2. • A) Malted liquors:
– By fermentation of germinating cereals
– Undistilled
– Low alcohol content(3-6%)
• B) Wines:
– By fermentation of natural sugars e.g. Grapes & other
fruits
– Undistilled
2
3. • C) Spirits:
Distilled after fermentation
40-55% alcohol (standardized to 42.8%v/v or
37%w/w)
e.g. Rum, gin, whiskey, vodka, brandy
3
7. • Ethanol primarily is a CNS depressant
• Anti-anxiety actions & Behavioral Changes
• Uncontrolled mood swings and emotional outbursts
• The cortex & RAS are most sensitive
• With more severe intoxication → CNS function is
impaired, and ultimately a condition of general
anesthesia
9. Neurotransmitter
System
Effects
GABAA GABA release, ↑ receptor density
NMDA Inhibition of postsynaptic NMDA receptors;
with chronic use, up-regulation
DA ↑ Synaptic DA
ACTH ↑ CNS and blood levels of ACTH
Opioid Release of β endorphins, activation of μ
receptors
5-HT ↑ in synaptic 5-HT
Cannabinoid ↑ CB1 activity, changes in DA, GABA,
glutamate activity
9
10. • GABA Boosting action :
– Feelings of sleepiness, muscle relaxation, and the
acute anticonvulsant properties
• Dopamine :
– Associated with feelings of euphoria, reward &
craving
• Alcoholic blackouts :
– Large doses of ethanol can interfere with encoding
of memories, producing Anterograde Amnesias
10
11. • With heavy intake :
Disturbances in sleep architecture, with frequent
awakenings and restless sleep
Vivid and disturbing dreams, suppression of night
rapid eye movement
Thiamine depletion - Wernicke-Korsakoff
syndromes (ataxia, opthalmoparesis, amnesia,
psychosis)
11
12. • “Alcohol-induced" psychiatric syndromes :
Caused by Heavy doses of ethanol over multiple days
or weeks
Related to changes in CNS pathways
Depressive symptoms, temporary suicidal thoughts
and behaviors
Panic attacks and generalized anxiety
Temporary auditory hallucinations and paranoid
delusions
12
13. • Alcoholic dementia :
– Chronic heavy drinking increases the probability of
developing a more permanent cognitive deficit
• Hangover :
– The transient CNS effects of heavy ethanol
consumption
– “Next morning" syndrome
of headache, thirst, nausea
and cognitive impairment
13
14. Cardiovascular System
• Greater than three standard drinks per day elevates the
risk for heart attacks and bleeding-related strokes
• Vascular-related diseases are among the leading causes
of early death in alcohol-dependent individuals
• 6-fold increased risk for coronary artery disease, cardiac
arrhythmias, and congestive heart failure
14
15. Blood
• Regular intake of small to moderate amounts of alcohol(1-2
drinks) has been found to raise HDL cholesterol levels and
decrease LDL oxidation
• 15-35% lower incidence of CAD in such individuals
• Protection is lost if > 3 drinks are consumed daily
• Mild anaemia in chronic alcoholism
• Megaloblastic anaemia is due to interference with folate
metabolism
15
16. Gastro Intestinal System
• ↑es gastric acid secretion cause vomiting, mucosal
congestion & gastritis
• Bowel movements are altered
• Acute pancreatitis → Complication of heavy drinking
16
17. Liver
• If adequate nutrition is maintained → No significant
liver damage
• Increases fat synthesis in liver, proteins are also
accumulated
• Alcoholic cirrhosis :
– Chronic alcoholism → Oxidative stress
→ Cellular necrosis → Fibrosis
– Combined with vitamins &
other nutritional deficiencies
17
18. • Body temperature :
Warmth is produced due to cutaneous and gastric
vasodilatation
