• Registered: 2006-05-28
  • Posts: 6

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

wally416 wrote:

I stumbled across this site a few days ago, and gave Pepcid AC a try last night after work.  I probably had about 4 or 5 onces of Crown Royal on the rocks.  Still got a little red, but nothing crazy.  The Pepcid AC definately made a difference.   And there is no hangover today.  Sometimes even two drinks will give me a brutal hangover, which prevents me from drinking a drop for the 18 hours preceding me operating an aircraft.  Since I fly on Saturdays, I usually avoid any social event on Fridays - which kinda sucks.  Last night I had about 4  drinks worth of alcohol, and I am 100% instead of the 75% I'd expect.

That being said, I have been reading more about the cancer risks associated with acetaldehyde, and am a little concerned.  More reading is necessary, but for now I think it is safe to say that I am not going to be drinking very often until I understand the risk better.  Maybe some heavy drinking once every few weeks - but that is it. 

Thanks for the site - it has been very helpful.  I wish I had found it years ago when I was in University, but ohh well - I had a blast anyways.

PS: I'm 5'9", 160lbs, 1/2 Filipino - and now I am old enough to actually care about cancer risks compared over the joys of alcohol, at 32.

I noticed my hangovers weren't as bad too whenever I used Pepcid - usually 2 max pills. anyone else?

  • Registered: 2006-12-30
  • Posts: 4

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

sweetpea wrote:

hey does pepcid make you not feel sick?!

yeah it kind of gave my stomach a pounding the day after, or the morning after. I had the shits and really couldnt eat AT ALL, it felt like it would come right back up.
God I meant to re-test, it's been months.

  • Registered: 2006-09-28
  • Posts: 28

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

Oh thats really bad... could that mean a case of hangovers while on pepcid? what about while you a drinking and ur on pepcid.. is there any signs of nausea

754 Reply by jasko (edited by jasko 2007-03-07 23:49:51)

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

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

jasko wrote:

Hi, I was just wondering if the chew tablets were more effective (work faster/better or slower or worse) than the ones you swallow?

Anyone experiment with this?

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 46

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

lan wrote:

Hi everyone, I've read up to page 12 so far but haven't read anything like I experience (so apologize if it comes after page 12) and wonder if others have had similar experiences and also if the Pepcid worked for them. I use to drink pretty heavily in college (10 years ago) and had no problems other than the redness and a few other symptoms (high heart rate, chills, headaches), like everyone else. But then one time, I drank a lot and then ate right after, went home and went to take a nap and woke up with an incredibly high heart rate (higher than any run I've even been on and I monitor my heart rate all the time with my watch since I do marathons and triathlons. Anyway, I tried to walk and the more I walked, the higher and more intense the pain got. It was really scary and my friends convinced me to go to the ER. The doc at the ER said it was an allergic reaction; I knew that wasn't right. Anyway, after that, being a silly college student, I basically refused to give up drinking. So, I just learned what would set it (my heart) off and it was food. So I would have really early dinners (at least 4 hours before I was going to drink) before I'd go out and be fine. Anyway, now that I've gotten older, Im 33 now, I've found that my body is almost completely intolerant of alcohol. I dont drink now, I quit about 7 years ago because when I would drink, even without food, not only would my heart pound so hard and fast, but also my chest would feel like it was closing up and it was hard to breath well. My doc at the ER said my body would be "more sensitive" to alcohol from then on and he was completely right. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else has or had such severe symptoms. I dont want to drink a whole bunch because my body obviously doesnt want me to drink, and I dont want to increase cancer risks, etc, but it would be SO nice to be able to have a glass of wine with dinner or what have you just once in a while. But am I ridiculous to even try again after the effects I've had?? I would love to hear from anyone. Thanks for reading!

landria

BTW, I'm half Japanese

Hi Lan,

I'm also of Japanese descent and have in the past experienced the extremely rapid heartrate.  It was pretty scary.  I've actually passed out twice!  Like you, I completely stopped drinking and was scared to even try a half a beer for fear that I'd have another "reaction".  What I can tell you is that after using the H2 blockers (almost exclusively Pepdic AC or generic famotidine), I've *never* had a bad reaction like that.

I've been using Pepcid before drinking for a couple of years now and have had excellent results. If I know that I'm going out to a social event, I alway take 2 or 3 Pepcid AC Max (20mg) about 45 minutes to an hour before drinking.  I usally start slow with a beer and sort of let it "settle" before drinking my next drink.  After that, I can usually drink all night with no problems, redness or other unwanted side effects. 

