Lack of effect of H2‐receptor antagonists on the pharmacokinetics of alcohol consumed after food at lunchtime.

The possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction between H2‐receptor antagonists and alcohol consumed at lunchtime, was investigated in 24 healthy non‐alcoholic male subjects, each receiving ranitidine 150 mg four times daily, cimetidine 400 mg four times daily, famotidine 20 mg four times daily and placebo in an open, four‐way cross‐over study. The subjects consumed 50 g alcohol after a standard lunch on the eighth day of dosing with study medication. Blood samples taken during the 6 h after alcohol consumption were analysed for alcohol concentrations by gas liquid chromatography using head space analysis. None of the H2‐ receptor antagonists had any statistically significant effects on any of the pharmacokinetic parameters for alcohol. Mean Cmax (95% CI) results for ranitidine were 547 (516, 580), cimetidine 531 (501, 563), famotidine 563 (530, 598) and placebo 529 (499, 561) mg l‐1.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1994.tb04291.x

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