[H2-receptor antagonists and alcohol: clinical significance]

The aim of the review is to evaluate the putative clinical interactions between alcohol metabolism and the administration of H2-receptor antagonists. Places of the first-pass metabolism of ethanol in the body have been investigated as well. According to the in vitro experimental results the H2-receptor antagonists can inhibit the ethanol metabolism which may have clinical relevance. When low doses of alcohol (below 0.3 g/kg) are given per os, the administration of H2-receptor antagonists results in an increase in the blood ethanol concentrations. Since that challenged increase never exceeds the level of 0.3/1000 blood alcohol concentration, it has hardly any clinical or medico-legal significance.