Famotidine cures my alcohol induced nausea

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After years of feeling nauseous after a night of drinking alcohol, I've finally discovered a "cure". Famotidine (the active ingredient in Pepcid AC) actually works for me.

Famotidine (INN) (play /f??m?t?di?n/) is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that inhibits stomach acid production, and it is commonly used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD/GORD). It is commonly marketed by Johnson & Johnson/Merck under the trade names Pepcidine and Pepcid and by Astellas under the trade name Gaster.

Does anyone have an explanation to this?

Thanks

Edit: Tums never worked for me.

[BoyBoppins]

Are you asian? I sometimes get nauseas after drinking even just a few beers. I think its the carbonation on top of alcohol that kills me. Then again some nights I can pound beers and not have any problems. I should try picking up some of this or pepcid AC.

As for your question, it probably has something to do with stopping the stomach acids from messing you up. I notice I get those kind of issues and tried Rolaids to reduce them but it didnt help.

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Thanks for the reply.

I'm not asian so I'm not sure if it's genetic. Tell me how it goes with Pepcid. I usually take 20mg an hour before drinking. The cool part is that even after heavy drinking, the next day I don't have an upset stomach like my friends do.

[gnuman]

I really can't drink beer either. Hard liquor yes but beer nah unless if I take it like shots where I don't "think" about it. Irish Carbombs is another story though gotta chug it so there's no real thought.

[DocM]

Famotidine is an H2 histamine antagonist, AKA antihistimine, which is what it does to combat nausea in the stomach - so perhaps you're also allergic to the grains etc. used in making beer that leave traces. Ever try taking an antihistamine like Claritin etc. before drinking?

[Pharm88]

Famotidine is an H2 histamine antagonist, AKA antihistimine, so perhaps you're allergic to the grains etc. used in making beer that leave traces. Ever try taking an antihistamine like Claritin etc. before drinking?

While it is true famotidine is an antihistamine, it is completely different that Claritin which is an H1 receptor antagonist. H2 receptors are structurally dissimilar to other histamine receptors. An H2 blocker does not affect other histamine receptors.

As far as the OP goes, it may be possible that the alcohol is producing a bit of reflux/heartburn. One possible side effect (albeit not extremely common) of reflux/heartburn is nausea. If this is the case, then famotidine would reduce the amount of stomach acid which lead to the reflux which causec the nausea - and voila! No more nausea :)

[gnuman]

I don't htink you could take anti-histamines with alcohol though. It's like taking aspirin before drinking so you don't have a headache but it will make your hangover come quickers

[DocM]

While it is true famotidine is an antihistamine, it is completely different that Claritin which is an H1 receptor antagonist. H2 receptors are structurally dissimilar to other histamine receptors. An H2 blocker does not affect other histamine receptors.

Of couse it selectively affects the H2 receptors, but that wasn't my main point. Perhaps I didn't word it well.

If someone is specifically reacting to beer it could be there is a response to H1 allergens in the beer which loratadine (Claritin) could help with. Examples: grains (wheat, barley, rye etc.), brewers yeast, hops, sulphates, glutens etc.

Brewers yeast in beer can cause migraines, fatigue, nausea, stomach irration and the more usual allergy symptoms. It is, after all, a fungus and a lot of people have fungal allergies. Most don't know it.

Also, Loratadine and other generation 2 antihistamines are generally safe with mild alcohol use as it only slightly crosss the blood-brain barrier. Best to test of course, but its psycomotor effects are minimal with the 10mg dose. Bottom line is if taking it without alcohol doesn't bother you it shouldn't be a problem with light alcohol use either.

Grapefruit is another matter as it can increase loratadine levels in the blood. Ditto with erythromycin, Nizoral and Tagamet. If you're eating/taking these and taking loratadine best stay away from alcohol.

[Pharm88]

Of couse it selectively affects the H2 receptors, but that wasn't my main point. Perhaps I didn't word it well.

If someone is specifically reacting to beer it could be there is a response to H1 allergens in the beer which loratadine (Claritin) could help with. Examples: grains (wheat, barley, rye etc.), brewers yeast, hops, sulphates, glutens etc.

Brewers yeast in beer can cause migraines, fatigue, nausea, stomach irration and the more usual allergy symptoms. It is, after all, a fungus and a lot of people have fungal allergies. Most don't know it.

Also, Loratadine and other generation 2 antihistamines are generally safe with mild alcohol use as it only slightly crosss the blood-brain barrier. Best to test of course, but its psycomotor effects are minimal with the 10mg dose. Bottom line is if taking it without alcohol doesn't bother you it shouldn't be a problem with light alcohol use either.

Grapefruit is another matter as it can increase loratadine levels in the blood. Ditto with erythromycin, Nizoral and Tagamet. If you're eating/taking these and taking loratadine best stay away from alcohol.

I probably misread your post... although famotidine would not effect his allergy to the yeast due to it not affecting H1 receptors (which as you said cause an allergic reaction).

I don't recommend taking any medication with alcohol (for obvious reasons).. In some cases, famotidine can cause a sedative effect or other psycomotor symptoms which would be amplified by alcohol as it is a sedative. Although, in this case, an exagerated sedative effect might not be a problem with the alcohol.

As far as the grapefruit juice, it affects the cytochrome P450 system (specifically, CYP 3A4). Loratidine is extensively metabolized by 3A4 so grapefruit juice will definitely increase the serum concentrations of that. As far as famotidine, it has no CYP interactions, so drink all the grapefruit juice you want!

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Sorry I didn't precise that it's any drinkable alcohol beverage.

[Hum]

Eating food cures my 'nausea'. :laugh:

[BoyBoppins]

IT WORKS! haha. Really, Ive had a heavy drinking weekend and it has worked really well both for the night and the next morning.

The second night I was drinking a beer and knew it wouldtn be a good night for my stomach. Popped a pecid ac and waited 10 minutes before working my way back into drinking. The next morning my stomach felt great and no problems in the night either. Now Im gunna pop another for some beach day drinking

[DootDootMan]

Prevacid is actually better IMHO. It heals as well.