H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, Axid) (Page 39 of 52)

Hi everyone, I think i get the most severe form of the asian flush, im 100% russian, the flushes are a real inconvenience, but since i dont really care about what others think, i drink a lot. When I say a lot, I mean I used to do up to 4 litres of beer a night for periods longer than 6 month. I now do up to 2 litres a night 2-4 times a week. Ive been drinking heavily for at least 4 years. I get these symptoms on random nights about every fifth one
Here are my symptoms, as you may be able to tell from the prelude they are on the extereme:
Going extremely red
Difficulty breathing
Red patches all over body from the feet up
Itchy skin, where the red patches are
If itched subsequent hive/hives
Blocked nose
Thundering heartbeat that is felt in every part of the body mainly the head BP over 220
Lots of clear flaem
Phenomenally loud and severe snoring
Usually pass out from the symtoms with the thought that I will not wake up

If there are no symptoms on the 4 nights of the time and I have sex, they will all pop up almost stright after I come

If disregarding the symptoms still drink, more than 6 litres then the whole thing repeats again in the morning and is fixed by a drink

Now to what helps for me in the order of effectiveness

Activated coal tablets 1 pill for every 10 kg of body wieght 8 for me
Drinking with water, one sip beer, one sip water
Only drink high quality beer
No hard liquer or wine
Only stick to one sort of beer per night
Cold bath
More beer, but will have to pay for it the next day

Wouldn't drink at all if not my line of work (Own an Australia wide recruitment company and part own a manufacturing plant in Russia) lots of meetings and stress, any russian deal usually cant be done without drinking, most of Ausie deal also involve beer

Stopped drinking completely about a month ago

1.83m 83kg live in Australia

This post is intended to point out that no matter how bad it is, it can be worse

PS know a lot of people with the same problem who drank and keep drinking more than me

PPS dont usually get the symptoms from anything less than 0.5L, guess Im just used to it by now

hi everyone Im 100% chinese and am also stuff this deadly asian flush! since im in Australia i cant get hold onto this Pepic stuff but taking 2 Zantac pills seem to work okay! but im worry that i will build up my tolerance over a long period time but that it might not be healthy to my body. so i sometimes try to take only 1 zantac to see if it works. Well, last time i tried it worked! but i remember most of the time it doesnt! i have been reading this thread and some suggest that zantac claratyne combination work (for some). since i want to cut down the zantac pills that i use (i only want to use 1 zantac pill), i just bought some claratyne from the chemist (but its pretty expensive! 10 pills for $12aus bucks!). is it 'healthier' to take 1 zantac and 1 claratyne? or is it the same just to take 2 zantac? coz its a pretty pricy approach to take both zantac and claratyne! and is the zantac n clara combo stronger than 2 zantac?? coz i dun want to take anything that is unnesscarily stronger if 2 zantac works already. THANKS**

Hi guys, just read the whole thread. It needs to be summarized, so here it is. I will update it and change it according to what people find and think. Hopefully it is of some use to those who do not wish to read so many pages or want some quick answers.

Conclusions And Summary of This Thread

1. DRUGS

1. Famotidine (Pepsid AC, Amfamox, Rani) : THE BEST
2. Ranitidine (Zantac) with Loratidine (Claradine): Ranitidine seems to work for a few people; ranitidine with loratidine seems to work even better.
3. Other: some have tried famotidine with loratidine but suggest that the loratidine does not help anymore than the famotidine by itself.

2. DURATION OF EFFECT

1. Famotidine: thought to last a whole night/8 hours, but some have experienced over 24hour effectiveness.
2. Ranitidine: much shorter duration. Some estimate a 4 hour average.

3. AMOUNT OF DRUG

* Amount will vary depending on body weight, tolerance, and many other factors.
* Note that famotidine is 7.5 times more potent than ranitidine, hence the huge difference in recommended quantities below.

GUIDELINE: Recommended amounts may be something like this:

Weight    Famotidine amount    Ranitidine + Loratidine
40-50kg    20mg                    75mg + 5mg
50-60kg    30mg                    150mg + 10mg
60-70kg    40mg                    150mg + 10mg
70-80kg    50mg                    225mg + 15mg
80-90kg    60mg                    300mg + 20mg

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED AS A SUBSTITUTE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BOX. IN FACT, THEY MAY BE BEYOND RECOMMENDATIONS. THESE ARE MERELY WHAT THIS FORUM HAS CONCLUDED TO BE REASONABLE AND ARE TO BE USED AS A GUIDELINE. IF IN DOUBT, TAKE LESS. ALWAYS BEGIN WITH LESS.

