Does Pepcid help with Asian Glow?

If you have Asian Glow (also called Asian Flush) it’s likely that you’ve been told about using Pepcid. But does Pepcid help with Asian Glow? Or is this just outdated information?

We have taken some inspiration from a few popular articles about Pepcid and Asian glow to bring you our opinion about how good Pepcid really is for stopping the flush.

Pepcid AC and Pepcid does help with Asian Glow, at least the most obvious symptom of getting a bright red face after drinking alcohol. However, this medicine is not designed for this condition and does not solve the underlying issue of Asian Glow.

In short: Pepcid does help reduce facial flushing from Asian Glow but it comes with its own health risks.

So what does that really mean? Let’s drive in!

Pepcid and Asian Glow

Pepcid is a common remedy for Asian Glow or Asian Flush. It’s often what our friends, parents and peers recommend when they suffer from this condition, too. Pepcid, and Pepcid AC, are often recommended because this drug can help reduce getting a red face from alcohol. Finally, a solution!

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

Why shouldn’t I use Pepcid against Asian Glow?

Asian Glow is caused by the build-up of a nasty chemical called acetaldehyde. As you drink alcohol with this incurable condition, acetaldehyde accumulates in the body and causes some real harm: headaches, facial flushing, dizziness, feeling hot, rapid heartbeat, congestion, among others. Prolonged exposure to acetaldehyde has been linked to various health concerns and long term side effects, such as a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer or even damaging your DNA. Pretty serious stuff.

So when people start to feel bad after drinking alcohol because of Asian Glow, they pop a few Pepcid and feel a bit better. At the very least, their bright red face has reduced and they can continue drinking alcohol somewhat comfortably.

However, Pepcid does nothing to acetaldehyde. Rather than try to remove this toxic chemical from the body, Pepcid simply masks the symptoms, making the person feel a bit better and allows them to continue drinking. All the while, acetaldehyde continues to build up in their system and could cause issues later in life.

Pepcid and Alcohol

Pepcid is the brand name of a drug called Famotidine and is used to limit the amount of acid your stomach produces. This drug might be recommended by a doctor to those who suffer from heartburn or indigestion. It can even be prescribed by a doctor for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease or stomach ulcers.

It’s usually recommended that those taking Pepcid shouldn’t drink alcohol as it can damage the stomach.

As you can see, Pepcid is not created for Asian Glow or acetaldehyde. Pepcid, or famotidine, is classified as a histamine blocker, which is the reason that some people think it’s helping their flushing reaction. When in actuality, Pepcid is only masking the symptoms rather than fixing them.

Other drugs and antihistamines commonly used against Asian Glow are Zrytec, Pepto Bismol, Benadryl, Pepcid AC and Zantac. Recently there was a recall on Zantac products over a possible cancer-link, so it’s extremely important to be aware of what drugs you are using off-label against Asian Glow.

If I shouldn’t use Pepcid, how can I prevent Asian Glow?

There’s a few ways you can tackle Asian Glow, both through products or at home.

If you want to try some at home tips, make sure to read our article: “DIY Asian Flush Cure.” These tips and tricks can help reduce your Asian Glow symptoms without having to spend money on products. However, none of these DIY Asian Glow cures will fully solve the issue.

If you want more relief from Asian Glow, we suggest checking out our Asian Flush Review page. We have tested, tried and reviewed as many Asian Glow relief products as we can, and have shared our findings with you. While not all products are created equal, there are definitely a few that can help reduce your symptoms.

The best part about Asian Glow relief products is that they are specifically designed for this condition, and for reducing acetaldehyde in the body. Currently, there is no product that will 100% stop Asian Glow, but they certainly help.

Asians and Alcohol

If it’s called Asian Glow, does that mean only Asians react negatively to alcohol? No! It all comes down to ineffectively metabolizing alcohol. Anyone can have this condition as it’s to do with an ineffective liver enzyme called ALDH2. You might see this condition called ALDH2 deficiency instead, but it means the same thing.

However, a high proportion of Asians have this ALDH2 deficiency, so it’s commonly referred to as Asian Glow or Asian Flush.

A more neutral term is alcohol flush reaction, but they’re all referring to the same condition. Whatever you call it, the most notable symptom is turning red (also known as flushing).

Common symptoms of Asian Glow include:

Hives or redness
Stuffy nose or congestion
Dizziness
Headaches
Restricted breathing
Rapid heart rate