Treatment and prevention of deleterious effects associated with alcohol consumption

Abstract

The present invention provides to methods and compositions that treat or prevent deleterious effects associated with alcohol consumption including alcohol-induced flush reaction and hangover. The methods and compositions include famotidine and optionally succinic acid. The present invention further demonstrates compositions that include famotidine are effective at treating symptoms associated with a flush reaction in subjects that are not significantly responsive to treatments with the H1 antagonist loratidine or the H2 antagonist cimetidine.

1 . A composition for the treatment of alcohol induced flush reaction and hangover in a human subject, consisting essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of famotidine and succinic acid in a therapeutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 10 mg. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 20 mg. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of succinic acid is from 1 mg to 500 mg. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of succinic acid is 200 mg. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 10 mg and the therapeutically effective amount of succinic acid is 200 mg. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is suitable for oral administration to the subject. 
     
     
         8 . A composition for the treatment of alcohol induced flush reaction and hangover in a subject that is not effectively treated by administration of a sole histamine receptor antagonist of loratidine or cemetidine, the composition consisting essentially of a therapeutically effective amount of famotidine and succinic acid in a therapeutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 10 mg. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 9 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 20 mg. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of succinic acid is from 1 mg to 500 mg. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount is 200 mg. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the therapeutically effective amount of famotidine is at least 10 mg and the therapeutically effective amount of succinic acid is 200 mg. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the carrier is suitable for oral administration to the subject.