4. TIPS TO ACHIEVE GREATEST EFFECTIVENESS

(a) Timing: take the pills at least 30 minutes before drinking, but possible up to 2 hours before. 30min-2hours is the consensus.

(b) Water: Consume the pills with water. 250ml-500ml seems to be appropriate.

(c) Eating: This has been a slight point of contention, though the general consensus is that avoiding food around the time of drinking and taking the H2-blocker(s) is more effective than partying on a full stomach. If you must eat at some point, it seems the best time is after a couple of drinks and thereafter.

(d) Dairy: Some suggest avoiding dairy helps, but for the majority, it seems to make no difference.

(e) Cigarettes: Some have suggested avoiding cigarettes helps.

(f) Speed of drinking: Many adhere to this rule: drink the first drink slowly. I’m not sure why this would help all that much, but many suggest it is a key tactic to avoiding the flush. Furthermore, the general consensus is that slamming shots will undo the H2-blocker: so drink slowly. 2 standard drinks per hour has been suggested as reasonable.

5. TYPES OF ALCOHOL

Generally, speaking, the more expensive the alcohol the less Asian blush occurs. I don’t know why. Below are some of my and other conclusions on good and bad alcohols.

BAD
Wine (red and white). One of the worst things you can take. This stuff rapes me   
Vodka. Quite bad as well. If you have to have it, buy expensive stuff.   
Bourbon whiskey. I have found this to be not so good   
Beer. I find beer to be on the worse side of things.   
   
GOOD
Jagermeister. I find this to be really one of the better alcohols.
Gin. Some have said it is quite good.
Scotch whiskey. Especially the better ones seem to be quite good.

Tequila?
Rum?

6. TOLERANCE

If you take famotidine regularly for years you will develop a tolerance. This seems to be the general consensus between long time users.

7. ACQURING DRUGS IN AUSTRALIA

Famotidine is prescription; ranitidine and loratidine are not. However, it is legal to buy famotidine over the internet (eBay) and have it imported by mail so long as the quantity does not exceed that would be consumed in 3 months if it was consumed in regular dosages: i.e. 170 20mg pills is fine; if you import over 180 20mg pills you are pushing it.

8. ALTERNATE METHODS

(a) Hangover pills like Cheerz do not work
(b) See other threads for potential solutions.

9. SAFETY

No consistent or documented negative side effects have been concluded. From the fact that so many people are successfully doing this, it seems short-term negative side effects are negligible, though nothing can be said as of yet about long-term side effects.

Some side effects that have been mentioned are:
•    Tingly arm
•    Nausea (occurring if an individual consumes more H2-blocker than necessary)
•    Increased effect of alcohol (some get drunk sooner)
•    Decreased effect of alcohol (some can’t even get drunk)
•    Diarrhea (one person mentioned this)
•    Other general side effects of famotidine such as dry mouth, dizziness, and so on.

10. FINAL WORRIES AND QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

In technical language:

1. Kman made some particularly good points about the fact that H2-blockers may not actually be slowing the metabolism of alcohol (thereby allowing acetaldehyde metabolism to keep up) but instead simply targeting the histamines that are produced as a result of elevated acetaldehyde levels.
2. This suggestion was made in light of the fact that ethanol levels in subjects were not elevated despite taking famotidine. However, these studies are from some time ago – Kman if you are still around, could you possibly look up some recent ones perhaps circa 2005-2008?
3. If this is indeed the way the famotidine is operating, perhaps it is a dangerous drug as drinkers will still have elevated acetaldehyde level but simply not realize.
4. A side note that was worth noting is that according to Kman’s research, it is likely ranitidine is ‘better’ for you as alcohol levels were increased in subjects when taking ranitidine suggesting it inhibits the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.

In layman’s terms:

1. Pepcid might not be addressing the underlying problem but instead masking the symptoms
2. There is good evidence to suggest the above conclusion, but I want more evidence.
3. As Pepcid merely covers up the symptoms of the problem but allows the problem to still exist, we may be putting ourselves at even greater risk of cancer and the other harmful effects of acetaldehyde.
4. If you are shit-scared, take ranitidine. If it doesn’t work, I guess you’ll have to stick to famotidine.

11. ANSWERS TO MISCELLANEOUS FAQS

Is there any difference between 20mg famotidine pills and 10mg famotidine pills besides their famotidine content? No.

Is there any difference between Pepcid AC and other pills that have only famotidine in them? No.

Awesome summary, good job!

I still wish someone could answer my question in regards to Chewables vs Pills.

Do the chewables act quicker / more effectively due to it being chewed/broken up, as opposed to our bodies breaking the pills down? Any info would help, thanks guys.

