H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid) (Page 21 of 52)

This forum has been a God-send to me.  I am 1/4 japanese and i seem to be the only sibling of 3 that has the Asian Flush.  After reading this forum (I read all 20 pages, by the way), I decided to try the Prilosec "cure".  I was extremely skeptical, mainly because it seemed too easy, but I decided to try it anyways.  I bought the extra strength and took 3 pills (60mg) about 30 minutes before I started drinking.  Normally following about 1.5 beers or one hard drink, I am extremely red, and it spreads down my neck and over my chest.  After taking Prilosec, I just put down my fifth coke and whiskey and, although I'm a bit warm in the face,  there is absolutely NO REDNESS anywhere on my face, neck, or chest.  I've previously found that Claritin-D does the job also(mainly due to the vaso-constrictor pseudoephedrine), but it makes me feel extremely dizzy and also results in sleeplessness and an awful feeling the next day.  I would suggest Prilosec to anyone who experiences Asian Flush and now, I finally feel like I have control over my drinking without feeling self-conscious.  Thanks so much!

Question for the group:  Has anyone have any experience/feedback on the effectiveness of using generic Famotidine vs. brand-name Pepcid AC?  I use Pepcid AC Max (20mg), but see that the generic famo is significantly cheaper.  I know that in most cases, the generic is *exactly* the same as the brand name as far as formulation goes.

However, I also know that drinking a real Coca Cola vs. a grocery store generic "Cola" is nowhere near the same.  There might not be any worse tasting beverage than generic cola.  Yuck!  ;-)

Hey Snuff,

I first used Pepzan, which is NZ's equivalent to Pepcid (just a different name, I think. It was made by one of those big drug companies)

It worked exactly the same as the generic famo, as far as I could tell. I'm guessing (and only guessing) that its the amount of famotidine that you take that makes the difference (e.g. however many pills it takes to get your 10mg, 20mg, 60 mg of famo).

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After my night with my friend Absolut, I swear I'm not going to do that again... not without my famo pills! 9 shots of vodka in just over an hour wasn't good. Not too drunk but rather red and I could still smell and taste it the next day :/ Yuk.

Hey Angel,

ok, here's the deal. If your doc is good, he/she can prescribe you some.
Otherwise, you could try just asking a chemist for some famotidine. Lie and say that you have an ulcer and that you've tried Pepzan and it seems to be the thing that works best. But they don't make it any more so you would like to know if you can buy some generic stuff. Plead ignorance and say - if there is such a thing as generic pills like Pepzan.

I tried this and I hate lying... I could only get a few pills at a time and that only worked twice before the chemist told me to see my doctor. Getting it from my doc is so much easier on my conscience! :)

Good luck.

I also have found that I can drink a little more while on Pepcid, contrary to many who say they are drunk faster.  Maybe it's just the lack of flush that makes me feel that I can drink more...I'm not sure.  Nonetheless Pepcid is working great.  I drank Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and not the slightest bit of redness with Pepcid.  However, I had a single Jack/Coke on Sunday without Pepcid and was as red as an apple. :(

I just want to say thank you so much to this website and I cant believe i didnt find it earlier!!! I just turned 25 and ever since i started drinking i didnt do too much of it cause i would get REALLY RED! and typical symptoms like red eyes, rapid heart beat, stuffy nose, blotchy red patches all over me, my skin got all swollen, and yes a bit hot and cold too. It was sooo annoying! i never wanted to drink where there was light! only dark night clubs!!!

I just came back from Europe where I found this site. I was in Valencia and my friends cousin wondered why I was so flushed after 2 shots... i thought I have 5 more weeks of drinking and partying to do and I cant be red all the time. So that nite I went on the internet and found this site!

I was in Madrid a few days later and went to the pharmacy to purchase Pepcid AC 10mg. Took 2 that nite and had half a bottle of wine. I didnt get red!! OMG!! maybe a little flushed but not beet red like I can be. I didnt even suffer the usual rapid heart symptoms!! It was great! i used it over a course of 6 weeks on intense drinking and partying.

The only downside, it took me longer to get drunk. But hey who cares I partied longer and kept up drinking with my friends all nite instead of feeling sick.

Im not sure about other asian people, but spirits are the best go for me. Wine can be deadly especially if you drink more than 4 glasses, which I did alot and I usually ended up throwing it up. Haven't tried beer and pepcid combo, but beer usually make me throw up after i have about 4 of them. As for hangovers... im not one to really ever suffer BAD hangovers when I drink alot, but I think the Pepcid does reduce that "seedy" feeling you get next day.

I so wish i discovered this site when i was 18. I am now ready to detroy my liver with intense drinking and partying now that i have discovered Pepcid. I just gotta get my friends back into the party mode again!!

Bye the way I think 20mg is sufficient. Im a girl, im 170 (5'6) and about (145-150lb) and it did the job for me.

Hola Dimps,

Glad to hear that you found out about the Pepcid thing so you could enjoy your holiday!
Yeah us here in the underbelly of the world, can't get Pepcid OTC.
Check out my previous posts about possible solutions (ie find a reputable site in the states or go to your doc).

Its a shame that you didn't stock up while in Spain.

Well I finally got more famo from my doc - I just phoned them and asked for a repeat, so I didn't need to actually see the doctor. Is anyone else going to their doc for famo? What have they said to you??

Im such a blonde! i forgot my cousin in law is a doctor!! Prescription is on its way peoples!!

one thing i've noticed, I can drink 10x the amount I used to with the pepcid ac.  Everyone I ask am i red, a little red, pinkish, turning red, they say no, you're pale as a ghost. I will still feel the hotness, though not as much. So I still get the slight heat sensation which I then assume I must be bright red right at that point, but I look at myself and not a trace. Even right now, I have that heat sensation, and my last drink was double shot of wild turkey at 5:30 am and its noon right now. The hangovers are still there but much more tolerable. Also, I could never handle tequila, rum and soju, now, no problems. On my bday Wed, 12 shots tequila, 10beers and maybe 1/2 bottle soju and I made it to work next day. I stunk like a brewery, but no redness whatsoever. The test yesterday was drinking a beer at work and not turning red. I might have to start bringing a flask to work (or hit some AA meetings)

hey omega red.. u from nz?

OK, thanks Steph,

I think I might try the generic and see how it works.  After reading about everyone's troubles finding this overseas, I now realize how lucky we are here in the U.S.  You can literally get Pepcid or generic famo in *every* grocery store.  I find it a bit strange that it's so readily available here just like toothpaste, but that you need a physician's precription abroad.  Go figure.