1,026 Reply by pickles

  • Registered: 2008-03-24
  • Posts: 4

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

RedFace01 wrote:

I just found this forum tonight and wanted to share and see if anyone could help me....

I'm a 23 year old female with no asian decent at all (German, Irish and Spanish). I seem to be the only one out of my family who experiences this frustrating flushing issue. I developed this a few years ago. It had NEVER happened to be before that. Like some of you it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes I go out and drink cocktails or beer and I'm completely fine (I prefer vodka and diet coke). Just last month I was at a friend's bachelorette party at a bunch of wineries which started at 11am and was terrified (because wine seems to induce it the most with me). To my surprise I only got a little blotchy on my jaw line and that's it.

Not only this but it seems there are certain things I (think I) can do to prevent it (not full proof but it's the only thing I've found thus far that helps, haven't tried the Pepcid or Zantac thing yet)

-Being in a very cool environment, it seems hot places or direct sunlight bring it on even worse/quicker
-working out a few hours before I drink
-staying away from wine

For awhile I thought it had something to do with my body temperature because I seem to flush on my face/neck/chest when I workout or am in hot environments while drinking (so much for summer bbq's) but then like some of you I get it if I eat something while drinking. (This doesn't work out so well when you go out to dinner with business clients who insist on you drinking). So then I'm either not drinking or not eating.

I'm basically really confused with what is going on. It even happens when I get embarrassed or emotional sometimes (with or without alcohol involved). With the eating thing I thought it might have to do with my blood sugar level?? Not sure why the workout out thing sometimes works, I thought maybe because I'm forcing my body to over heat it gets it all out and then won't come out later when I drink. Again this could all could just sound ridiculous but I'm pretty desperate. My boyfriend thinks I am huge pain because I need like hours notice before we go out due to my silly rituals of working out, eating in advance, planning the location (cool environments), etc. Geez I used to be so carefree and spontaneous!!

It also gets even worse when everyone questions me about being "sooo RED" or asking me whats wrong and insisting I have an allergy to some sort of food. I've had people try to give me asprin. Then due to the attention I get even more embarrassed and the red facial flushing blotches get even worse.

Sometimes it's not my whole face but weird blotches on my cheeks or jawline and other times it's my whole face :( Does anyone think this is "asian flush" or do I have some other issue. I went to my doctor and she tried to give me Propranolol. I took that a couple of times but it really didn't seem to work. I'm certain for a fact the alcohol does have something to do with it the times I get it while drinking because I am sometimes calm at home, not nervous at all, in a great mood, cool environment and then have 1-2 drinks and it comes on.

Any help or advice would be wonderful!!

PS. Also I feel like time of day or whether I'm tired contributes to it too. Sometimes when I drink in the mornings (like BBQ's or brunch) I'm ok. Then like around dinner or when I'm tired I feel like it is almost certain to come on if I have a drink.


Sounds like it could be an allergy to the histamines in wines, or alcohols. i remember reading something about that once. Im sure its quite a common problem, can come out of nowhere.  doesnt sound like asian flush. ud no if u had it. its not just redness but like being hit with a truck in the head. also its genetic so ud have it for ur whole life.  good luck.

1,027 Reply by comfyuniverse22 (edited by comfyuniverse22 2009-07-31 12:02:16)

  • Registered: 2009-07-25
  • Posts: 5

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

I recently tried a Zantac 150mg. I took 1 around 45 mins before I started drinking. In the span of around 3 hours I had 1.5 beers and half a shot. When I got home around 4 hours after I started drinking I threw up. I felt like the Zantac really helped though. After I drank my first beer i felt fine. 1 beer would normally get me inteansly red with a medocre head ache (along with the normal asian flush symptoms.) As the night went on I managed to drink another half beer and took down half a shot. When I returned home the normal shit was back and I threw up. Also as the night progressed the asian flush symptoms slowly came back, im not sure if it was because I was drinking more or because the pill was wearing off.

I felt Zantac really helped though. I didnt really get that red the entire night. The other symptoms were reduced. I feel like I definatly could have drank more if I was feeling the way I was after my first beer though, when the Zantac was in full effect.

