Alcohol

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Ethanol, EtOH

Pharmacological Mechanism

GABA-A positive allosteric modulator + NMDA antagonist + 5-HT3 agonist + acute DA release. Metabolised by ADH → acetaldehyde (toxic) → ALDH → acetate. East Asian populations often carry ALDH2 *2 variant → acetaldehyde accumulation → facial flushing + increased cancer risk. Zero-order kinetics above ~0.08 g/L (saturable ADH).

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 0.25h, IV: 0.25h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 14g (Range: 14 - 14 g)
• IV: Typical 14g (Range: 14 - 14 g)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• endocrine

Interactions

• Acetaminophen