The Drunk/Hangover Cure

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

For ages, dreamers, alchemists, mixologists and other enthusiasts have fantasized about a better world—a world where drunkenness wasn't accompanied by hangover, nausea or liver damage. Now, one scientist says he can make that dream a reality. Behold: the age of the "alcohol substitute" is at hand.

Neuroscientist David Nutt published a piece in the Guardian today detailing a line of research he hopes will lead to an alcohol substitute—one that produces many of the neurological effects of alcohol, with none of the chemical's direct physical harm.

The key to decoding alcohol is the gamma aminobutyric acid neurotransmitter system in the brain, which regulates the brain and keeps things calm. It's also the main target of alcohol, which replicates and enhances those calming effects but also not-so-desirable ones like aggression and addiction. However, as it turns out, the "GABA" system isn't quite that simple.

GABA has several subsystems that can be affected by targeted drugs. With this knowledge in his pocket, Nutt has done what many others would doubtless do in his place: devoted his time to isolating five specific compounds that perform alcohol's desirable functions without its drawbacks. Nutt writes:

The other great advantage of this scientific approach to intoxication is that if we target compounds that affect the Gaba system, then it is possible to produce other drugs that could be sold alongside the alcohol substitute as an antidote. I have sampled both new forms. After exploring one possible compound I was quite relaxed and sleepily inebriated for an hour or so, then within minutes of taking the antidote I was up giving a lecture with no impairment whatsoever.
That's right: take a pill when you're done being drunk and avoid that nasty headache entirely. Now he's looking for investors to make his idea a reality. Surely someone out there is willing to fund a mad scientist with a noble cause.

Soon we can all drink without consequence, well except for all the liver damage t:

 

[The Question]

A hangover is just alcohol-induced dehydration. The cure for a hangover is a four or five glasses of water. You don't need this ****.

 

[Figs]

A hangover is just alcohol-induced dehydration. The cure for a hangover is a four or five glasses of water. You don't need this ****.

Exactly.

My buddy also got me taking a vitamin B pill with water before I go to bed when drinking and it hasn't done me wrong yet. I did some research and alcohol burns up a lot of B vitamins. Honestly, you could just stick with water as you said The Question, and that does tend to work fairly well, but I figure it can't hurt taking a vitamin on top of water.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Well if you read the article you would see that not only are they able to make a pill that instantly makes you no longer inebriated but they can get you drunk without having to ingest alcohol

 

[Tropico]

Sounds like the synthohol in Star Trek.

 

[The Question]

Well if you read the article you would see that not only are they able to make a pill that instantly makes you no longer inebriated but they can get you drunk without having to ingest alcohol

I read the article. My point is that it seems like a waste of time and money when you can just keep yourself hydrated while you drink booze.

 

[chaseter]

That's not fun though.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I read the article. My point is that it seems like a waste of time and money when you can just keep yourself hydrated while you drink booze.

Well you can do that and I'll take the pill that gets me drunk and then the pill that makes me sober when I need to go, this is the future The Question. Accept it. Kids will be popping drunk and sober pills at pill bars, and all as old folks are gonna be laughed at for drinking the hooch

*Please note the heavy use of sarcasm in this post as to not cause any confusion*

 

[the last son]

Probably not a good article for an alcoholic like myself. I quit because of being sick and tired. If there was something to take that away, I would be drunk possibly 24/7. I don't see anything like that happening in our lifetime.

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

That's not fun though.

 

[NickNitro]

Imagine all the lives saved by drunk driving accidents if you could just take a pill after leaving the bar...

Also imagine all the fugly people who wont get any because beer goggles will only last as long as you (or your friends) will allow it.

 

[Tropico]

Probably not a good article for an alcoholic like myself. I quit because of being sick and tired. If there was something to take that away, I would be drunk possibly 24/7. I don't see anything like that happening in our lifetime.

I had an alcoholic in my family (or have, it's something they will have to fight against the rest of their lives) and I can see this pill as dangerously addictive. Even if there's a pill to take away the effects some people will just choose to be in that state instead of sober for whatever reasons.

Imagine all the lives saved by drunk driving accidents if you could just take a pill after leaving the bar...

Also imagine all the fugly people who wont get any because beer goggles will only last as long as you (or your friends) will allow it.

While I agree that DUI's should decrease I don't think they will disappear. And, a bar? For the social aspect? Because I'm sure they will overprice the pills same as they do with drinks. Why overpay?

 

[NickNitro]

Why wouldn't you just be able to buy the pills over the counter and bring them with you to the bar?

 

[Tropico]

Do you take fast food with you and then sit down in fancy restaurants to eat it?

 

[The Question]

Do you take fast food with you and then sit down in fancy restaurants to eat it?

Yes.

 

[NickNitro]

That would actually be pretty hilarious. Go to a 5 star restaurant with your wife/girlfriend and bring in McDonalds for yourself while she orders champagne and duck foie gras.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Reminds me of that old Taco Bell commercial were the guy brings the steak burrito to the fancy restaurant

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Can you start posting links to your articles when you post them? I want to know where this article is from?

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Can you start posting links to your articles when you post them? I want to know where this article is from?

Here ya go:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/alcohol-benefits-no-dangers-closer-think

 

[The Guard]

The best cure for a hangover is to prevent it by drinking Pedialite while you're drinking.

 

[NickNitro]

Pedialite is the nectar of the Gods

I'm pretty sure that's what the Asgardians drink

 

[DarthDaveBanner]

I am quite the drinker but have never had a hangover, shall I donate my body to science?

 

[NickNitro]

Do you throw up a lot?

 

[DarthDaveBanner]

Nevah.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

Honestly, I'd rather pop a pill that gets me drunk than drinking alcohol. Stuff's gross... I mean, I drink it anyway, but still