Yah, I mean.. absolutely I know not to chew up pills that are meant to be swallowed.... but they do sell Chewable Pepcid AC Max Strengths...... and I was wondering if anyone had experience with them.

With what you said, I would think that they would act faster as well..... but would that make them wear off quicker also is another thing I'd like to know. Anyone?

Steph, no problem. Interesting that wine and shots are fine for you.

I'd think this is also the case. The famo would probably absorb quicker and kick in quickly, but wear off sooner I supppose...

Yeah me too, Momo. The only hope I see, right now, is the Convivia.... and I don't even know if that's a pill we take before drinking or what. :(

Hello everyone.  This is a great forum I'm glad I found it.  I'm half japanese and half caucasian 20 years old, and I found that I turn red when drinking (just my face and neck tho, not the rest of my body), I get a pulsating headache, I feel hot, and I don't get the regular effects that others get.  Oh yeah, and I'm 150 lbs.  BUT, there have been a few instances, before I found out about Pepcid AC, where I drank, and didn't get red at all.  Not only didn't I get red, but I got the feeling of euphoria, great sense of well being, reduced inhibitions, more confidence, ect.  When I get red, I don't get any of these positive effects.  90 % of the time though, I get red when I drink, so I've come to the conclusion that it's something that I'm eating that is helping combat asian flush, but I'm not sure what exactly. 

After doing research, some sources say that eating frucose and glucose type foods seem to help, and one source said eating starchy food like fried chicken helps.  So I did an experiment on myself a few days ago.  I went out and bought Pepcid AC chewable tablets, a 12 pack of budweiser beer.  And for breakfast I had toast with a LOT OF HONEY (high in fructose/glucose) on top, and fried chicken for dinner.  Had some spagetti when I got home from work at 11:00 pm, then ate two Pepcid AC chewable tablets.  About an hour later, slowly drank one beer.  Had absolutely no redness, no feeling of being hot, no headache, and I had all the positive effects of alcohol.  Had like 1 more beer.  Then an hour later, had another beer, but unfortunetly now I started to turn red, so I stopped drinking and went to bed. 

So from this experiment, it seems that either/or Pepcid AC or eating fructose/glucose food helps significantly.  I'm gonna do anyother expirment on myself when I go out tonight, I'll eat 3 Pepcid AC pills an hour before drinking, and I'll eat a few between drinks.  I'll post my results tomorrow.

It seems the consensus is Pepcid AC works wonders and is helping everyone here with asian flush.  So here's a question to all the other asians with asian flush.   While drinking after taking Pepcid AC, assuming it works and the redness doesn't come, do you get the positive effects of alcohol (euphoria, increased confidence, become more social, ect)?

hey guys, i been lurking this forum for awhile. i try not to drink much, but when i do, one zantac about 30min-1hour works reallly well. i usually try to take it with food.

anyway, i have a question, i just found i had some zantac tablets but it says the exp date is 9/18/08, and there is a lot left. do you guys think its safe to use even if i use some pass the exp. date? im asking this because i got it from the doctors on 9/17/07 and im thinking they only put the exp date just to put it there.

Hi there,

firstly, im actually australian, not of asian decent at all. i am rosie in complection naturally and i get similar flushing reactions as i do with alcohol just generally. i discovered this forum a while ago and use to get very red, hot and anxious when i drink. i tried zantac and it worked really well. i was under the impression however that your stomach has to be empty in order for the antacids to neutralise the stomach acids (or whatever they actually do). i usually make sure i havent eaten any food 2 - 3 hours before hand, then take 1 or 1 1/2 45min - 1 hour before i start drinking. i find this works pretty well but my questions are:

are actually taken these antacids regulary really harmfull to your body or does your body become use to them?

also can you grow out of this phase of turning red when consuming aclcohol when your body further developes or you get older?

has anyone used rosacea or anxiety medication to counteract flushing due to alcohol?

hopefully you can all help!

yeah zantac hasnt really worked for me the times i experiemented with it but pepcid drastically reduces the flush effects.  Still a bit of pink floating around the face but then again ive been known for my vainity.  All in all a good solution for knocking back two or three beverages (maybe you people can throw down more personally the grog in my belly doesnt make me feel so crash hot - pun intended).

to answer smithy on Q.2:  No, but your if your body adapts to alcohol it develops and utilizes an auxilary process (which then becomes very much the primary system in dealing with and processing large amounts of alcohol) called the MEOS system.  People who drink alot are primed for this route of catylisation - although im guessing becoming an alcoholic is not what you have in mind when you are asking of developing adaptability to the substance