Would it be reccommended to take 2 pills at the same time before you start drinking? or take 1 wait 45 mins, and right before you start drinking take another? or take 1 wait 45 mins and start drinking and an HR later take another one?
Thanks your guy's advise really does make a difference! btw the amount of alc. I consumed that night would normally have me red as a tomato, head pulsing, very drousy, heart racing, and feelin like shit. Zantac reduced those things, not to a level so I could drink normaly though.

  • Registered: 2009-08-05
  • Posts: 1

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

Found this forum and it has literally saved my social life...

I've been taking 2-20mg tablets of Pepcid ac when I drink, so 40mg altogether and it has been incredible! Usually within 2 sips of any alcohol I'd start to turn pink with a half of a beer being the point where I use to get seriously red. There were times when I'd have a couple glasses of wine and my whole body would be red and radiating heat and my boyfriend would say "Oh my god, are you OK!" People would often tease me about how red I was and how ridiculously drunk I looked but I wasn't!

Now that is all behind me! I just turned 27 (woohoo!) and drank like a champion to celebrate! I had 3/4 bottle of wine and a vodka tonic that night and got happily drunk without the horrible redness/heat/intensity. I laughed and had an incredible time with my friends and had amazing (non-red) sex with my boyfriend...all in all, grrreat birthday.

$10.99 + tax for 20 tablets = WELL WORTH THE MONEY!

1,029 Reply by jasko

  • Registered: 2006-05-05
  • Posts: 70

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

haha, hurray for non-red sex! lol.

Keep us posted on your future experiences (with the Pepcid, not the sex!)

  • Registered: 2008-01-15
  • Posts: 4

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

i tried the pepcid thing and i dont think it worked for me........but i didnt really stick it out after the first drink because the flush still came over and i started getting the headache.......

so i was wondering if people could tell me if the tablets worked straight away, ie have no symptoms from the first sip or if it took a while to kick in, ie after a couple of drinks the flush would disappear.

i'l really appreciate your help.

  • Registered: 2008-08-16
  • Posts: 2

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

Here's a good question for everyone with asian flush.  Have you ever actually been intoxicated/drunk?  Seems to me like the pepcid AC only blocks the facial flushing, but doesn't prevent any other asian flush symptoms.  One time, about half a year ago, I somehow managed to get drunk for the first and last time in my life.  It made me happy, and didn't make me overthink every little thing like I normally do, made me feel very numb and happy emotionally.  IDK why at that particular time I didn't get the flush, but I don't think it was the pepcid AC.

Since then I've been trying different solutions to try to avoid the flush, and nothing has worked.  I've tried pepcid ac, and it helps reduce the redness, but no matter how much I drink I just can't get intoxicated.  I feel cloudy and heavy headed is all, it's not pleasant.  Does pepcid ac do the same for you guys?  If so, why do you consider pepcid ac helpful at all?

1,032 Reply by jhawking

  • From: Melbourne
  • Registered: 2009-04-21
  • Posts: 27

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

In my experience, the Pepcid aids in reducing not only the red face reaction but also the other common side effects such as headache, constricted breathing, etc.  It also seems to reduce the morning after hangover effect too.  Maybe its the type of alcohol that you're drinking...

1,033 Reply by asu623 (edited by asu623 2009-08-24 18:14:43)

  • Registered: 2008-10-30
  • Posts: 6

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

Went out to a club two nights ago and took 5 pepcid ac max pills. I took 3 an hour before we headed out and took the other 2 about an hour or so in the club. It's so frustrating because I still managed to get red around my cheeks and a lil on my forehead. I drank 2 captain and cokes and 3 long islands. It's starting to get real depressing. I had fun... but when I saw some of the pictures my friends took of us... I could see redness in my face. Pepcid works at reducing the redness a little, but not enough.

I've prayed so many times for something to cure my asian flush... hopefully something will come out soon =/

1,034 Reply by SIL3Nt

  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 1

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

I am half asian and I also get the blush. Face goes red, can feel my heart pounding. Haven't tried zantac or pepcid yet, but I might look into it. Just wondering, what blood type is everyone here that is affected.

