Authors: Brown; James

Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Volume 12, Number 2, February 1998 , pp. 141-145(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Background:

Considerable controversy persists over the influence of H₂-receptor antagonists on the first pass clearance of ethanol. The majority of previously published studies have studied the effects of the drugs on low-dose ethanol in the fasting state. We elected to study the possible interaction under simulated real-life conditions. Methods:

Twenty-three volunteers were given 0.6 g/kg body weight ethanol in the form of 4.8% beer following a standardized meal. Blood ethanol levels were measured over the next 3 h. Studies were repeated using ethanol administered as an intravenous infusion while subjects consumed the same volume of de-alcoholized beer. The effects of a minimum of 2 weeks of dosing with cimetidine, ranitidine and omeprazole were examined. Results:

Following food, and with ethanol taken in the form of beer, mean first pass metabolism of ethanol was 58% (range 34-78%). No statistically significant difference was found following drug treatment in either percentage first pass metabolism, peak blood ethanol concentration or area under the time-blood ethanol curve. Conclusion:

Under these `real-life' conditions, the concomitant administration of cimetidine, ranitidine or omeprazole is unlikely to have significant physical, social or forensic implications, since they do not significantly change ethanol elimination.

Document Type: Original article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.1998.00281.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medicine, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

Publication date: 1998-02-01

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