A California-based company could help end one of college students’ greatest foes — the hangover.
RU-21, a new supplement developed by Spirit Sciences USA, Inc.,claims to not only prevent alcohol-related hangovers but also to protect the body from the toxic byproduct acetaldehyde. Though at least one expert is skeptical.
The company claims their product slows down the production of acetaldehyde, a compound believed to be responsible for most alcohol-related diseases and even the addictive process itself.
“It has a strong anti-hangover effect,” said Emil Chiaberi,chief operating officer for Spirit Sciences. “It prevents hangovers and prevents toxic byproducts from damaging your organs.”
Spirit Sciences advises those who drink moderately to take one pill before or during every alcoholic drink to reduce the negative effects of consumption.
Since RU-21 is a natural supplement, it does not require Food and Drug Administration approval. However, the ingredients of RU-21 all are on the FDA’s “generally regarded as safe” list.
RU-21, also known as the “KGB pill,” has a long and secretive history. Chiaberi said after the break up of the Soviet Union, science research went underfunded and scientists were left without jobs. One of these scientists, who created RU-21 for the former Russian secret police and intelligence agency, was then rehired by Spirit Science’s developer, the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The pill — originally developed to prevent the intoxication of KGB agents — was found to prevent hangovers and to protect vital organs.
“It’s not a miracle pill,” Chiaberi said. “It will not sober you up and it will not keep you from getting drunk. For someone who wants to binge drink, the pill will not work.”
Chiaberi acknowledged that the supplement’s use already has been misconstrued. He emphasized that the supplement is meant only to prevent hangovers and reduce the negative effects of alcohol consumption for people who drink moderately or have trouble metabolizing alcohol.
“If you deliberately abuse alcohol, most likely this product will not work,” he said.
Some, though, doubt RU-21’s effectiveness in preventing hangovers and protecting the body from the harmful side effects of drinking at all.
“It is a bogus pill designed to make a lot of money for its manufacturers,” said Dr. Mark Mycyk, a professor at Feinberg School of Medicine and a toxicologist at Cook County Hospital.
Mycyk said a pill that contains the same ingredients as a screwdriver, a drink made with vodka and orange juice, cannot prevent hangovers.
“If you look at the ingredients, dextrose is just sugar,” Mycyk said. “Another is ascorbic acid, and that’s vitamin C. So if you drink screwdrivers all night long, you should not have a hangover, since the ingredients in RU-21 are and a screwdriver are the same. “
Like Mycyk, some students said they were skeptical of the pill.
“It sounds too good to be true,” said Katie Sander, a Weinberg freshman. “You don’t know what the side effects are. There’s not enough information about it.”
Others said they were concerned the pill would give people an excuse to abuse alcohol.
“If this actually works and it does what they say it does, people will use this drug as an excuse to overstep their boundaries with alcohol on a regular basis,” said Adam Kaplan, a Weinberg junior.
Although the drug is readily available, other means of alcohol control are also available and recommended by Mycyk.
“Drink responsibly,” Mycyk said. “Don’t drink if you are not 21, and if you want to avoid a hangover, hydrate yourself with water.”
RU-21 is not available at Osco Drug but can be purchased nationwide at General Nutrition Centers and other select companies. RU-21 also is available on the Internet.
