctor what those risks are so you know ahead of time.

Many others have wanted to know more about this topic and so I will give you two links to forums where people discuss what happens when they drink and have MS and take one of the interferon drugs.  You may find those forums here and here.

Also wanted to add that a lot of folk talk about having worse symptoms of MS when you drink.  If you have problems walking, balance problems, or vertigo, these problems are going to be greatly magnified if you drink alcohol.

Thank you for your question.  I wish I could tell you there are no bad side effects with this combo but...the facts say otherwise.  Please let us know if you have any more questions.