• Registered: 2005-04-27
  • Posts: 1

Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

came across this forum the other night and have tested out famotidine the past two nights. one thing i notice is that i dont get red, only a light pink. heart rate increases a little, still get a headache though. i can drink more than i used to be able to so that is good and ive only tested it with beer which i normally have trouble with. will get to the mixed drinks another night, and judging from what has been said here, vodka. i am still not totally satisfied though because i still dont feel well at all after only one beer! i am using generic famotidine though because they dont sell pepcid ac where i am. would i have better luck with pepcid ac or are they practically the same thing? i took 2 20mg tablets, would taking one more help?

52 Reply by skunk1

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

hey i also get the asian blush whenever i drink, i started using pepcid ac a while ago, and this stuff werks like no other. usually take around 30-40 mg an hour prior to drinking, make sure you give it time to fully kick in, no worries cause it last about 12 hrs after u take it. barely any noticable redness on my face, heartrate is a litle increased, and tolerance lvl has dropped significantly. like....4 beers and im drunk, kinda pathetic but its a price to pay.   as for hives take bendryl, not when ur drinking though.  good luck .

53 Reply by brian

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

i get a red face mostly, but not all the time when i drink. im not asian, so i dont know if i have "asian flush" or whatever you call it, but i still get red after one or two beers. probably an allergy. from reading, pepcid ac is the most popular way of getting rid of it.  ive never tried it, but i definitly will next time i drink. ive noticed that i get red face when i drink inside most of the time, maybe because the lack of fresh air when the room is stuffy. when it happens, i step outside sometimes for some fresh air and that usually cools it down.

54 Reply by Thomas

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Regarding dosage

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datash … dactab.htm

Overdosage

Patients have tolerated doses up to 800 mg/day for more than a year without development of significant adverse effects.

That seems like an awful lot compared to the 20mg guideline.

I get the asian glow most of the time I drink, sometimes as quickly as after the first swig of beer.  Hopefully using pepcid works.

55 Reply by David

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I took two 20mg Pepcid tablets last night before I went out. Had a couple beers at my friends, a shot of vodka, around 8 beers at the bar and a couple late night beers. No redness at all, face got a little warm and heart rate increased, but nothing like it normally does. Nonetheless, I was reading around this forum and I saw that people who drink through the flush could potentially harm themselves by increasing the rate for cancer. Is this true? If so, I can drink quite a bit and I'm not sure if this is a good idea if the previous statement is true. Could anybody verify this? Also, since the Pepcid actually eliminates the flush for me, will it also eliminate whatever is the harmful leftover, if there actually is one?

56 Reply by Sandy

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I have been using Pepcid AC for over 3 years now and do not have the redness problem at all when I use it.  I was just surprised at how many people use it to combat the redness.  I didn't know it was called "asian flush".  My girlfriend uses the chewables and it acts a lot faster (few minutes) versus the fifteen minutes I have to wait.

I'm up to 5 10mgs tabs everytime I have a function to attend (at least 5x a month).  I has actually helped in my job where I have to do a lot of socializing.

57 Reply by Ray

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Sandy you are saying you take 5 tabs, 10 mgs each, before you drink.  Ever have any side effects while taking so many?  It seemed to work for you, so i guess i'll try.  Thanks

58 Reply by kk

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

i take about 80-100mg each time i drink, side effects!

59 Reply by daveboy

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

1st night drinking ok then next night get the red blotches over face and neck when would be best time to take pepcid both nights or second night only this has been on going for 25 years any help would be welcome

60 Reply by caitlin

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I'm 19 years old, and a korean american college sophomore. i get sooo red when i drink and get red splotchy patches on my chest. i feel very lightheaded and hot, and feel very sick and unpleasant. i've researched this "asian flush" disorder and i'm wondering if the pepcid ac really works, and if it is safe. i weigh about 116 pounds and am wondering if the mix of pepcid and alcohol will have any harmful side effects. thanks :0)

61 Reply by Wai

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

does anyone still feel hot when they drink on it?
i get a little pinky but feel and look alot better than i use to

Does anyone get fidgety (restless) on these h2 blockers? i took some before a film, had a couple of drinks and i couldn't stop moving in a film

