Didgital
Bluelight Crew
When you drink methanol, it gets metabolized into formic acid. And that's why you go blind, because apparently some of this metabolism is going in the retina. And back to ethanol as an antidote to methanol, ethanol somehow kicks methanol out of line in terms of metabolism. so you drink so much ethanol that methanol essentially gets excreted and not metabolized.
@iom from ai
AI Overview
Treatment for methanol poisoning focuses on preventing the formation of toxic metabolites (specifically formic acid), correcting metabolic acidosis, and removing the toxin from the body.
Primary Antidotes
There are two main antidotes used to block the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which is responsible for breaking down methanol into its toxic byproducts:
- Fomepizole (Antizol): This is the first-line treatment in many countries because it has a higher affinity for ADH than ethanol. It is easier to administer (typically intravenously) and does not cause intoxication or low blood sugar. However, its high cost and limited availability in developing regions can be a barrier.
- Ethanol:
Traditionally used as the primary antidote, ethanol works through competitive inhibition—the liver processes ethanol instead of methanol. It is much cheaper and more widely available, often found in hospital pharmacies or even as high-proof spirits in emergencies. Its drawbacks include the need for constant monitoring to maintain therapeutic blood alcohol levels and side effects like sedation and potential respiratory depression.
Methanol poisoning typically follows a distinct timeline, beginning with mild intoxication similar to regular alcohol and progressing to severe organ damage hours later.
- Initial Stage (0.5–4 hours): Early symptoms can mimic ethanol intoxication, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and mild confusion. During this time, the body is rapidly absorbing the methanol, which peaks in the bloodstream within 30 to 90 minutes.
- Latent Period (6–24 hours): A "quiet" period often occurs where the victim may feel deceptively normal or only slightly ill. This delay happens because methanol itself is not highly toxic; the danger begins only after the liver metabolizes it into formic acid.
- Delayed Toxic Phase (12–48 hours):Once toxic levels of formic acid accumulate, severe symptoms emerge. These include:
- Visual Disturbances: Blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or the sensation of "being in a snowstorm".
- Metabolic Acidosis: Rapid, deep breathing (Kussmaul respiration) as the blood becomes dangerously acidic.
- Neurological Damage: Worsening headache, seizures, or coma.
- Ethanol Delay: If regular alcohol (ethanol) is consumed at the same time as methanol, the onset of severe symptoms can be delayed for days because ethanol blocks the metabolism of methanol into its toxic byproducts.
Formaldehyde is also terrible, but I promise it's the Formic acid we are worried about in these situations. I could tell yall some stories about very close calls. As little as 3.16 grams of methanol can cause irreversible optical damage. LD50 is about 50g. That's not much more than a standard US shot* of booze. Honestly, it's kind of a wonder I haven't gone blind personally, cuz I've worked with methanol for most of my adult career.
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