For me personally, there are a couple of important things that work best when using this method:

1) Be patient.  I've found that waiting at least 45 minutes after taking Pepcid is key.  I take it with about 8 ounces of water.
2) Don't eat right away.  For me, this seems to reduce the effectiveness.  I'll eat *after* having the first drink, but not before.
3) Take your time with the first drink.  Let your body react to the alcohol slowly.
4) At a certain point, the symptoms will come back if you really overrun your body with alcohol. If you start slamming drinks, it'll overtake the preventive blocking that Pepcid has.  By this I mean really going overboard like doing *several* shots. 

Hope that helps.

-S

  • Registered: 2007-03-19
  • Posts: 0

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

hey, i'm just wondering if anyone has come across any long term risks that come with taking pepcid for an extended period of time. Say if you drink 3 nights a week and take 40mg each of those nights for a couple years or something... I take pepcid all the time now that I discovered it for my glow, but I'd just hate to find out a few years down the road that it has some really detrimental health effects. Thanks for the help!

757 Reply by andrethegiant (edited by andrethegiant 2007-03-21 08:58:31)

  • Registered: 2007-03-21
  • Posts: 5

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

Im of english caucasian descent, but over the past months ive been getting the symptoms of asian flush pretty regularly. It starts with 'heat' on my face before it blows into strong red patches or rashes scattered on my face and neck. If i keep drinking it becomes the full red-tomato symdrome along with the heartbeat, sickness etc.

It SEEMS to only happen when i drink quite consistently over a short period, say two nights in a row or four times a week for example. If i leave it for a week and then drink, im fine - still a little pink and 'hot' but ok. Its annoying because i enjoy 2 or 3 pints here and there rather than a binge once a week      - does this pattern ring a bell with anyone????


Strangely ive been fine all my life- it only started before christmas and isnt just one type of drink, ive tried pretty much every beer, cider and some spirits with similar (unpleasent) results. Does asian flush 'appear' or just 'develop' like this?

I want to draw some parallels with anyone with a similar experience- who maybe has any tips ect...

is it worth trying the pepcid people mentioned???? When people mention how many 'mg' -thats Famotidine right? I can only find 10mg in england, is that AS effective?

Sorry for so many questions, thanks alot for any advice.

758 Reply by AuAzn

  • Registered: 2007-02-22
  • Posts: 2

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

andrethegiant wrote:

Im of english caucasian descent, but over the past months ive been getting the symptoms of asian flush pretty regularly. It starts with 'heat' on my face before it blows into strong red patches or rashes scattered on my face and neck. If i keep drinking it becomes the full red-tomato symdrome along with the heartbeat, sickness etc.

It SEEMS to only happen when i drink quite consistently over a short period, say two nights in a row or four times a week for example. If i leave it for a week and then drink, im fine - still a little pink and 'hot' but ok. Its annoying because i enjoy 2 or 3 pints here and there rather than a binge once a week      - does this pattern ring a bell with anyone????


Strangely ive been fine all my life- it only started before christmas and isnt just one type of drink, ive tried pretty much every beer, cider and some spirits with similar (unpleasent) results. Does asian flush 'appear' or just 'develop' like this?

I want to draw some parallels with anyone with a similar experience- who maybe has any tips ect...

is it worth trying the pepcid people mentioned???? When people mention how many 'mg' -thats Famotidine right? I can only find 10mg in england, is that AS effective?

Sorry for so many questions, thanks alot for any advice.

Hmm never really heard of a Caucasian getting these kinds of symptoms. Many Asians are genetically predisposed to these symptoms as we are born with it. But yours is developed, could be your liver developed a way break down alcohol really fast. Fast break down of alcohol creates acetaldehyde, which causes the symptoms you are experiencing.

You could try pepcid to counter these symptoms but you would have to experiment to find out which dose is effective for u, starting with one tablet moving up to maybe a max of 4 tablets.

  • Registered: 2006-12-11
  • Posts: 11

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

Does more Pepcid AC work better?

I take 1 pill(20mg) and it works pretty good, leaving me a little flushed.

Does taking maybe 40mg work better than 20mg?

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 46

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

glownomo wrote:

hey, i'm just wondering if anyone has come across any long term risks that come with taking pepcid for an extended period of time. Say if you drink 3 nights a week and take 40mg each of those nights for a couple years or something... I take pepcid all the time now that I discovered it for my glow, but I'd just hate to find out a few years down the road that it has some really detrimental health effects. Thanks for the help!

