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Does Ranitidine Increase Blood Alcohol Levels?

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Posted on Fri, 21 Feb 2014
Question: Ranitidine inhibit ADH in the stomach, thereby reducing alcohol first-pass metabolism. They also increase gastric emptying, thereby allowing alcohol to enter the upper small intestine where, the absorption is very rapid. As a result, blood alcohol levels (BALs) are often higher than expected for a given alcohol dose. This effect tends to increase over time. Does this mean that while taking this medication my BAC could read higher than expected if I should be subjected to a sobriety test and when it says "this effect tend to increase over time", does this mean that the effect is accumulative during this time resulting in an even greater increase in BAC than would be expected?
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Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (55 minutes later)
Brief Answer: specific queston answered Detailed Answer: Your derivations and conclusions are quite accurate. But having said that one needs to remember two things. One the exact level of the rise of the blood alcohol levels is not measurable. To a large extent, it is assumed that the blood levels that actually rise in the body are minimally high. So one wont expect a huge rise of blood alcohol levels. As for time, ranitidine is largely meant as a medication for gastritis. So it need not be taken regularly so as to cause the effects. besides a more suitable antacid, the proton pump inhibitor, is now available, and in fact more commonly used. I hope this answers your query XXXXXXX Further questions are invited. Dr Saumya MIttal MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
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Dr. Saumya Mittal

Diabetologist

Practicing since :2004

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Does Ranitidine Increase Blood Alcohol Levels?

Brief Answer: specific queston answered Detailed Answer: Your derivations and conclusions are quite accurate. But having said that one needs to remember two things. One the exact level of the rise of the blood alcohol levels is not measurable. To a large extent, it is assumed that the blood levels that actually rise in the body are minimally high. So one wont expect a huge rise of blood alcohol levels. As for time, ranitidine is largely meant as a medication for gastritis. So it need not be taken regularly so as to cause the effects. besides a more suitable antacid, the proton pump inhibitor, is now available, and in fact more commonly used. I hope this answers your query XXXXXXX Further questions are invited. Dr Saumya MIttal MD