126

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

After much experimenting, I found that taking 40 mg of max strength Pepcid AC with lots of water 4-5 hours before drinking works best for me...no redness whatsoever! (I know it sounds like an absurd amount of time to take effect, but I guess it takes my body longer to break down the pills!) Anyone else experience this?

127

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

Does that include eating in that time frame?  Do you eat at all after taking the pills?

128

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

hey, i get the alcohol flush reaction as well. Most of you seem to think the pepcid AC works well. I'm from australia, does anybody know if there is anyhere i can purchase pepcid AC from over here? If not, would someone be willing to ship me some? I will of course pay for the shipping expenses.

129

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

Uh, just thought all you guys out there should be aware that although these H2 blockers can be effective in reducing the asian glow, there's a sexual side effect: erectile dysfuntion (that's right...problems with "getting it up".) Compounded with imbibing copious amounts of alcohol could quantify the situation. Here's a link that also lists, among the H2s, other OTCs that may also contribute to ED.

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/57/66229.htm

I figured it out through some deduction (healthy guy w/ a good libido, yet why wasn't the plumbing working?) After this realization, I decided to forgo the H2s next time I drank and well...got my groove back :)

Can't have your cake and eat it too, I guess!

130

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

Oh yeah, forgot to add that if you plan to smoke in addition to taking H2s before drinking, you can kiss your chances of getting lucky bye-bye.

About the migraine headaches when drinking (I get that too and a stiffening of the neck sometimes after the fifth drink): popping a couple of ibuprofen and chugging a lot of H2O usually gets rid of that.

Better living through pharmacy ;)

131

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

Bullshit dude. I get my f*ck on no problem after drinking with Pepcid, smoking, whatever....

You think you're the only person with the flush that has tried to screw after drinking with pepcid??? Better contemplate that before you start making broad generalizations for the entire asian flush community.

132

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

Famotidine (active ingrediant in Pepcid) isn't even freaking listed in that link you posted. Nice try.

133

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

Ok, my bad. So, among the H2s, Pepcid/Famotidine's the only one NOT on the list of drugs linked to ED. You're welcome to try the other H2s if that webMD link isn't reputable enough for you. FYI, here's another one by the National Institutes of Health that cites the same thing:

http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/impotence/

Just tryin' to educate, and become educated (so thanks, I'll switch to Pepcid and see what happens.) Didn't know I struck such a nerve...sheesh. :P

134

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

Hello everyone and thank you for all the info,

Never tried the P.A.C. (pepcid ac), but am anxious to give it a shot.  LOL, the things I'll go through to get wasted without turning red!

Here's my story...I hope you can sympathize or least get a laugh or two out of it.  I drink socially just as much as the next person.  Did I hear happy hour? But of course, after a beer or two and turning into "Redman, Lobster boy, Reff (aka Red Jeff), the Angry Asian, Purple Nurple, shit man, the list goes on, my "condition" gets old pretty fast.  Anyway.... I'm so glad my friends aren't the worst ball busting bunch of Caucasians bstrds around.  But hey, I'm glad I'm able to entertain them at my own expense. My casual, "Nah, I don't feel like drinking tonight," just doesn't fly with my drinking buddies.  Hah! If only they could walk in my shoes.  But honestly, who are my enzymes to deny me the buzz of a good grain alcohol. 

Anyway, as you can imagine, turning right red, having that Lance Amstrong heart rate, getting blood shot eyes, is physically uncomfortable, but it also takes a toll on you emotionally.  In most cases, I don't mind the stares by the innocent by-standers on the otherside of the bar.  Heck, if I can deal with it, so can they, right? 

Nevertheless, by having a beer or two, I effectivly c_ck-block myself as my red glow unintentionally gives off its appearent "keep away" warning like a coral snake.  Other than that I'm a damn good looking guy.  But Asian Flush sucks man, it's like Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde.  I'm glad I've finally stumbled upon this forum.

Sorry all for this tangent everyone, but I appreciate all the advice!

p.s. does anyone's eyes look stoned too and does the PAC work on that as well?

BRgrds

AmazingYen

135

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

G'Day REFF!,

I think everyones eyes go red, mine certainly do. I think pepcid helps a bit, but the best go is eye drops. I use Visine allergy drops with antihistamine, works good even when you don't use pepcid (of course the face still goes red if you don't use Pepcid.)

136

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

Jamie wrote:

G'Day REFF!,

I think everyones eyes go red, mine certainly do. I think pepcid helps a bit, but the best go is eye drops. I use Visine allergy drops with antihistamine, works good even when you don't use pepcid (of course the face still goes red if you don't use Pepcid.)

LOL thanks, I'll give it a try.

137

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

Hey M4, I jumped down your throat because pepcid has been a godsend for lots of flushers like myself, and I didn't want you scaring people away from it with stories of limpdick side effects.

138

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

I am absolutely amazed.  I have now gone with pepcid 4x and every time has been a great experience.  No more heart pounding, red flush, or even horrific hangovers.  I don't even have this incredible need to smoke cigs to comfort me (I only smoke when I drink).  I also have not found myself being more drunk, but rather the opposite.  I feel more in control, less self consious, and happier when I drink.  Also, I used to over drink and get a bad case of whiskey d*ck.  I have lost many opportunities to take care of business b/c of it.  I can tell you now... I am going like a 16 YO on a windy day even with 8-9 drinks in me.  AMAZING!

I use 40mg 30m prior to drinking.  When I did 2h, I was even better off (90-95% of redness gone vs. 75-80%).  I am blown away.