1,035 Reply by jasko (edited by jasko 2009-08-26 19:47:23)

  • Registered: 2006-05-05
  • Posts: 70

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

So I'm going to Las Vegas in a week. Ugh. Everyone's going to be eating and drinking. Any suggestions? lol

but I guess to make this not such a worthless post, like everyone's been stating, your first drink or two, drink slow!! although it sucks, it will help. Also, if I do turn pink or red, I feel that that lasts about anywhere from 20 - 60 minutes, then goes away, then I'm good to go. So, if you drink slow, start to pink, just accept it. Drink slow, and let it pass. Try to drink a lot of water before too so you can pee a lot.

  • Registered: 2009-09-19
  • Posts: 3

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

Pepcid AC, Acid controler  combination of the H2-blocker famotidine (10 mg) with the antacids calcium carbonate (800 mg) and magnesium hydroxide (165 mg). It is administered as chewable tablets and used to treat heartburn.

1,037 Reply by Steph

  • Steph
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-04-12
  • Posts: 72

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

It's been simply ages since I've visited this forum. How are you all? Pepcid still works well for me (I actually use generic famotidine). First drink is agonisingly slow and still go a little red from it, but after that I'm all good. In fact, I seem to go pale and pasty-looking!

In response to Yossarian, yes I most definitely get drunk :)

  • Registered: 2009-09-24
  • Posts: 1

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

im really glad i found this forum, prior to it i had the typical asian flush symptoms every time i drank. mine wasnt too bad, though id get a mild headache and turn red around my face and neck, though not as deep a red as some others..
i bought zantac tablets to test them out, as pepcid ac is prescription only, and it worked wonderfully!
it did act as a catalyst, but personally im not complaining haha. the redness and headache all dissappeared, and at other times when i did drink too much and threw up, it wasnt at all like usual, as the zantac controls the acid so that it is neutral when it comes back up.
i now take it 30-60 mins before any alcohol consumption and it has continued to work well. (in case wondering, im a petite chinese female)
the only problem i have found with it, is that it does not work as well after eating a full meal.. maybe because of the speed of digestion but im not sure..
anyways hope that helps anyone, and good luck!

  • Registered: 2009-09-24
  • Posts: 1

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

notbadatall wrote:

im really glad i found this forum, prior to it i had the typical asian flush symptoms every time i drank. mine wasnt too bad, though id get a mild headache and turn red around my face and neck, though not as deep a red as some others..
i bought zantac tablets to test them out, as pepcid ac is prescription only, and it worked wonderfully!
it did act as a catalyst, but personally im not complaining haha. the redness and headache all dissappeared, and at other times when i did drink too much and threw up, it wasnt at all like usual, as the zantac controls the acid so that it is neutral when it comes back up.
i now take it 30-60 mins before any alcohol consumption and it has continued to work well. (in case wondering, im a petite chinese female)
the only problem i have found with it, is that it does not work as well after eating a full meal.. maybe because of the speed of digestion but im not sure..
anyways hope that helps anyone, and good luck!

I'm glad you have found a solution. Due to the asian blush, I rarely drink alcohol. But sometimes, I just want to have a drink, but I just can't have a drink. Since I'm not addicted to alcohol, I don't complain much, but sometimes, it's nice to have a drink with friends.

But what I found out is, that the effects reduces for me when I just ate some fat food, just like hamburgers. When I combine that with some allergic pills that I sometimes take, called zyrtec, it CAN reduce the symptons. But it's not always like that. But I think I have to look at that direction. Nevertheless I would like to try possible solutions mentioned on this forum. I hope I can find those pills here in europe...

1,040 Reply by billie

  • Registered: 2009-09-25
  • Posts: 1

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

I recently bought a bottle of Pepcid Complete
Does anyone know if it is more/less effective than other Pepcid Products?

1,041 Reply by asu623

  • Registered: 2008-10-30
  • Posts: 6

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

Just got home from a night of drinking. I got called out by someone at the bar saying I have asian flush. It was kind of embarrassing, I took 5 chewable pepcid ac max and still got red enough for people to notice. I hate this sooo much, I think tonight is the last night I'm going to drink. I'm so sick of being embarrassed!

  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 2

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

anyboy know any types of alchol that doesnt cause redness? i usually try and drink light beers like coors light which taste like shit but that doesn really work...i sometimes find that hard drinks cause slightly less redness for some reason like jack daniels....any feedback would be great....