62 Reply by kk

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

kk wrote:

i take about 80-100mg each time i drink, side effects!

i mean NO side effects, oops! hehe, it's all safe, if you look @ a post on here, it supports that's not harmful and the experiment was done with something like 800mg per day or someting stupid like htat, so quit worrying and give it a try u bunch of wimps

63 Reply by kk

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

kk wrote:

i take about 80-100mg each time i drink, side effects!

i mean NO side effects, oops! hehe, it's all safe, if you look @ a post on here, it supports that's not harmful and the experiment was done with something like 800mg per day or someting stupid like htat, so quit worrying and give it a try u bunch of wimps

64 Reply by Tom

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I have found that it works to reduce redness about 75%, when taking 40mg (2x20mg). However I have noticed a headache comes after the second drink. Has anyone else experienced this? Also does anyone know what effect taking a panadol or equivalent to reduce the headache would have when drinking, i've heard it increases intoxication?

65 Reply by bp

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

so last night, finally, after trying ru-21 (which is bogus) and sob'r k hangover stopper (which i'm still not sure about and testing), and after years of "drinking through" the redness, i popped 40mg of pepcid ac about 35 mins before my first drink.  this was on top of a couple of sob'r k hangover capsules as well.  for those not familiar with the product, it's a patented formula of activated carbon that lines your intestines and works by absorbing all the "cogeners" that would typically cause a hangover.  anyway, it's rated #1 on hangoverreview.com, so i had to try it.  although it does nothing to help the "asian flush" symptoms (redness, heat, pounding heart), it does seem to have a significant effect on feeling it the next day.  ok, so anyway, my first beer and i'm feeling a little light headed.  definitely feel like the alcohol hits quicker w/pepcid.  normally, i do not drink hard liquor, only beer.  but last night, my second and third drinks were vodka (skyy) and oj, since everyone on here seems to think vodka causes less symptoms than beer, i thought i'd give it a shot.  at this point i was feeling drunk, but amazingly only a slight increase in heart rate and virtually no redness at all!  maybe a slight pink glow accompanied by faint warmth.  normally, with liquor, i'd be beet red and feeling like my heart was gonna jump out of my chest.  well i get home, pop another pepcid max (20mg...so now 60mg total), and start on a bit of capt. morgan clear rum.  didn't really finish my drink, decided to hit the sack around 3am, but woke up around 9 unable to fall back asleep!  and today i feel really weird...lightheaded, heart pounding a little.  guess that's due to the sleep deprivation, but maybe also side effects of the pepcid?  anyone else experience restlessness, inability to sleep well after taking it?  maybe i shouldn't have taken that extra 20mg.  will have to do more experimenting, but so far, this has been the best treatment i have tried.  on a side note, drinking a liter of pedialyte the day after drinking can do wonders!  hopefully i won't have the sleep prob next time.

66 Reply by redboy no more

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Good news. Pepcid AC works.
I tried Pepcid AC Max Strength for the first time the other night and it helped a lot. I usually get very red after only 3/4 of a bottle of beer. Took one tablet (20mg) at 9:15pm, started drinking 3 hours later at 12:15am. Had two bottles of Heinekin and only got a little pink, which was not very noticeable, as if I've been out in the sun all day. Not nearly as scarlet red as I usually get. But it didn't get rid of the usual headache I always get from alcohol. Can live with minor headache. I also noticed I got an increased amount of drowsiness. If I laid down I would just want to knock out, but if I wanted to carry on a conversation and stay active I would snap out of it immediately.  And there were no side effects the next morning. Felt completely fine. It was my bday the other day so I decided to give it a shot. I'm happy it actually made a difference and I wasn't as self concious thinking I looked like a tomato. More like the social butterfly I wanted to be. :) Hope this helps.

I never thought it was too horrible turning red when I drank because the only person that cares the most is yourself. Its just nice that something can actually make a difference.

67 Reply by Bob

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

If you're gonna drink hard liquor, drink Captain Morgan & Coke.  Captain Morgan is only 70 proof so it gives your body more time to adjust.