139

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

hey i was reading the posts and i thought i was the only person that this happened to.  I turn beet red after one Smirnoff Ice and it spreads to my back and down my stomach, it's very embarrassing to say the least.  I had a question, how much of anything suggested should i take, b/c i am only 100lbs?  Thanks

140

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

Mindfly wrote:

I am absolutely amazed.  I have now gone with pepcid 4x and every time has been a great experience.  No more heart pounding, red flush, or even horrific hangovers.  I don't even have this incredible need to smoke cigs to comfort me (I only smoke when I drink).  I also have not found myself being more drunk, but rather the opposite.  I feel more in control, less self consious, and happier when I drink.  Also, I used to over drink and get a bad case of whiskey d*ck.  I have lost many opportunities to take care of business b/c of it.  I can tell you now... I am going like a 16 YO on a windy day even with 8-9 drinks in me.  AMAZING!

I use 40mg 30m prior to drinking.  When I did 2h, I was even better off (90-95% of redness gone vs. 75-80%).  I am blown away.

it seems that he pepcid has worked great for you. how much time prior did you take the pills before drinking? after or before you ate? full or empty stomach?

141

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

Great forum!!! Finally maybe, some answers to my prayers.

I'm keen to get stuck into these pepcid things but I have one question.  How do you go about getting pepcid in australia if you require pescription??

142

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

regarding the asian glow...
i take Pepcid AC (20mg) 1-2 hours before i plan on drinking. it lasts for as long as you can drink, in other words, you'll be passed out before this stuff stops working. my face still feels warm (but not red or burning hot), and i sometimes get a really fast heartrate, but that's alcohol. this is what i have been doing for the past couple of years and it works. trust me.

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

Hey, guys. For those of you looking for the answer to why you can't take an enzyme supplement, read this thread:

http://echeng.com/asianblush/viewtopic.php?id=9

AND, I think you should all post photos of yourselves out on the town WITH and WITHOUT pepcid.

144

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

Skunk, I live in Sydney and simply went to my local GP and explained my situation, and asked for a prescription. He was absolutely fine with writing me up a prescription, and since the stuff is available OTC in other countries I'm guessing it's pretty harmless and most GPs would be happy to write you a prescription. In Australia it's called Pepcidine, and costs about $30 for 60 20mg tablets.

145

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

Thanks Jay, I tried Zantac Extra Strength 2 hours prior to having the 1st drink (heineken).  Seems to do a good job.  I then had another x3 beers within the hour.  In the 2nd hour started getting rosy cheeks and at the back of my neck.   However, didn't turn into the ripe tomato color that could have been!  Didn't seem to affect my consumption of alcohol though. If anything, I could now drink more as I no longer had breathing problems, veins ready to explode, red eye etc...

I'II try the pepcid stuff over the w/e and let you all know. Giddy Up :)

146

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

For fellow Australians, it is illegal to send prescription drugs out of the country without a prescription, so I would be careful if you are thinking about bringing them in.  Plenty of people do it, but that doesn't make it legal.

     Youy could try looking for the following brand names (drugs using famotidine as active ingredient):

ausfam
pepcid
pepcidine
pepcidine M
pamacid 20
amfamox
pepzan

     I'm fairly sure there some of these are available over the counter at lower strengths.  Let me know if anyone finds out or has better information.

Nic.

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

Hi all,
I discovered this forum about 2 months ago and I agree it works very well. I'm curious though....several people have now reported a "tolerance" to the pepcid....I think I have as well.......
I'm not sure if it's mental or if my expectations have begun to exceed the ability of this H2 blocker to work......i'm curious if anyone else has anything to comment....and if so....how long did it take before the "tolerance" developed......

148

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

Yo does anyone know of antacid tablets with calcium carbonate in them for treating the flush. There isnt pepcid ac in uk but at boots theres loads of these calcium carbonate tablets for cheap dnno if itll work tho?
This flush has pissed me off my whole life from when i first tried to drink at 13. I ended up smoking bare draw and doing shrooms meaning i went out less and been doing that till now (im now 18) and i really need to start drinking without looking like a fu**ing weirdo.

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

I happened upon this site last night and was intrigued by the thought that there was a way to possibly counter  the dreaded Asian Blush. I am half Korean and English and have suffered through this reaction my whole adult life. Needless to say I was at the drug store immediately after reading these entries with a bottle of Pepcid AC in hand. I told my wife of 24 years what I had discovered and asked her to join me for a glass of wine. I took 40mg. an hour before drinking my first glass of wine. After the first glass we both looked at each other and started laughing because there was no sign of any blushing, racing heart, red eyes, itchiness or blochiness. It really worked. Second glass...no blushing. I'm speechless. I'll be interested to see if this continues to work but for right now I am a happy man. Thanks for putting this forum together, it's been a tremendous help!

Cheers!

150

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

hey im glad i found this forum and i took pepcid two since im in the uk for the first time last nite and i managed to get properly drunk for the first time ever since id normally always stop drinking as soon as my face would go RED.
It's great and reduced the redness a whole lot the thing is it is worrying since i know that we're seriously gonna increase our chances of stomach cancers by building up all that carcinogenic acetaldehyde in our bodies when we drink. All the pepcid does is block the flushing reaction caused by the acetaldehyde, so everytime we drink its increasing our chances of cancer since our bodies cant break it down fast enough.
Instead of pepcid i found a site www.cheerzhangover.com which apparently specialises in boosting breakdown of acetaldehyde in your body, exactly what we need, and whats best is the ingredients are all natural meaning it isnt even a drug. It even talks about it helping asian flush on the website. If anyone has tried this or will do please post the results as it seems like a much safer and effective way to stop the flush compared to pepcid. Thanks, Sam