1,043 Reply by jasko (edited by jasko 2009-11-08 11:06:18)

  • Registered: 2006-05-05
  • Posts: 70

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

medrinkulongtime wrote:

anyboy know any types of alchol that doesnt cause redness? i usually try and drink light beers like coors light which taste like shit but that doesn really work...i sometimes find that hard drinks cause slightly less redness for some reason like jack daniels..

I find lite beers go easier on me as well as some hard liquors.. like clear liquors. Everyone's body is different though, so this may just work for you and not for someone else. I usually stick with Rum...... Captain Morgan. A little while ago I discovered they have Captain Morgan Silver, the clear one and not dark. I've been going with that lately and I find that that works better for me, vs the dark one.

I'm still trying to figure out how to be social with party circumstances..... food and drinks. Oh well. Hi everyone.

  • Registered: 2009-11-02
  • Posts: 4

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

Here is my experience that I think its similar to ONLY A FEW on this forum..

I am a 32 year old half japanese, half american male.   I've been drinking rather heavily since I was 21 and never had such problems before. About 3 years ago I started getting HIVES AFTER drinking.  I will get them all over my body and face. Its red, blotchy, bumpy and a little itchy. If scratched they would spread even more. I don't get red flushed or accelerated heart rate or beat red or dizzy while drinking.  I can drink ALL night with no problems.  It usually starts on my body about 8 hours after I stop drinking. Arms, legs, chest, back and face..  But they go away after a couple of hours. Untill the next drinking adventure. Symptoms are severe when I combine lack of sleep with alchohol. in fact I could have just one beer and only sleep for 3 hours that night, and the next day is bad hives..

I get the hives more when I drink any other alchohol except for Scotch whiskey. Beer is the worst.

a friend told me about Zantac and I put it to the test.

I took a max strengh zantac 30 minutes before going out on a beer drinking binge. I drank about 11 pints of Guiness.  and I woke up the next day with NO HIVES. The first time in 3 years.   Very pleased...   BUT  I started getting them later that day... 18 hours after I stopped drinking.. So I took another pill. the hyves went away...  perhaps the alchohol was still in my system, and the zantact wore off? I'm still skeptical, so I try it again next time and will post here again.

  • Registered: 2009-11-02
  • Posts: 4

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

Update #1    This past Sunday I took a Zantac on my way to a friends house to drink at around 1 PM.  I had 8 beers of mix varieties from 1 PM till 11 PM.  Went to sleep, but woke up around 2AM. I had a little bit of a rash, so I popped another pill.  Woke up the next day and did not have the rash  any more.  It didnt come back in the afternoon like it does some times either.   More updates  soon

1,046 Reply by wylderubicon (edited by wylderubicon 2009-12-03 07:42:34)

  • Registered: 2009-11-02
  • Posts: 4

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

Update #2  For ThanksGiving this past week I popped another pill prior to dinner.  With Dinner I probably Drauk about 4 beers and 2 bottles of wine..   I was perfectly fine all night and the next day.

1,047 Reply by jasko

  • Registered: 2006-05-05
  • Posts: 70

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

^that's a lot of booze! Can you tell me how quickly or slowly you consumed your beers/wine? I feel that if I take the first few reallllllly slow, I feel the warmth and redness, and then it goes away and then I'm good to go. but mixing food into the equation for me has porcelain results!

  • Registered: 2009-11-02
  • Posts: 4

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

My situation is rather different from most here. I don't get the warmth and redness as I start drinking.  Instead I get a severe redness & rash about 4 hours after I stop drinking the rash will come and go for the next 24 hours or so, rash levels vary depending on amount of alchohol, and lack of sleep.  rash is also worse when I drink back to back days or 3 days in a row.

Yes that might sound like a lot to drink, but I tend to drink a lot.  The speed of which I consume the alchohol does not have any variation of affects, I don't drink ultra slow, but I'm not sitting at the diner table with a funnel either.

1,049 Reply by ken1983

  • Registered: 2009-12-21
  • Posts: 1

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

KMan wrote:
StopRanting wrote:

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.

