While using diclofenac, avoid drinking alcohol. Diclofenac-induced gastrointestinal bleeding can be exacerbated by alcohol. Although alcohol can exacerbate symptoms of osteoarthritis, it is not likely to cause additional damage to your joints. Alcohol may increase your risk of developing arthritis later in life, however. Drinking too much can also lead to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). People who take anticoagulants such as warfarin for heart conditions or other problems related to blood clotting may experience increased bleeding if they start drinking alcohol. Your doctor may ask you to stop drinking alcohol while you are taking anticoagulants. It's best to drink little and often vs. in large amounts all at once. So if you normally consume 1 drink per day, try reducing that to 0.5 drinks per day for 2 weeks before increasing it again. The American Cancer Society recommends that people limit their intake of alcohol to no more than one alcoholic beverage a day. The society also recommends that people who do drink alcohol regularly keep track of how many grams of fat and calories they eat daily and exercise regularly.