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a hangover prevention pill that claims to make drinkers feel refreshed after a night out has gone on sale in the UK.
The Myrkl supplement, which costs £30 for a pack of 30 capsules, quickly breaks down alcohol in the gut before it reaches the liver.
Two pills should be taken 30 minutes before drinking for maximum effect, according to Myrkl. The tablets continue to break down alcohol in the body for up to 12 hours.
A study conducted by the manufacturer together with the Swedish pharmaceutical company De Faire Medical and the Pfützner Science & Health Institute found that taking the tablets reduced blood alcohol concentration by half within 30 minutes of drinking, rising to 70 percent after one hour .
It will not be available in pharmacies, but can be bought online on the Myrkl website.
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Håkan Magnusson, CEO of Myrkl, said the supplement was a “game-changing product” but stressed that it would help “moderate drinkers” and not those who want to get drunk.
“Marking the first time in history that a consumer product has been demonstrated to effectively and rapidly break down alcohol, we are very excited to launch this innovative product in the UK and most European markets,” he said.
“Moderate social drinking is a huge part of British culture, with most Brits going out every week to enjoy a few drinks together.”
TV doctor Dr. Dawn Harper said those who take the pill will still get “some absorption and some of that joy you get when you drink alcohol.”
But she added: “If you want to go out and get drunk, Myrkl would just mean it would take a lot longer and cost a lot more. Where I can see Myrkl being relevant is to the huge number of moderate drinkers in the UK.
Hangovers are mainly caused by ethanol, which is broken down in the liver.
Ethanol acts in the body as a diuretic and causes dehydration, leading to dizziness, headache and thirst.
The Myrkl product contains special bacteria and amino acids that break down alcohol into water and carbon dioxide – meaning that small amounts of ethanol are broken down in the liver.
Myrkl tablets also contain vitamin B12, which helps boost energy levels.
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