Histamine-2 receptor antagonists do not alter serum ethanol levels in fed, nonalcoholic men.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the four histamine-2 receptor antagonists currently available for the treatment of acid-peptic disorders in the United States alter serum ethanol levels after moderate alcohol consumption.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized crossover design comparing the effects of histamine-2 receptor antagonists and no treatment on serum ethanol levels. Each participant served as his own control.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-five healthy nonalcoholic men (21 to 35 years old); two participants were withdrawn before starting the study.

SETTING

University medical center.

INTERVENTION

Cimetidine (400 mg twice daily), famotidine (20 mg twice daily), nizatidine (150 mg twice daily), ranitidine (150 mg twice daily), and no treatment for 7 days. After the last dose of medication, participants ate a standard meal; 1 hour later they drank ethanol (0.3 g/kg body weight in 500 mL of orange juice) over 8 minutes.

MEASUREMENTS

Simultaneous measurements of breath and serum (headspace gas chromatography) ethanol were made before and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes after ingestion of ethanol.

RESULTS

Peak ethanol levels did not differ (mmol/L; mean +/- SE) after cimetidine (3.0 +/- 0.3), famotidine (2.9 +/- 0.3), nizatidine (2.9 +/- 0.3), ranitidine (3.1 +/- 0.4), and no treatment (2.9 +/- 0.4). Similarly, there was no difference in the area under the curve (mmol/L.h; mean +/- SE) after cimetidine (4.3 +/- 0.5), famotidine (3.8 +/- 0.4), nizatidine (4.2 +/- 0.5), ranitidine (3.9 +/- 0.4), and no treatment (4.0 +/- 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

In healthy nonalcoholic men, the histamine-2 receptor antagonists currently available in the United States do not alter serum ethanol levels following moderate alcohol consumption after an evening meal.