Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Solvents
- Anti-Infective Agents, Local
- Central Nervous System Depressants
- Disinfectants
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
Absolute Alcohol; Absolute Ethanol; Aethanol; Aethylalkohol; Alcare Hand Degermer; Alcohol; Alcohol Anhydrous; Alcohol, Anhydrous; Alcohol, Anhydrous Acs Grade; Alcohol, Dehydrated; Alcohol, Diluted; Alcohols; Alcool Ethylique; Alcool Etilico; Algrain; Alkohol; Alkoholu Etylowego; Aminoethanol; Anhydrol; Beta-Aminoethanol; Beta-Aminoethyl Alcohol; Beta-Ethanolamine; Beta-Hydroxyethylamine; C2H5OH; Caswell No. 426; Colamine; Cologne Spirit; Cologne Spirits; Dehydrated Ethanol; Denatured Alcohol; Denatured Alcohol Cd-10; Denatured Alcohol Cd-5; Denatured Alcohol Cd-5a; Denatured Alcohol Sd-1; Denatured Alcohol Sd-13a; Denatured Alcohol Sd-17; Denatured Alcohol Sd-23a; Denatured Alcohol Sd-28; Denatured Alcohol Sd-30; Denatured Alcohol Sd-39b; Denatured Alcohol Sd-39c; Denatured Alcohol Sd-3a; Denatured Alcohol Sd-40m; Denatured Ethanol; Envision Conditioner Pdd 9020; ETA; Etanolo; Ethamolin; Ethanol 200 Proof; ETHANOL 95%; Ethanol 95% V/V; ETHANOL 96%; Ethanol 96% Bp; Ethanol 96% V/V; Ethanol Absolute; Ethanol Absolute - Duty Free; Ethanol Absolute Bp; Ethanol Anhydrous; Ethanol Extra Pure; Ethanol, Silent Spirit; Ethanol, Solution; Ethyl Alc; Ethyl Alcohol; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 10%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 20%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 30%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 40%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 5%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 50%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 60%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 70%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 80%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 95%; Ethyl Alcohol & Water, 96%; Ethyl Alcohol Anhydrous; Ethyl Alcohol, Anhydrous; Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured; Ethyl Hydrate; Ethyl Hydroxide; Ethylol; Ethylolamine; Etoh; Etylowy Alkohol; Fermentation Alcohol; Glycinol; Grain Alcohol; HSDB 531; Jaysol; Jaysol S; MEA; Methylated Spirit Mineralised; Methylcarbinol; Molasses Alcohol; Monoethanolamine; Olamine; Phenyl J-Acid; Potato Alcohol; Punctilious Ethyl Alcohol; Pyro; Reagent Alcohol; Spirit; Spirits of Wine; Spirt; Synasol; Tecsol; Tecsol C; Thanol; Thiofaco M-50; USAF EK-1597; Usi in Oval
Indications
For therapeutic neurolysis of nerves or ganglia for the relief of intractable chronic pain in such conditions as inoperable cancer and trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux), in patients for whom neurosurgical procedures are contraindicated.
Pharmacology
Alcohol produces injury to cells by dehydration and precipitation of the cytoplasm or protoplasm. This accounts for its bacteriocidal and antifungal action. When alcohol is injected in close proximity to nerve tissues, it produces neuritis and nerve degeneration (neurolysis). Ninety to 98% of ethanol that enters the body is completely oxidized. Ethanol is also used as a cosolvent to dissolve many insoluble drugs and to serve as a mild sedative in some medicinal formulations.
Mechanism of Action
The sedative effects of ethanol are mediated through binding to GABA receptors and glycine receptors (alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits). In its role as an anti-infective, ethanol acts as an osmolyte or dehydrating agent that disrupts the osmotic balance across cell membranes.
Absorption
Rapidly absorbed.
Toxicity
Oral, rat LD50: 5628 mg/kg. Symptoms and effects of overdose include nausea, vomiting, CNS depression, acute respiratory failure or death and with chronic use, severe health problems, such as liver and brain damage.
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Hepatic. Metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP2E1.
Contraindications
Subarachnoid injection of dehydrated alcohol is contraindicated in patients receiving anticoagulants because of
the danger of bleeding.
Drug Interactions
No information provided.
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