Ethanol

  • Brand Name :
  • Drug Class : N/A
  • Medical Author : John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
  • Medical Reviewer :
  • _eael_post_view_count : 10

What Is Ethanol and How Does It Work?

Ethanol is used in the management of toxicity due to ingestion of methanol, or ethylene glycol.

Ethanol is available under the following different brand and other names: alcohol (ethyl).

Dosages of Ethanol

Adult and Pediatric Dosage Forms and Strengths

Injection solution (95%)

  • 1 mL
  • 5 mL

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:
Methanol Toxicity, Ethylene Glycol Poisoning (Off-label)
 

Adult

Loading dose

  • 600 mg/kg intravenous (IV) (i.e., 7.6 mL/kg of 10% EtOH solution)
  • 600-700 mg/kg oral/nasogastric (NG) using a 95% solution diluted to 20% or less with water or juice

Maintenance dose

  • 65-155 mg/kg/hour depending on alcohol consumption status (lower for nondrinker)
  • Oral maintenance = 0.15 mL/kg/hour (IV = 1.4 mL/kg/hour) 10% ethanol
  • Chronic alcoholics and hemodialysis patients need increased dose; increased maintenance by 50%; non-users may need less
  • Maintain serum ethanol of 100-150 mg/dL [21.7-32.55 mmol/L]

Pediatric

Reduce ethanol loading dose if methanol or ethylene glycol ingested with alcohol

May need to increase ethanol maintenance dose in patients with chronic alcohol consumption

Loading dose (oral)

  • 95% EtOH: 0.8-1 mL/kg
  • 40% EtOH (80 proof undiluted liquor): 2 mL/kg
  • 43% EtOH (86 proof undiluted liquor): 1.8 mL/kg

Maintenance dose (oral)

  • 43% EtOH: 0.1 mL/kg/hour
  • 95% EtOH: 0.1 mL/kg/hour

Intravenous (IV) dose (10% EtOH)

  • 10% EtOH = 7.9 g/dL
  • Loading: 8-10 mL/kg IV; not to exceed 200 mL
  • Maintenance: 0.83 mL/kg/hour intravenous (IV)

10% EtOH = 7.9 g/dL

40% EtOH (80 proof undiluted liquor) = 31.6 g/dL

43% EtOH (86% proof undiluted liquor) = 34 g/dL

95% EtOH (absolute alcohol) = 75 g/dL

Continue maintenance dose until methanol or ethylene glycol levels are below 10 mg/dL

Add to cart