alcohol and alcoholism. ethanol n mechanism of toxicity cns depressant teratogen carcinogen
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Alcohol and Alcoholism
Ethanol
Mechanism of Toxicity• CNS depressant• Teratogen• Carcinogen
Ethanol
Lite Beer 2.5 - 3.5% Beer 4.0 - 6.0% Wine 10 - 18 % Flavored Liquors 15 - 25% Distilled Liquors 22 - 50% Everclear 95% Proof is double %
Ethanol
Colognes/Perfumes 40 - 60% Glass Cleaners
10% Paint Stripper 25% Cough/Cold Preparations 3 - 25% Mouthwashes 14 - 27%
Ethanol Metabolism
One drink equals:• 12 ounces beer• 5 ounces wine • 1.5 ounces distilled liquor
70 kg person metabolizes approximately one drink/hour
7 calories per gram vs. fat @ 9 calories/gm
Ethanol
Highest serum level recorded with full recovery in an adult - 1510 mg/dL
Legal limit for intoxication - 80mg/dL or 0.08
Odor threshold - 10 ppm
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Ethyl alcohol• Most commonly abused drug in U.S.• 6,000,000 to 10,000,000 alcoholics• 50% of fatal motor vehicle crashes• 50% of violent deaths• Contributes to pathology in 25-35% of all
hospital patients
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Alcoholism• Addiction to alcohol or abuse of alcohol to
a degree that produces problems in one or more of these areas:
– Health– Social relationships– Economic status– Interpersonal relationships
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Phases• Problem drinking
– Drinks to relieve stress– Abstinence does not cause physical symptoms
• Alcohol addiction– Abstinence produces physical symptoms
Alcohol and alcoholism
Alcohol does NOT depend on type of EtOH
Alcoholism occurs in ALL social classes and age groups
“Skid row bums” = 3 to 5% of alcoholics
Alcohol and alcoholism
Typical alcoholic• Employed male• “Social drinker”• Drinks early in day• Drinks alone or secretly• Binges accompanied by
memory loss• Unexplained GI upset,
bleeding
• Green-tongue syndrome• Cigarette burns on
clothing• Chronically flushed face,
palms• Tremulousness, anxiety
with reduced intake• Problems with family,
work, law enforcement related to EtOH
Acute Alcohol Effects
Acute Alcohol Effects
Hangover• Mild withdrawal with volume depletion• Treatment
– Fluids– Tylenol for headache– Not aspirin or ibuprofen
Acute Alcohol Effects
Stupor-Coma• Acute overdose
– Coma– Depressed respirations– Hypotension– Hypothermia
Acute Overdose Treatment
ABC’s Oxygen, assisted ventilations Intubate IV, infuse fluid to support perfusion Lavage if within 2 hours
Acute Overdose Treatment
DONT• Dextrose, Oxygen, Narcan, Thiamine• Glucose, thiamine (50-100mg)• Narcan may reduce respiratory
depression but not CNS depression (? Use)
Dialysis - removes 280mg/minute
Acute Alcohol Effects
Stupor-Coma• Hypoglycemia
– Inhibition of protein to sugar conversion in liver (gluconeogenesis)
– D-stick all patients with altered LOC
Acute Alcohol Effects
Stupor-Coma• Trauma
– “Drunks fall down and hit their heads.”– Concussion– Subdural hematoma
Acute Alcohol Effects
Stupor-Coma• Mixed drug overdose
– Tranquilizers– Barbiturates– Anti-depressants
Acute Alcohol Effects
Acute alcoholic paranoia• Mean drunk
Violence• Motor vehicle crashes (50-60% of
fatalities)• Fights
Acute Alcohol Effects
Drug Interactions• Potentiation of CNS depressant drugs• Decreased anticonvulsant effectiveness• Potentiation of antihypertensive effects
– Orthostatic hypotension
Acute Alcohol Effects
Worsening of other problems• Peptic ulcer disease• Liver disease• Pancreatic disease• Heart disease (decreased pump
strength)
Associated Medical Problems
Associated Medical Problems
Head injury/subdural hematoma• Impaired clotting mechanisms• Frequent falls
Associated Medical Problems
Hepatic cirrhosis• Causes
–Alcohol toxicity–Poor nutrition
Associated Medical Problems
Hepatic cirrhosis• Symptoms
– Ascites– Jaundice– Palmar erythema– Spider angiomata, Caput medusa– Gynecomastia (males)
“Lemon on toothpicks”
Associated Medical Problems
Hepatic Cirrhosis• Effects
–Impaired glucose metabolism, hypoglycemia
–Portal hypertension, esophageal varices
–Coagulopathies–Hepatic encephalopathy
Associated Medical Problems
Pancreatitis• Nausea, vomiting• Severe upper abdominal pain radiating to
back• Hypovolemic shock• Secondary diabetes• Pancreatic necrosis and hemorrhage
Associated Medical Problems
Methanol/ethylene glycol poisoning• Sterno, antifreeze ingestion• Serve as EtOH substitutes• Produce
–profound metabolic acidosis–hypocalcemia in ethylene glycol
poisoning
Associated Medical Problems
Nutritional deficiencies• Wernicke’s syndrome
–Dizziness–Confusion–Apathy–Ophthalmoplegia–Ataxia
Associated Medical Problems
Nutritional deficiencies• Korsakoff’s psychosis
–Memory loss–Confusion, confabulation
Associated Medical Problems
Nutritional deficiencies• Beriberi
–Paresthesias, burning of feet–Cardiovascular failure
• Peripheral vasodilation• Biventricular myocardial failure• Na+ and water retention
Associated Medical Problems
Nutritional deficiencies• Respond to administration of thiamine
(Vitamin B1)
Associated Medical Problems
Cancer• Colon• Breast
Abstinence Syndrome
Abstinence Syndrome
Results from EtOH intake reduction NOT necessarily result of complete
withdrawal
Abstinence Syndrome
Stages• Tremulousness
–Shakes, jitters–Fine tremors–GI upset–Restlessness–Peaks at 24 hours–Patient may feel “shaky” for up to 2 weeks
Abstinence Syndrome
Stages• Hallucinations
– Distorted vision– Misinterpretation of visual stimuli (snakes, vermin)– Auditory hallucinations
• Seizures (“rum fits”)– Usually in first 24 hours– Major motor seizures in bursts of 2 to 6– May progress to status epilepticus
Abstinence Syndrome
Stages• Delirium tremens
–24 to 72 hours after reducing intake–Restlessness, tremors, hallucinations,
seizures–Dilated pupils, flushed face, tachycardia,
nausea, vomiting–15% mortality from dehydration, electrolyte
imbalance, aspiration
Abstinence Syndrome
Management• Oxygen, monitor, IV (LR or NS)• Check blood sugar
• Consider D50W and thiamine
• Minimum stimulation• Sedation
– Phenobarbital– Benzodiazepines
Antabuse (disulfiram) Used in aversion therapy Blocks EtOH metabolism Causes buildup of acetaldehyde
Antabuse (disulfiram) Exposure to EtOH while taking causes
sudden, severe vasodilation:
• Hot, flushed face
• Dizziness
• Pounding heart, hypotension
• Nausea, vomiting
• Headache
Antabuse (disulfiram)
DANGER! Contact with other alcohol sources
• Foods
• Shaving lotion
• Mouthwash
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