LACK OF EFFECT OF H-2-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS OFALCOHOL CONSUMED AFTER FOOD AT LUNCHTIME

1 The possibility of a pharmacokinetic interaction between H-2-recepto r antagonists and alcohol consumed at lunchtime, was investigated in 2 4 healthy non-alcoholic male subjects, each receiving ranitidine 150 m g 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 eigh th day of dosing with study medication. Blood samples taken during the 6 h after alcohol consumption were analysed for alcohol concentration s by gas liquid chromatography using head space analysis. 2 None of th e H-2-receptor antagonists had any statistically significant effects o n any of the pharmacokinetic parameters for alcohol. Mean C(max) (95% CI) results for ranitidine were 547 (516, 580), cimetidine 531 (501, 5 63), famotidine 563 (530, 598) and placebo 529 (499, 561) mg l-1.