MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Methanol overdose

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Methanol 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

Poisoning from an overdose of methanol.

Poisonous Ingredient

Methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol)

Where Found

Antifreeze
Paint remover or thinner
Shellac
Varnish
Canned heating sources
Windshield wiper fluid
De-icing fluid
Glass cleaners

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Weakness
Leg cramps
Convulsions
Breathing difficulty
No breathing
Blurred vision
Blindness
Dilation of the pupils
Bluish-colored lips and fingernails
Nausea, vomiting
Drop in blood pressure
Coma
Fatigue
Headache
Dizziness

Home Treatment

Methanol is highly toxic, and you must seek medical care at your nearest emergency room for any ingestion.

DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

The patient's age, weight, and condition
The name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
When it was swallowed
The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

Local emergency or Poison Control personnel will advise you if it is necessary to take the person to the hospital. See poison control centers for the national telephone number. Take any containers with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

Supporting breathing
Pumping the stomach (gastric lavage)
Giving an antidote (fomepizole or ethanol)
Giving other medications (folinic acid, bicarbonate)
Treating the symptoms
Dialysis

Expectations (prognosis)

Methanol is extremely toxic. As little as 2 TABLEspoonsful can be fatal to a child, and 2 to 8 oz. can be fatal for an adult. The ultimate outcome depends on how much was swallowed and how soon appropriate care was given.

Update Date: 5/17/2003

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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