MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Ethanol overdose

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Ethanol overdose

Contents of this page:
Definition Poisonous Ingredient Where Found Symptoms Home Treatment	Before Calling Emergency Poison Control, or a local emergency number What to expect at the emergency room Expectations (prognosis)

Definition

Ethanol poisoning is caused by consuming too many alcoholic drinks.

Poisonous Ingredient

ethanol

Where Found

alcoholic beverages (beer, whiskey, wine, vodka, and so on)

Symptoms

unable to walk in a normal manner
listing from side to side
slurred speech
slowed breathing
vomiting
abdominal pain
intestinal bleeding
stupor
coma

Home Treatment

If you can awaken an adult who has consumed too much alcohol, move the person to a comfortable place to sleep off the effects. Make sure the person won't fall or get hurt. Place the person on their side in case they vomit. Check the person frequently to make sure their condition does not worsen. If the patient is semi-conscious or unconscious, emergency assistance may be needed. When in doubt, CALL for medical help.

DO NOT make the person vomit unless instructed to do so by Poison Control, because an individual can accidentally inhale vomit into the lungs.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the drinks consumed (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

Posion control will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See poison control centers for the national telephone number. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following may be performed:

Treat the symptoms
Provide support for airway and breathing
Administer IV fluids and multivitamins

Expectations (prognosis)

In cases of toxic alcohol consumption, survival over 24 hours past the drinking binge usually means the person will recover.

Update Date: 5/21/2003

Updated by: Todd Severson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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