Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)

Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)

Alohals are hydroxy derivatives of aliphatic hydrocarbons, when unqualified, 'alcohal refers to ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

Pharmacology of alcohol is imporatant for it's presence in beverages( which have been used since recored historyand alcohol intoxification, rather then as a drugs).

Alcohal is manufactured by formation of suger:
Zymese
C6 H12O6 ----------->2CO2 + 2C2H5OH

Fermentation proceds till alcohal content reaches 15%, then inhibited by alcohal itself.

Alcohalic Beverages :

1. Malted liquors: By fermentation of germinating cereals; are undistiled-alcohal content is low
about 3-6% eg. Beers.

2. Wines : By fermentation of natural suger as presence in grapes and other fruits. these are also
undistilled.
Light wines- alcohal content is 9-12%, and can not exceed 15%.
Fortified wines- alcohal content is16-22%, distilled beverages are added from outside.
Effervescent Wine- champagne (12-16)% alcohal, ;bottled before fermentation is completed.

3. Sprits : These are distilled after fermentation; alcohal content is 40-50 % . eg. Rum, Gin,
Vodka, Brandy etc.

Other forms of alcohal
1. Absolute alcohal 99 % w/w ethanol ( dehydrated alcohal).
2. Rectified sprits 90% w/w ethyl alcohal, from mollases by distillation.

Machanism of action of alcohal

Alcohal has been belived to produce CNS depression by generalized membrane action by altering the state of membrane lipids.

Alcohal promotes GABAA receptor mediated synaptic inhibition ( through chloride channel opening) as well as inhibits NMDA type of excitatory amino acid receptor ( opening throuhg cation chennel).

Pharmacokinetics of alcohal

Rate of alcohal absorption from stomach is dependent on it's concentration, presence of food and other factors. Absorption from intestine is very fast. Alcohal gets distributed widely in the body (vol. of distribution 0.7 L/kg), crosses blood brain barrier efficiently.

Alcohal is oxidized in liver to the extent of 98 %.

Interaction

Aspirin( NSAIDs) causes more gastric bleeding when taken with alcohal. Alcoholics are more prone to paracetamol toxicity due to enhanced generating of it's toxic metabolites.
Contraindication

Alcohal consumption should be avoided by
- Peptic ulcer :- Alcohal increses gastric secretion
- Epileptic :- Seizure may be precipitated
- Severe liver diseases patients.
- Pregnant Women

Toxicity

Side effects- Neusea, vomoting,hangover,traffic accident.

Acute alcoholic intoxication:- Hypotension,gastritis, hypogycaemia, depression,
coma, and death.

Guidelines for safe drinking

- On an average 1- 2 drinks per day is usually safe.
- Not more than 3 drinks an any occasion.
- Consumption of greater than 3 drinks per day is associated with documented
adverse health effects.
- Do not drinks if an interacting drugs has been taken.
- Subjects with any contraindication should not drinks.
- Safe limits are somewhat lower for women then men.

Note: 1 drinks = 50 ml of sprits= 150 ml of Wine = 400 ml of Beer , all roughly 20g alcohal.