Consuming too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is marked by symptoms such as poor coordination, hypothermia, irregular heartbeat, slowed breathing, and unconsciousness. It is very dangerous and potentially fatal. This article discusses the causes and symptoms of alcohol poisoning. It also explains available alcohol poisoning treatments.
Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms
Learning the symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning can help you distinguish between a friend who is drunk and passed out and a person who is unconscious due to acute alcohol poisoning. Look for:
Slow or irregular breathing (less than eight times a minute, or 10 seconds or more between any two breaths)Clammy or blue-tinged skin and extremely low body temperature (hypothermia)ConfusionLoss of consciousnessNo gag reflex (which means a risk of choking when vomiting)SeizuresSlow heart rateVomiting, especially while passed out and without waking during or after vomiting
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning typically correspond to blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. In addition to the serious risk of death, alcohol poisoning can also lead to irreversible brain damage. Other long-term complications of heavy alcohol use include addiction, cancer, cirrhosis, liver disease, vitamin deficiencies, and mental health problems. It also increases the risk of unintentional injuries due to falls, drowning, assault, and car accidents.
Causes of Alcohol Poisoning
Too much alcohol in your bloodstream causes the areas of your brain that support breathing, heart rate, and other essential life-supporting functions to start to shut down. In other words, your friend who drank way too much may not just be sleeping it off. If they are experiencing an episode of acute alcohol poisoning, their condition could lead to coma and even death if you do not intervene. Children or adults can get alcohol poisoning. When it comes to kids, and maybe adults too, your thoughts might immediately jump to the liquor cabinet, but remember that another household product that contains alcohol, such as a cooking extract, or medicinal tincture, could be the culprit.
Alcohol Poisoning Risk Factors
Certain factors increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, including:
Body weight and sizeCombining alcohol with other substancesOverall healthRate of alcohol consumption and how much is consumedTolerance levelWhether or not food has been recently consumed
People who binge drink have a higher risk of experiencing alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of five or more alcoholic drinks (for men) or four or more drinks (for women) within two hours.
Treatment for Alcohol Poisoning
There is no way to reverse alcohol poisoning; medical intervention is needed to protect the individual’s life. Calling 911 and keeping your friend safe until help arrives is the first step to safely treating someone with alcohol poisoning. Available treatments to treat alcohol poisoning include:
IV fluids: Once at the hospital (or en route), a medical professional may give intravenous (IV) fluids to replace fluid lost from vomiting and balance any fluid and electrolyte disruption in the body caused by the excessive amounts of alcohol.Oxygen: Oxygen may also be administered for respiratory support, especially if the person is experiencing irregular or slowed breathing,Blood pressure medication: Medicine can regulate any dips in blood pressure that the person may be experiencing.Stomach pumping: A tube may be inserted to remove alcohol from the stomach. This can help prevent alcohol that is consumed from being metabolized.Blood filtration: Hemodialysis is a procedure that uses a dialysis machine to filter the blood. It can be used to remove alcohol and its metabolites from the body quickly.
If the person is experiencing seizures, a short-term anticonvulsant medication will be given to stop the seizures. If someone experiences alcohol poisoning, they will need time to recover. After receiving medical intervention, they will continue to have severe hangover symptoms until their condition becomes more stable. A healthcare provider may also suggest that individuals seek treatment for alcohol use or talk to a mental health professional. An individual may want to seek treatment for alcohol use or another mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. A healthcare provider can offer treatment recommendations, assist with medical detox, and prescribe medications that can treat cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
How to Prevent Alcohol Poisoning
In addition to being aware of alcohol poisoning symptoms, you should also understand what you can do to prevent it from happening.
Only drink in moderation: If you plan to drink, keep your consumption moderate to low. That means no more than one drink a day if you are a woman or two drinks a day if you are a man.Avoid drinking quickly: Consuming too much too quickly increases the risk of alcohol poisoning. Instead, focus on drinking slowly or switch to a non-alcoholic drink.Avoid drinking on an empty stomach: Eating before consuming alcohol can help slow how quickly alcohol is absorbed.Communicate: If you are concerned about another person you care about drinking too much, talk to them about the risks of alcohol, binge drinking, and alcohol poisoning.Don’t combine alcohol with medications: If you are taking prescription medications, avoid consuming alcohol. Dangerous drug interactions can occur, including an increased risk for alcohol poisoning with certain substances. You should also use caution if you are taking over-the-counter medications.Be cautious: Only consume alcohol if you know what is in it. Avoid leaving your drink unattended.
There is no way to eliminate the risk of alcohol poisoning. The best way to reduce your risk is to keep your alcohol consumption low or consider non-alcoholic beverages as an alternative. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Factors that can influence the rate of metabolism include weight, age, sex, other medications, and tolerance. Whether or not a person has eaten and how much they have eaten can also impact how long alcohol poisoning lasts.