Lovely summary. And as requested, I have crawled out of my hole to give you some updates....

There are 2 recent reports which confirm my earlier position. Both by the same author.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1920 … d_RVDocSum

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1920 … d_RVDocSum

Essentially, I think he summarises old info.

Firstly he confirms that some H2 Blockers have an effect on ADH (the enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde). And again Ranitidine is named. But this is nothing new.  Old studies as far back as 1991 confirm "at therapeutic doses in vivo, the degree of inhibition by cimetidine and ranitidine should be significant and comparable, that by nizatidine should be smaller, and that by famotidine should be negligible." So we know for a fact that Ranitidine has SOME inhibitory effect on ADH but not famotidine (Pepcid). The second report states:

"Increased blood acetaldehyde resulting from abnormalities of alcohol dehydrogenase genotype in the Orientals population can release histamine from mast cells and basophiles, which induces the hypersensitivity reactions (flushing). These reactions may be blocked by antihistamine drugs. H2-receptor antagonists influence on the ethanol metabolism by the inhibition of the activity of alcohol metabolizing enzymes in the stomach and liver."

So essentially, this author surmises that the H2 blockers work by inhibiting ADH. Now, I don't think he has the whole picture, or at least the whole picture relating to famotidine. Since he himself and other studies have found that famotidine has no or negligible effect on ADH, there must be some other mechanism by which famotidine works. Whatever it is, as far as the studies show, there is nothing to show that famotidine stops the production of acetaldehyde. It may stop the symptoms (the histamine release), but not the production of acetaldehyde, which is the killer carcinogen.

Another poster, nohxtk1, seems to have come on board recently, and he is a med student. He seems to share my view, and would probably be in a better position, with his training, to find more studies, or explain things.

So let me continue my nagging crusade of warning all of you not to get carried away. Even ranitidine doesn't completely inhibit ADH, and if anything just lowers levels of acetaldehyde (not sure to what extent).

Alcohol is dangerous to asian flushers.  The link to cancer is very very clearly established.

Conviva sounds promising though!

hi guys, has anyone here taken both pepcid and zantac at the same time? i've scanned through the posts and don't think i saw any info on it. would be interesting to know if this is more effective and more importantly, whether there is any known adverse health effects of taking two different types of H2 blockers at the same time.

On Kman's point above, was also thinking that since there is some evidence that zantac may be slightly better (in terms of our health) as it actually lowers acetaldehyde levels while pepcid does not, might it not be better for us to take zantac as well, even for those of us who dont' get any effects from it?

  • Registered: 2010-01-01
  • Posts: 4

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

wylderubicon wrote:

Here is my experience that I think its similar to ONLY A FEW on this forum..

I am a 32 year old half japanese, half american male.   I've been drinking rather heavily since I was 21 and never had such problems before. About 3 years ago I started getting HIVES AFTER drinking.  I will get them all over my body and face. Its red, blotchy, bumpy and a little itchy. If scratched they would spread even more. I don't get red flushed or accelerated heart rate or beat red or dizzy while drinking.  I can drink ALL night with no problems.  It usually starts on my body about 8 hours after I stop drinking. Arms, legs, chest, back and face..  But they go away after a couple of hours. Untill the next drinking adventure. Symptoms are severe when I combine lack of sleep with alchohol. in fact I could have just one beer and only sleep for 3 hours that night, and the next day is bad hives..

I get the hives more when I drink any other alchohol except for Scotch whiskey. Beer is the worst.

a friend told me about Zantac and I put it to the test.

I took a max strengh zantac 30 minutes before going out on a beer drinking binge. I drank about 11 pints of Guiness.  and I woke up the next day with NO HIVES. The first time in 3 years.   Very pleased...   BUT  I started getting them later that day... 18 hours after I stopped drinking.. So I took another pill. the hyves went away...  perhaps the alchohol was still in my system, and the zantact wore off? I'm still skeptical, so I try it again next time and will post here again.

I am an ENT physician and treat allergy as part of my specialty.  You may want to try getting a sample of Singulair.  This is a leukotriene blocker, formerly known as slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis.  Leukotrienes are released during the inflammatory process and are probably responsible for your late appearance of hives.  Let me know if this works for you.