Effects of H2-receptor antagonists on ethanol metabolism in Japanese volunteers

The effects of H2-receptor antagonists (cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine) on ethanol metabolism were investigated. Neither in aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-1 deficient subjects nor in those with normal ALDH-1, did the three H2-receptor antagonists and placebo differ in their effects on the pharmacokinetic parameters of ethanol (i.e. peak time (tmax), metabolic rate (k0), peak serum concentration (Cmax), volume of distribution (V) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). The AUC of acetaldehyde was slightly but significantly (P less than 0.05) larger only after treatment with cimetidine. Cmax and tmax of acetaldehyde were unchanged.