What is Methanol Poisoning?
Methanol is a chemical found in some industrial solvents and methylated spirits. Sometimes it is swallowed intentionally for self-harm or mistakenly consumed as a substitute for alcoholic drinks, especially in home-distilled alcohol where methanol may not be fully removed. A dose above 1 gram per kilogram of body weight can be deadly. Methanol breaks down in the body into toxic substances that cause severe acid build-up and damage to the eyes and nerves.
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Symptoms
- Initial drunkenness similar to regular alcohol
- A silent period without symptoms lasting 12 to 24 hours
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting
- Vision problems, central nervous system depression, breathing failure
- Severe acidosis and damage to the retina and optic nerves
Treatment
- Gastric aspiration and lavage may be performed, but only if within 2 hours of ingestion, since methanol is absorbed quickly.
- Activated charcoal is not effective and should not be used.
- Oral alcohol (40%, such as waragi, whisky, or brandy) is given as an antidote: a loading dose of 1.5 to 2 ml per kilogram in 180 ml of water, given either by mouth or through a nasogastric tube.
- Maintenance dose of oral alcohol is 0.3 ml per kilogram per hour.
- Sodium bicarbonate 50-100 ml is given intravenously over 30 to 45 minutes to correct acidosis.
- Blood sugar is checked and corrected if low (hypoglycaemia).