High doses depress temperature regulating centre
18
19. • Skeletal muscle :
Muscle work is increased or decreased depending
on the predominating central effect
Weakness and myopathy occurs in chronic
alcoholism
• Kidney :
Diuresis
Due to water ingested with the drink & alcohol
induced inhibition of ADH
No significant renal damage
19
20. Sexual function
• Alcohol is reputed as an aphrodisiac
• Aggressive sexual behaviour is due to loss of inhibition
• Performance of sexual act is often impaired
• Chronic alcoholism can produce impotence, testicular
atrophy, gynaecomastia and infertility in both sex
20
21. Miscellaneous effects
• Chronic alcoholics → Predisposed to lung infection
• Ethanol not a carcinogen but chronic use → ↑ed
incidence of breast & liver carcinoma
• Alters uric acid metabolism → Gout precipitation
• Moderate blood ethanol levels → Uterine
contractions suppressed
21
22. Clinical uses
• Medicinal uses of ethanol are restricted to external
application and as a vehicle for liquid preparations
used internally
1. As antiseptic
2. Rubefacient and counterirritant for sprains, joint
pains, etc
3. Rubbed into the skin to prevent bedsores
4. Astringent action used in antiperspirant and
aftershave lotions
22
23. 5. Alcoholic sponges to reduce body temperature in fever
6. Intractable neuralgias (trigeminal and others), severe cancer
pain → Injection of alcohol round the nerve causes
permanent loss of transmission
7. To ward off cold → By causing vasodilatation of blanched
mucosa
8. As appetite stimulant
9. Reflex stimulation in fainting/hysteria: 1 drop in nose
10. To treat methanol poisoning
23
24. Contraindications
1. Peptic ulcer, hyperacidity and gastroesophageal reflux
patients (alcohol increases gastric secretion and relaxes
LES).
2. Epileptics: seizures may be precipitated
3. Severe liver disease patients
4. Unstable personalities: they are likely to abuse it and
become excessive drinkers
5. Pregnant women: Moderate drinking during pregnancy
can produce foetal alcohol syndrome
24
25. Guidelines for safe drinking
• 1 drink =
• 50 ml of spirits
• 150 ml of wines
• 400 ml of beer
• Guidelines :
On an average 1-2 drinks per day is usually safe
Not more than 3 drinks on any one occasion
Consumption of >3 drinks per day is associated with
documented adverse health effects
16 gm alcohol & 30mg/dl Blood
Ethanol levels in adult male
25
26. Contd …
• Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities after
drinking
• Do not drink if an interacting drug has been taken
• Subjects with any contraindication should not drink
• Safe limits are somewhat lower for women than for men,
because metabolism of alcohol is slower and its
bioavailability higher
26
27. Drunk driving law
• The blood alcohol content (BAC) limits are fixed at
0.03% or 30 µl alcohol in 100 ml blood.
• Any person whose BAC values are detected more
than this limit is booked under the first offense.
• A person may be fined about 2000 andor he or she
may face a maximum of 6 months imprisonment.
27
30. • Treatment :
Gastric lavage – only if the patient is brought soon after
alcohol intake
Maintain patent airway and prevent aspiration of vomitus
Tracheal intubation and positive pressure respiration if
respiration depressed
Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance
Correction of hypoglycaemia by glucose infusion till
alcohol is metabolized
Thiamine (100 mg in 500 ml glucose solution infused i.v.)