68 Reply by Depeche

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Hello,

its been 4 yrs now, that I've noticed the red face during drinking.  Started off with Whisky, so I cut that out, and my red face stoped.  Then moved to vodka , where it lasted untill a year and a half ago.  Now I turn red this past 6 months on beer, vodka, whiskey , you name it... no idea what the hell is going on.  Finally decided to look on the interent , and this site is the best posted comments about this issue.  Also, information about Pepcid AC and toleration of 800mg/day can be found on this site ... http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datash … dactab.htm

I am currently working in Kosovo for the UNited Nations, and have found some Pepcid Complete at an american PX.  Also loooking for some more Pepcid AC to try.  So basically, this is my first posting, and will post another one, once I try this Pepcid AC before drinking.... No worries, this weekend I am off to Afitos in Greece, and there will be alot of Ouzo to test this pepcid if it helps or not.  So until next week, I hope this does the job.  :)

69 Reply by alex

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I'm reading this info on "asian blush" and I"m wondering if it could help me . I'm not asian BUT I'm on morphine for the long term for chronic pain and one of the worst side effects is flushing and sweating in copious amounts and its so embarrasing .The  Doc's in there infinite wisdom always said its a side effect and "live with it". I have recently found out that the flushing and sweating are a histimine reaction and that's why when reading about the "asian Blush" whether zantac or pepic ac could help me. I tried 150 mg zantac yesterday AM and it Worked !!!  Sometimes the simpliest tasks can trigger this flushing and sweating and I'm going to try and elvaluate the use of h2 blockers in my case. There must be other morphine users out there that might find this interesting but I guess they would only find this site if they were looking up asian blushing!!.

70 Reply by Raging Red

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I read about famotidine's supposed effects on the Asian flush a few weeks ago.  After some further research and experimentation, I thought I'd post my findings.  Note: I am not a doctor. Do not consider anything here as medical advice:

First, alcohol (ethanol) is metabolized into acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.   Acetaldehyde is in turn broken down into harmless acetic acid by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2).  Acetaldehyde is generally considered responsible for most of the Asian flush symptoms.  Appromixately 50% of the Asian population are deficient in their production of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2.  Consequently, acetaldehyde builds up much quicker than with the normal populace.

After conducting a series of controlled experiments using a digital camera and a few 12 oz beakers of ethanol lite,  I can attest to what others have already posted:  Taking famotidine (an H2 blocker) well before drinking not only reduces the visible symptoms, but also the unpleasant internal ones such as racing heartbeat, sinus congestion, dizziness, etc.

Why? One reference on H2 blockers notes that "these H2-blockers, found to inhibit gastric alcohol dehydrogenase..."  If this is the case than H2 blockers may work by slowing down the metabolism of ethanol to the point that our diminished ALDH2 production is able to keep up.  If so, Asians using H2 blockers should become drunk faster than without them.  I haven't found this subjectively to be the case, but it's possible that the lack of the normal dizziness and flushing sensations lead me to believe I am more sober than I actually am.

There has been little medical research into the off-label usage of H2 blockers for Asian flush, so there may be unknown negative consequences.  Increased risk of alcoholism seems likely (Asian flush is credited with the low rates of alcoholism among asians and the alcoholism treatment drug antabuse works by blocking the metabolism of acetaldehyde).  On the other hand, acetaldehyde is more toxic than ethanol and a carcinogen to boot.  Reducing the amount in the body is probably a good thing.

References:
Wiki Article on Aldehyde: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetaldehyde
Google Answers on Asian Flush: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=258303
Annals of Internal Medicine Letter on H2 Blockers and Alcohol: http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/121/1/73
Increased cancer risk in heavy drinkers with the alcohol dehydrogenase 1C*1 allele: http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/53/6/871

71 Reply by David

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Depeche, I will mail you a box of Pepcid AC if you get me a job with the UN :P

72 Reply by Depeche

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

I am back from testing Pepcid AC this weekend in Afitos Greece........... IT WORKS!
Before we went out on Friday, I took 1 20mg PEPCID AC MAximum i think its called.  Friday night , I had no feeling of heat on my face, or redness after drinking Tequila, vodka/redbull, jagger etc.. I did mix alot!   But I also felt as if I was not fully feeling the entire affects of drinking.

