PRESENTATION ON ALCOHOL

PRESENTED BY

Elissy
 ETHYL ALCOHOL

Ethyl alcohol is a monohydroxy alcohol

manufactured by fermentation of sugars. It is
a colourless, volatile, inflammable liquid. The
ethanol content of various alcoholic beverages
ranges from 4-55%.
 SYSTEMIC ACTION
1.Central Nervous System:
a) Alcohol is a CNS depressant.
b) Small dose cause euphoria, relief of anxiety and loss
of social inhibition
c) High doses cause stupor and coma
2. Cardiovascular System:
a) The action are dose dependent
b) Small doses cause cataneous vasodilation and
produce warm flushed skin
c) Large doses cause hypotension due to depression of
myocardium and vasomotor centre
3. Kidney:
a) Diuresis is produced
b) Urine increase due to ingestion of water
and inhibition
c) Release antidiuretic hormone(ADH) from
posterior pituitary
4. Body Temperatur:
a) Enchances cutaneous blood flow
b) Heat is lost rapidly and temperature falls
c) Produce feeling of warmth and sweating
5. Liver & GIT:
a) Alcohol is irritant
b) Increases gastric secretion
c) Produce vasodilation and warmth
d) Accumulation of fat in the liver
e) Enlargement of liver, followed by
degeneration and cirrhosis.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
- Inhibiting central neuronal nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors
- Inhibiting excitatory kainate receptor functions
- Promoting the function of 5-HT3 receptors

PHARMACOKINETICS
- Rapidly absorded from the stomach
- Metabolished in the liver by dehydrogeneses
- About 10ml absolute alcohol is metabolised per
hour
- Excreted through kidneys and lungs
 USES
• Antiseptic 70% alcohol is applied topically
• Hardens the skin and prevents bed sores
• Sponges are used for reduction of body
temperature in fevers
• About 50ml of 6-10% alcohol given before
meals is an appetite stimulant
 METHYL ALCOHOL
Methanol is used to denature ethyl alcohol. It has
no therapeutic value. Ingestion results in methanol
poisoning.
Methanol is converted to formaldehyde catalysed
by alcohol dehydrogenase, formaldehyde is converted
to formic acid by the action of aldehyde
dehydrogenase. Toxic effect are due to formic acid.
Manifestations of toxicity are vomoting, headache,
vertigo, severe abdominal pain, hypotension, delirium,
acidosis and coma.
Formic acid has affinity for optic nerve and causes
retinal damage resulting in blindness
TREATMENT OF METHANOL POISONING
• Gastric lavage with sodium bicarbonate
• Supportive measure to maintain respiration
and circulation
• Acidosis to be treated by I.V. Sodium
bicarbonate in order to prevent retinal
damage and other symptoms due to acidosis
• Folate therapy(leucovorin) reduces blood
formate levels by enhancing its metabolism
ETHANOL IN METHANOL POISONING
• Ethanol retards methanol metabolism by
competing for alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme
• Ethanol is markedly selective hence advocated
in the treatment of methanol poisoning
• Ethanol (100% mg/dl in blood) will saturate
alcohol dehydrogenase sufficient to delay the
metabolism of methanol
• Ethanol (10% in water) is given through a
nasogastric tube.
 REFERENCE
• Essentials of Pharmacology -3rd Edition
V N Sharma
• Medicinal Pharmacology -2nd Edition
Padmaja Udaykumar
THANK YOU