Alcohol poisoning Description, Symptoms, & Treatment
This is when a male rapidly consumes five or more alcoholic drinks within two hours or a female consumes at least four drinks within two hours. An alcohol binge can occur over hours or last up to several days. Alcohol in the form of ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, is in alcoholic beverages.
Who Is at Risk of Alcohol Poisoning?
Copyright © 2025, AddictionHelp.com The information provided by AddictionHelp.com is not a substitute for professional medical advice. View our editorial content guidelines to learn how we create helpful content with integrity and compassion. While waiting for help, keep the person awake and sitting up if possible. If they’re unconscious, place them on their side with their chin tilted downward to prevent choking if they vomit. Next, doctors focus on stabilizing blood a warning sign or symptom of alcohol poisoning is sugar and hydration, so they might insert an IV into a vein to administer fluids. Check the person frequently to make sure their condition does not get worse.
How can I prevent alcohol poisoning?
It’s also in mouthwash, some cooking extracts, some medicines and certain household products. Ethyl alcohol poisoning generally results from drinking too many alcoholic beverages in a short period of time. Though drinking can temporarily blunt feelings of anxiety, this isn’t a suitable method to manage anxiety (or any mental health condition). It can lead to dangerous health effects and make symptoms worse.
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When excessively consumed, isopropyl (rubbing alcohol), methanol, and ethylene glycol can cause life-threatening consequences. Because alcohol is a Halfway house central nervous system (CNS) depressant, experiencing alcohol poisoning can affect the brain and nervous system. Consuming too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is marked by symptoms such as poor coordination, hypothermia, irregular heartbeat, slowed breathing, and unconsciousness.
Learn more about the short- and long-term effects of alcohol consumption here. Alcohol intoxication occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol in one period. Keep reading to learn more about alcohol intoxication, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. It’s safe to place someone in the recovery position who is not responding to you but is breathing normally. Mixing prescription medication with alcohol can cause interactions. Remember, your friend does not have to have all the symptoms to be at risk. Anyone who cannot be awakened or is unconscious is at risk of dying.
- Her work has appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Reader’s Digest.Dr.
- Anyone who drinks large amounts of alcohol in a short period puts themselves at risk for alcohol poisoning, but certain groups may be more vulnerable.
- It often happens when you drink alcohol faster than your body can process.