Well after taking PM for 5 weeks I abruptly stopped for two reasons; my sinuses would not stop running, and the usual Zyrtec and Sudafed combo would not stop them (was thinking I might be allergic to it) and my daughter turned 21 and I wanted to have some drinks with her and friends.

Ironically, a few days after stopping my chest got really sore right behind the nipples! This was after I had ramped up to 2000 per day of PM for the week prior to this. As of today they are still tender, but the fullness I had prior to stopping has decreased. I am very excited about this, as it indicates to me that something is happening.

Coincidentally my sinuses stopped running after stopping PM, but two days ago they flared up really bad again, so I'm fairly certain it's attributed to seasonal pollen counts and not an allergic reaction to the PM.

As far as drinking is concerned, this is one thing that bothers me about PM. One of the warnings is to not take PM and drink alcohol because PM effects the way your liver metabolizes it, and I'd have to agree with this statement from the way my body reacted when I mixed the two. Because of this, I can't just on a whim enjoy a nice IPA or mixed drink whenever I want, and if I plan on doing any drinking I have to stop taking PM a day in advance. The plus side to this is that for three weeks I did not have a drop of alcohol, not even the urge to have a drink, and I read somewhere that this is also an effect of the PM; reducing the urge to consume alcohol.

I started back on PM today for a few days before I take a trip to vegas, but will stop again while there due to the probability of drinking.

So here are my questions:

1. Anyone else here drink while taking PM?
2. Anyone just take PM Mon-Fri and stop for the weekend to enjoy it?
3. Anyone stop drinking completely because of PM?

Scotti, honey, Sammie has a scotch or two or a couple of martinis every night...tee hee. Nothing is going to stop that. And my liver showed up just fine on my last blood tests. Although, I must confess my ability to remain clear headed past two has dropped off a lot. Tee hee...I guess Im a cheap date now...lol.
But I actually attribute that more to diet. In a vain attempt to maintaina "girlish figure" I seldom eat more than one meal a day now. That is likely a more feasible reason I am guessing.

Hi Scotti,
In short
1. Yes
2. No
3. No
I am with Samantha re the drink, I love my bourbon, Rum and wine etc and only leave it out if I am driving.
I would suggest taking Milk Thistle before going to bed, this assists the livers recovery on the daily excesses of both food and alcohol. I too have had a very recent blood test which returned with a normal count........Phew thank Heavens !

Remember PM is not just about breast growth.....it's a lot more important than that

Hugs
Heather

Scotti

It had never occurred to me to make any connection between allergies or alcohol intake and PM. However, I had always prided myself on being essentially free from allergies until in 2012 and more in 2013 I suffered from at least mild hay fever - which coincides with the period over which I've been taking PM. I'd just put it down to age. I've also been a pretty light drinker over recent years, and particularly since I've been trying to lose weight. Possibly PM makes it easier to be abstemious but I think probably not. I don't think I know enough about Annie's habits yet.

Thanks Sammi, heather and annabel for the reply.

I know some unfiltered wheat beers make me flush, so definitely an allergy on that for me. I also know that when I've had more than a couple beers it seems my body reacted differently when on the PM than when not. Woke up in the middle of the night burning like I had a fever and really thirsty on several occasions.

I did see the Endo last week, but this is for my thyroid level checks which were fine. I was concerned that PM would effect these levels but it did not (at least based on blood tests). Perhaps it's interacting differently with me because I have no thyroid, or perhaps it's all in my head.

Read here that PM possibles reducing desire to drink...

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-pueraria-mirifica-6537.html

WebMD though says it is used to treat alcoholism and hangovers...

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-750-KUDZU.aspx?activeIngredientId=750&activeIngredientName=KUDZU <-- yes PM is listed under kudzu

and of course Ainterol warns right on the side to not take when consuming more than one drink of alcohol.

1. Yes.
2. No.
3. No

Admittedly I don't drink often or much when I do, but that is besides the point.

Scotti

It had never occurred to me to make any connection between allergies or alcohol intake and PM. However, I had always prided myself on being essentially free from allergies until in 2012 and more in 2013 I suffered from at least mild hay fever - which coincides with the period over which I've been taking PM. I'd just put it down to age. I've also been a pretty light drinker over recent years, and particularly since I've been trying to lose weight. Possibly PM makes it easier to be abstemious but I think probably not. I don't think I know enough about Annie's habits yet.

I've suffered from Hay Fever for most of my adult life. I am absolutely convinced that PM makes it worse, I'm always sneezing and my eyes are mildly itchy quite often, even in mid-winter. On the occasions that I've stopped PM, these symptoms disappear, but then restart when I restart PM. Its annoying but I can live with it.

Scotti,

My answer to all three of your questions would be no. I've never cared much for the taste of alcohol and I've found the buzz I get from drinking it to be overrated. The last time I drank alcohol was in January of 2011, a little more than a year before I started taking pm.

I can't say I've experienced this, but then, I pretty much kicked the hay fever years ago with a combination of local raw milk and local honey.

Raw foods like that, sourced locally, from critters that are eating the stuff you're allergic to, will cure what ails you.

As to alcohol... I think I'm just getting older, and less fond of the next-day side effects. I do love good craft beer, but it doesn't love me any more... the gluten just tears me up. And of course, the daily aches & pains get harder to drown over time, making alcohol just a bad idea at this point.

I feel fortunate to live in a state with alternatives.