Hemodialysis if needed
30
32. • Tolerance :
On chronic intake tolerance develops to the effects of
alcohol
reduced behavioral or physiological response to the
same dose of ethanol
Pharmacokinetic tolerance due to reduced absorption
& ↑ed metabolism
Cellular tolerance also
32
33. Dependence :
Physical dependence
• Elicitation of a withdrawal
syndrome when alcohol
consumption is terminated
• Symptoms and severity
depends on the amount and
duration of alcohol
consumption
• Sleep disruption,
sympathetic activation,
tremors, seizures & in
severe cases delirium
tremens
Psychological dependence
• Craving and drug-seeking
behavior
• With moderate drinking
• Depends on individual’s
likings & attitude
33
34. Pharmacotherapy of Alcoholism
• 1. Naltrexone :Opioid antagonist
• M/A :
Blocks activation of dopaminergic pathways in the
brain
↓drinking through ↓ feelings of reward and/or ↓
craving
34
35. 35
• Nalmefene : Another opioid antagonist
• Adv: greater oral bio-availability,
» Longer duration of action,
• Lack of dose-dependent liver toxicity
• Appeared useful in clinical tests
37. • 3. Disulfiram :
• Tetra ethyl thiuram disulfide
• M/A : Inhibits the enzyme Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
after conversion into active metabolites
37
38. • Concentration of acetaldehyde in tissues and blood rises
and a number of highly distressing symptoms
E.g.
Flushing, Burning sensation
Throbbing headache, Perspiration
Uneasiness, Tightness in chest
Dizziness , Vomiting
Visual disturbances, Mental confusion
Postural fainting, Circulatory collapse
38
39. • Use :
– As an aversion technique in chronic alcoholics who
are motivated to leave the habit
– should not be used in patients who are physically
dependent on alcohol
• Side effects
• rashes, metallic taste, nervousness, malaise
and abdominal upset
39
40. Other drugs
• Varenicilin :
– Partial agonist at α4β2 of nicotinic Ach receptor
– ↓ed ethanol seeking behaviour & its consumption
in rodents
• Rimonabant :
– Antagonist of CB1 receptor
– Blocks the effect of ethanol on dopaminergic
system
40
41. • Ondansetron:
A 5-HT3-receptor antagonist and antiemetic drug
Reduces alcohol consumption in laboratory animals and
currently is being tested in humans
Lowers the amount of alcohol consumed & ↓es desire to drink
• Topiramate :
A drug for seizures
A new and unique approach to pharmacotherapy of alcoholism
Useful for treating alcohol dependence
Lowers craving
41
42. Methanol
• Methyl alcohol or Wood alcohol
• One carbon alcohol (CH3OH)
• Only of toxicological importance
42
43. • P/K :
– Rapidly absorbed via the oral route, inhalation,
and through the skin
– Metabolized by ADH and ALDH to Formaldehyde
& Formic acid respectively
– Methanol
– Zero order kinetics
Formaldehyde Formic acid
ADH ALDH
43
44. Methanol Poisoning
• Toxic effects of poisoning due to formic acid as
further metabolism is slow & folate dependent
• Severe poisoning - >50 mg/dl blood methanol
• Fatal dose – 70-100 ml
• Even 15 ml caused blindness & 30 ml caused death
44
45. • Manifestation :
Vomiting
Headache
Epigastric pain
Uneasiness
Drunkenness
Disorientation
Dyspnoea
Bradycardia
Hypotension
Delirium
Seizure
Coma
Death due to respiratory failure
Toxicity of formic acid
- Retinal damage
- Blurring of vision
- Congestion of optic
disc
- Blindness
- Acidosis
45
46. • Treatment :
• Keep the patient in a quiet, dark room; protect the eyes
from light
• Gastric lavage with sod. bicarbonate if the patient is
brought within 2hrs
• Treat acidosis by i.v. Sod.bicarbonate infusion
• Ethanol :
l00 mg/dl in blood saturates alcohol dehydrogenase
and retards methanol metabolism
Administered through a nasogastric tube
46
47. • Haemodialysis:
Clears methanol as well as formate & fastens recovery
• Fomepizole (4-methylpyrazole) :
Specific inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase & retards
methanol metabolism
A loading dose of 15 mg/kg i.v. followed by 70 mg/kg
every 12 hours till serum methanol falls below 2O mg/
dl
• Folate therapy:
Calcium leucovorin 50 mg injected 6 hourly
Decreases blood formate levels by enhancing its
oxidation
47