As for saturday, another hard night out, and only that night I felt like my face would feel the heat and turn red, but it did not, but just turned alittle rosy as some people have posted.  This went away quickly, and I continued to drink which this night, took a toll on me. :) felt the effects more then usual...

Anyways, using PEPCID AC for the first time was successful.  I think this summer, I will increase possilbly the MG if i turn rosy.... I will post how this works for me.  Thanks for all the info people,  happy to party again........ ;)

Also, DAVE, you want to work for the UN?  hehe dont need the PEPCID, have miliary stores here that I get everything with no tax.... ;)   UN jobs are easy to find, just look up on the internet, and you will be parting also! ;) ciao people

thanks again for this info......... HELP ME! :)

73 Reply by Steve

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Hey depeche, it's good to hear that. How long did you leave it after taking Pepcid until you started drinking?

74 Reply by Depeche

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

Hey steve.........


On Friday Night, I took the pill 20minutes before first beer... but started drinking 30-40 minutes later harder drinks as tequila, vodka, and jagger......  that night I had absolutly no redness or heat on face.

Saturday, i took it also only 30minutes before first drink... that night I felt the heat starting, but not the full affect, and also was alittle rosy..... interesting but defintly later it went away, and was actually drinking like a mad man on this party half island in greece! :)

So tonight is my b-day party and will take the pill again.. will update you if you wish!

All the best........... and I am a new Pepcid AC maximum customer! ;) didnt even know what the hell it was before. :)

Good luck to all, tried it 2only and it worked..... if things change i will update.

Depeche in Kosovo.................. :)

75 Reply by Red Yucky Yun

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Re: H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid)

After reading the entire thread yesterday, I was inspired to get some Pepcid AC Max, give it a try and go out to a bar.  A little background before I go into its effects. I have been drinking for about 8 years now and about 3 years ago, I discovered Tagament HB (Cimetidine), which I was directed towards through my cousin's husband, who is also a doctor.  I was so thrilled to learn that this stuff actually worked!  But it varied in its effectiveness, so I tried different experiments from the dosage to food intake to different alcoholic beverages to time lapse between taking pill and drinking to even geography. 

Before I discovered this though, I, like some have posted, had times where I did not get red at all and felt great the entire night.  Obviously, I never could replicate those times, but I am curious as to an all-natural alternative to taking the pills.  Anyway, let me explain the geography thing.  I think it's very odd, and I also thought it had something to do with elevation, but here's the thing:  I lived in Ohio when I first discovered Tagamet, and it treated just fine with just 2 pills (I'm sure that's 20 mg).  I would even take these pills with my beer or other mixed drink.  The effects were somewhat consistent, but there were times when I ate too close to my drinking, or I ate pizza or spicy food, which is about the worst thing to eat while drinking.  Overall though, 2 pills did the trick the majority of the time...with wine, I would need 3 or maybe 4.  Now I live in Portland, Oregon, and I had to bump up the dosage to twice that...and 75% of the time, I would still get red.  Now Portland is in a valley, and it's actually lower elevation than the places I drank in Ohio (It's relatively flat there too).   The reason I thought it was elevation is because I was on a ski club that went to Colorado every year, and every time I would get the asian flush symptoms, regardless of the amount of pills I took.  And I've even visited Ohio a couple times while living out here, and it's a totally different buzz, with lesser dosage, than out here with double the dosage.  My question is why would I get more Asian Flush symptoms with double the dosage in Portland than in Ohio.  It doesn't make sense to me.  Does anyone have any input on this? 

Anyway, as for last night, I took 2 pills (40 mg) 30 minutes before I started drinking, and I got drunk really quickly!  I was just drinking beer, straight up PBR and then pitchers of Bud, but wow, I felt like I was in high school again.  I can usually handle a good five or six beers without getting drunk, but damn, it was about half that and I was drunk.  Anyway, good time but really heady buzz.  I didn't get red at all though, which is what I'm looking for, and if I keep getting that drunk, I might as well stick to Pepcid...It'll save me money in the long run.  I'll do some more experimenting and post my results.  I'm also curious as to long-term side effects, because I don't want any unneccessary tumors in my esophagus or anywhere else on my body for that matter.