Hi glownomo,

I've been using Pepcid for several years (I read Eric Cheng's original web journal) and have had no discernable ill effects.  I usually don't drink anything during the week, but enjoy a few drinks on the weekends.  For many, many years, I avoided drinking because of the "asian blush" symptoms.  I had reactions I'm guessing as bad as anyone.  My heart would race to very rapid beats, of course my face would be beat red, and I could actually hear the blood rushing in my ears! 

Now, I can enjoy a few drinks on the weekend, even 3 nights and have done that several times.  I've not seen anything that seems out of the ordinary.  My hope is that someone in the research arena will take on a project to really study the short, medium and long-term effects of why famotidine blocks the ill effects of the "blush" and what the long-term side effects are.

-S

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 46

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

dougfunny wrote:

Does more Pepcid AC work better?

I take 1 pill(20mg) and it works pretty good, leaving me a little flushed.

Does taking maybe 40mg work better than 20mg?

Hi dougfunny,

Based on other's posts, I can definitely say it varies by the individual.  For me, Pepcid AC (20mg) works best only because I can take less pills than using the 10mg "regular strength" ones.  For *me*, I find 60mg to have the best results.  I feel that I have been doing experimentation over a very long period of time.  I've paid attention to the time one should wait after taking the pills and before drinking.  I've also looked at the effect of eating before, during, or after taking Pepcid.

p.s. I've recently tried using generic famotidine (20mg) vs. brand-name Pepdic AC.  I have found the generic to be just as effective as Pepcid AC at a fraction of the cost.  Specifically, at my local BJs Wholesale Club, 85 tablets of Pepcid AC is $29.95.  Their generic famotidine is *two* bottles of 85 tablets for almost 25% the cost of Pepcid AC.  Given the effectiveness, it's a no-brainer if you can get it.

762 Reply by tammy

  • Registered: 2007-03-27
  • Posts: 1

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

Hello...I realise others have posted with the same request.  I am half asian and suffer terribly from the asian flush.  I live in the UK and can only get my hands on PepcidTwo chewable tablets at 10mg.  I was hoping someone would be willing to send a fellow sufferer Pepcid AC Max Strength to the UK?  Would anyone want to come to some sort of agreement?  I, of course will pay for the cost and p&p.  I've tried ordering Pepcid AC Max Strength off Amazon but there are geographical shipping restrictions on my location, apparently.  Please email me with details.  Any help would be most appreciated.

Tammy
T.Elffers@pgt.salford.ac.uk

763 Reply by andrethegiant (edited by andrethegiant 2007-03-28 07:31:40)

  • Registered: 2007-03-21
  • Posts: 5

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

Im in england too - theres quite alot on ebay tho inc. Pecid AC Max. Theres famotidine tablets at a fraction of the cost - i got 170 tabs for about 15 dollar inc postage if ur interested.

  • Registered: 2007-03-28
  • Posts: 1

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

I am caucasian as well and have the exact same problem as you. I am curious as to whether you have found anything that helps you?

andrethegiant wrote:

Im of english caucasian descent, but over the past months ive been getting the symptoms of asian flush pretty regularly. It starts with 'heat' on my face before it blows into strong red patches or rashes scattered on my face and neck. If i keep drinking it becomes the full red-tomato symdrome along with the heartbeat, sickness etc.

It SEEMS to only happen when i drink quite consistently over a short period, say two nights in a row or four times a week for example. If i leave it for a week and then drink, im fine - still a little pink and 'hot' but ok. Its annoying because i enjoy 2 or 3 pints here and there rather than a binge once a week      - does this pattern ring a bell with anyone????


Strangely ive been fine all my life- it only started before christmas and isnt just one type of drink, ive tried pretty much every beer, cider and some spirits with similar (unpleasent) results. Does asian flush 'appear' or just 'develop' like this?

I want to draw some parallels with anyone with a similar experience- who maybe has any tips ect...

is it worth trying the pepcid people mentioned???? When people mention how many 'mg' -thats Famotidine right? I can only find 10mg in england, is that AS effective?

Sorry for so many questions, thanks alot for any advice.

  • Registered: 2007-03-29
  • Posts: 14

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

From New Scientist Magazine; "What's Your Poison?" - 2/10/2007
www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1Y1-104141013.html

Among the minority of flushers who are also heavy drinkers, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal tract cancer is about 50 times the normal rate. Gene-deficient people also have high rates of head and neck cancer.

A recent study of 818 heavy drinkers in Germany found that those individuals who are exposed to more acetaldehyde as a result of a genetic defect -- in this case, in the gene for alcohol dehydrogenase -- are at greater risk of developing cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver (International Journal of Cancer , vol 118, p 1998).

