What happens if you drink Rubbing Alcohol?
Is rubbing alcohol a type of drinking alcohol? Rubbing alcohol is made up of 70-99% isopropyl alcohol. It is colorless, highly flammable and has a very strong odor similar to gasoline. Despite containing the name alcohol, rubbing alcohol is a completely different substance from ethyl alcohol, which is the substance often found in drinks such as beer, wine and spirits. If ingested, rubbing alcohol can be twice as toxic as ethanol drinking alcohol.
Rubbing alcohol is widely available and easily accessible. You can purchase it at your local pharmacy. It is often used to clean and disinfect and can be found in many household products. Products such as cleaning supplies, paint thinners and even in perfumes. Rubbing alcohol is generally for external use only. In small amounts, it can be used on the skin to disinfect cuts or wounds and can be found in hand sanitizers. Rubbing alcohol is not meant to be swallowed or orally ingested. It can be toxic when orally ingested, inhaled or applied topically in large amounts.
Some believe because it contains the name alcohol, it can be an alternative to drinking ethanol alcohol. This is not the case. Rubbing alcohol intoxication can last longer than intoxication from traditional drinking alcohol, which makes it more appealing to those with an alcohol use disorder. However, isopropyl alcohol is highly dangerous and can result in severe health complications to various organ systems within the body.
What are the three main types of Alcohol?
- Isopropyl Alcohol. Most types of rubbing alcohol are made with isopropyl alcohol. It has a concentration of about 68-99% alcohol in water. It is colorless, has a strong odor and taste similar to fingernail polish and can be found in antiseptic hand sanitizers, household cleaners, paint thinner and even personal care products. The rapid evaporation of the substance makes it ideal in surface cleaning products. Isopropyl alcohol is a chemical compound that can dissolve germs on the protective outer layer of the skin surface, which is why it can be used as an antiseptic. Making it a staple in the healthcare setting where it is used to clean skin before injections, disinfect wounds and can temporarily relieve nausea when inhaled.
- Methyl Alcohol. This type of alcohol is a byproduct of distillation of wood. It is commonly found in paint remover, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid and copy machines. It is colorless, flammable and has a strong odor. If ingested, it can cause blurred vision and difficulty breathing. Methyl alcohol is also the type of substance that is commonly converted into formaldehyde.
- Ethyl Alcohol. Ethyl alcohol is also known as ethanol and is an alcohol made from grains. It is drinking alcohol. It can be found in drinks and is produced when sugar in grains such as rice and barely are fermented.
What happens if you drink Rubbing Alcohol?
Ingesting rubbing alcohol in any way especially orally can be highly toxic, dangerous and lead to life-threatening injuries. Most often, ingesting rubbing alcohol happens accidentally and is the most common form of isopropyl poisoning. However, there are some cases where people are intentionally drinking rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These people often suffer from an alcohol use disorder and are looking for alternative ways to consume a mind-altering substance in an attempt to produce a certain type of sensation. Unfortunately, people who consume isopropyl alcohol intentionally are often unaware of the dangers and consequences.
Isopropyl alcohol absorption is fairly quick where about 80% of the substance can be absorbed within 30 minutes after ingestion. That 80% goes directly into the liver where it is processed and metabolized. However, because it is such as toxic chemical, this can cause major damage to the liver making it more difficult to process and be expelled from the body. The body can only handle small amounts of rubbing alcohol. The kidneys can remove anywhere from 20-50% of isopropyl alcohol from the body, while the rest is broken down into acetone by enzymes called alcohol dehydrogenases. The acetone is filtered out of the body through both our lungs and kidneys. Acetone is also a central nervous system depressant and in large amounts can cause damage to the liver, kidney and nerves.
In fact isopropyl alcohol, which is what the majority of rubbing alcohol is made of, is not metabolized as efficiently as ethyl alcohol. This means it can lead to rubbing alcohol poisoning with even the smallest amounts resulting in an estimated 45% mortality rate. Rubbing alcohol can sometimes mimic ethanol intoxication, but is much more intense, severe and can cause an altered state of mind with risks of lung and heart failure.
Common Side Effects of Ingesting Rubbing Alcohol
- Abdominal pain
- Throat pain
- Red skin
- Dizziness and headache
- Vision problems
- Central nervous system depressant
- Throat and mouth irritation
- Lactic acidosis
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Symptoms of Rubbing Alcohol Poisoning
- Stupor
- Feeling drunk
- Slurred speech
- Sedation
- Uncoordinated movements
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme irritation in the digestive tract
- Bleeding and ulcers in the stomach and intestines
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Low blood pressure
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing and respiratory failure
- Several abdominal pain
- Organ damage
- Altered sensorium
- Hypotension
- Hypothermia
- Cardiopulmonary collapse
- Shock and coma
- Throat pain
Drinking rubbing alcohol even in the smallest amounts can cause blackouts, coma and death. Seek medical attention right away. Isopropyl poisoning can lead to internal bleeding, kidneys and liver failure.
Safety Tips when it comes to Rubbing Alcohol
- Keep out of reach of children
- Keep the isopropyl alcohol in its original container and do not mix it with other cleaning products
- Use in a well-ventilated area
- Avoid getting substance into the eyes and wash hands after use
- Seek medical care immediately if rubbing alcohol is accidentally ingested
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Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
Ingesting rubbing alcohol can have severe consequences. Like traditional ethyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, which is made from isopropyl alcohol, is a central nervous system depressant. It can slow down vital functions such as breathing and heart rate. Not only does it produce depressant side effects, it can also cause gastrointestinal damage. It disrupts the normal functions of the digestive system, causes inflammation and can cause internal bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Rubbing alcohol is a toxic chemical. Not only is it dangerous to ingest orally, but ingesting the substance through inhaling or huffing can also lead to severe damage. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, irritation of nasal passageways and irritation of lungs. In some cases, the fumes from the isopropyl alcohol can cause a loss of consciousness.
In most cases, ingesting rubbing alcohol is accidently. However, there are some cases of alcohol use disorder in which users have intently ingested the substance in an attempt to feel intoxicated. Behavioral health treatment programs such as Hotel California by the Sea, provide intensive care for clients in need of recovery treatment.
We have treatment programs at all levels of care including detox, residential, PHP and IOP. Included in our care plans are evidenced-proven treatment methods such as CBT, DBT and EMDR therapy. Hotel California by the Sea is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals of sobriety and overcoming their substance addiction.
References:
https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/why-is-drinking-rubbing-alcohol-bad
https://www.poison.org/articles/rubbing-alcohol-only-looks-like-water
https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/isopropanol-alcohol-poisoning
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493181
https://www.healthline.com/health/isopropyl-alcohol
https://addictionresource.com/alcohol/drinking-rubbing-alcohol
https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/alcohol/drinking-rubbing-alcohol
https://www.addictiongroup.org/alcohol/drinking-rubbing-alcohol/