There are even suggestions of a link between acetaldehyde and Alzheimer's disease. In 2004, researchers at Nippon Medical School in Kawasaki, Japan, reported that among a group of people with Alzheimer's, the faulty version of ALDH2 was significantly more common than among a randomly chosen group of healthy people of the same age (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences , vol 1011, p 36).

www.CheerzHangover.com/asian-flush.htm

  • Registered: 2007-03-21
  • Posts: 5

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

hey naskarkim,

Ive recently tried having a couple of pepcidtwo (20mg of famotidine) before i drink after seeing this forum.

It appears to do the job but i havent really tested it 'properly' as i only get the rash when i have a fair bit of drink in a small period, like 4 days in a week. Its worst when i drink two nights in a row. (is that the same with you?)

Ive not drank anything like that since christmas in fear of the rash, but im going to puposedly 'overdoo' it sometime over easter to see if the tablets really work.


After reading some well-informed posts ive a feeling its a similar thing to asian blush but less serious as it only happens after drinking a lot over a short period of time. Therefore its likely that theres a gradual build up acetaldehyde as the alcohol is broken down, which our bodies dont shift as quickly as normal caucasians, so 'lingers'- hence the rash. Thats probs why i need at least five days of 'de-tox' before drinking to guarantee im rash-free. The famotidine SHOULD help if thats the case (fingers crossed).

Ive always felt very 'warm' on my face when i drink, as if the rash is sort of 'on its way', but with the famotidine i felt near to nothing. thats more likely to be a psychological thing tho.

Its definately worth a shot. good luck + report back on the results and/or if you find anything...? Il do the same.

  • From: Australia
  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 47

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

Hi guys,

Its been awhile since i posted but i do read peoples posts regularly.

I have found eating and drinking bad combo for flushing, even with pepcid. Food inhibits the pepcid effectiveness i think.

Not eating, then taking the pepcid before drinking gives less flushing, i have no idea why...

My usual routine is this... eat, light... i even try to avoid dairy during the day because of someone elses post on here... Take some pepcid 40-60mg is sufficient, wait 30min-1hr then start drinking and take ur time with your first drink. after 2 drinks and ur not red u can slam them down hard... well i can... hahah

I have found when u have been drinking a few.. u can eat a bit and not really get red.. but yeah best to avoid food when u are drinking.

I do still get redish... but its more a tinged pink on my cheeks and around my eyes... ive said this before too... if u have a tan on ur face the pink looks good against tanned (yellow/tone tanned) skin. I was in europe in summer and was sooo brown and tanned. I drank like a fish with the pepcid and had like a healthy pink glow when i drink!

i noticed i do get a bit pale after i have had alot to drink... dont ask me why that happens... again a tan is good to mask that. its weird u can go bright red and then pale white!

I still have yet to try the ranitidie and clarintine combo some people say is effective too. But clarintine is expensive here is australia! while pepcid is cheapish... $20-30 here for 20mg 60 pack. Generic ebay stuff is just as effective as well. dont be afraid to buy off ebay... been totally legit stuff.

Hope this helps anyone!

  • Registered: 2007-04-02
  • Posts: 1

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

I was wondering about long term effects of using H-2 blockers(pepcid, ect)? What happens when you stop taking them after prolonged use? Does your body over-compensate the acid production? I wouldn't want to get some side-effects since I dont have any problems with acid-reflux, heartburn or ulcers. I'm half asian and I hate "the flush", but I dont want to mess up the balance in my stomach in the long run. Anyone have any experience with this? thanks :)

ps- thanks for this site!

  • From: Australia
  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 47

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

Hi Redrum....

So far for me no side effects... Pepcid is pretty much an antacid and i would say a farely safe drug... u can buy it over the counter! My stomach is still kicken... and i dont suffer any heartburn or ulcers. Read the packet instruction for allergic reactions.

In the end its up to you to try, but most people on this site so far have been aok! and even doing it for years.

Good luck

  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 1

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

been using pepcid for about 2 years now, these are the things ive learned from my experiences with it.  im a 5'9" 3/4 japanese 1/4 chinese male just for the record. these are some guidelines i live by

i take 60-80 mg of pepcid (ive built up a tolerance the past 2 years) on an empty stomach.  taking it on a full stomach works too, but when i take it on an empty stomach its way more effective.  the drawback to this is i get messed up way faster, and if i dont eat before going to bed i get a terrible hangover.

i notice when i pound a lot of water with my pepcid it works better

beer and wine will give me more of a flush than hard alcohol, but again the drawback is i get messed up faster.

if i drink my first drink kind of slow i dont get red at all

to make a long story short the shit works like a charm for me

771 Reply by rofl

  • rofl
  • Sober
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-04-04
  • Posts: 2

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

So, you've been using it for 2 years, and the stuff still works?  What do you mean, you've built up a 'tolerance'?

So, beer and wine still make you flush whilst you take Pepcid?

  • Registered: 2006-05-07
  • Posts: 46

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

Dimples25 wrote:

Hi guys,

Its been awhile since i posted but i do read peoples posts regularly.

I have found eating and drinking bad combo for flushing, even with pepcid. Food inhibits the pepcid effectiveness i think.

Not eating, then taking the pepcid before drinking gives less flushing, i have no idea why...

My usual routine is this... eat, light... i even try to avoid dairy during the day because of someone elses post on here... Take some pepcid 40-60mg is sufficient, wait 30min-1hr then start drinking and take ur time with your first drink. after 2 drinks and ur not red u can slam them down hard... well i can... hahah

I have found when u have been drinking a few.. u can eat a bit and not really get red.. but yeah best to avoid food when u are drinking.

I do still get redish... but its more a tinged pink on my cheeks and around my eyes... ive said this before too... if u have a tan on ur face the pink looks good against tanned (yellow/tone tanned) skin. I was in europe in summer and was sooo brown and tanned. I drank like a fish with the pepcid and had like a healthy pink glow when i drink!

i noticed i do get a bit pale after i have had alot to drink... dont ask me why that happens... again a tan is good to mask that. its weird u can go bright red and then pale white!

I still have yet to try the ranitidie and clarintine combo some people say is effective too. But clarintine is expensive here is australia! while pepcid is cheapish... $20-30 here for 20mg 60 pack. Generic ebay stuff is just as effective as well. dont be afraid to buy off ebay... been totally legit stuff.

Hope this helps anyone!

I think you've hit it right on.  I concur that eating simultaneously with the first drink decreases effectiveness.  I can eat *after* a couple of drinks, but the most effective way to use this is to take the Pepcid on a [relatively] empty stomach and wait 45-90 minutes then drink the first couple slowly.  After that you can pretty much do anything without redness.

I've tried the combination of Claritin (1) and Pepcid (2*20mg) and that works well.

-S

773 Reply by Steph

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

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

Dimples25 wrote:

I still have yet to try the ranitidie and clarintine combo some people say is effective too. But clarintine is expensive here is australia! while pepcid is cheapish... $20-30 here for 20mg 60 pack. Generic ebay stuff is just as effective as well. dont be afraid to buy off ebay... been totally legit stuff.

Hope this helps anyone!

Hey Dimps,

Claratine is expensive here in NZ too... about NZ$1-2 per pill! But, like Pepcid, there is a generic version with the same active ingredient. It's called Loratadine. I've got a bottle of 10mg pills which is the same as Claratine.

I do have to admit that I've only tried the clar/zantac combo only 2x and was a bit over enthusiastic and drank my 1st drink too fast so still turned red. So I have yet to experiment with the proper routine to see if it really works!

  • Registered: 2006-12-11
  • Posts: 11

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

Will there ever be a cure? Maybe someone can send this forum to an asian scientist or something...

775 Reply by jasko (edited by jasko 2007-04-12 19:38:45)

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

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

dougfunny wrote:

Will there ever be a cure? Maybe someone can send this forum to an asian scientist or something...

I'm sure they're aware of it. :(


yeah...... about the whole eating and drinking. like you guys said, it is better to take the pills on a relatively empty stomach. or at least eat a few hours before.

this sucks because if you ever get called to go out to dinner/drinks, people will be like wtf. for example, I have a friends wedding to go to in a month, and there's gonna be a tonnnnnn of food. open bar. it's like I have to choose between eating or drinking. generally I just tell people I ate earlier and i'm not that hungry, when in actuality, I might be drooling over the food they're eating.

The other week I went out to eat with people at an Italian restaurant about an hour and a half before I went out drinking. I completely gorged myself at the restaurant, because the food is that good. Got home, popped 60mg famo from Pepcid. Drank water. Even predrank a little to clear the redness. About an hour later that night, during my second drink-ish, I felt like crap. Head was throoooooobbing. I was slightly pink. I just made myself throw up in the bathroom. I was puking up spaghetti sauce, which had me worried at first cause I was like w t f is this blood? but I've come to the conclusion that it was the sauce.

All in all, I'm only 22. I drink on Fridays and maybe Saturdays. Sooner or later I'm just going to stop drinking all together. It's fun and all, for the norm. We are not the norm. :(