1A: Pyschopharm of alcohol

Methyl alcohol

Wood alcohol, highly toxic

Ethyl alcohol

Used in beverages from fermentation of sugars by yeast, can be grapes, rice or grains

& distillation increases the alcohol percentage

Isopropyl alcohol

Disinfectants, dangerous to consume

How much of alcohol is absorbed in the GI tract

Ethanol is easily absorbed in GI tract, 20% is absorbed by the stomach and the rest by the small intestine.

BAC influence behavioral effects rather than route of ingestion

How is alcohol absorbed through the body

By passive diffusion across membranes from a high concentration in the GI tract to a low concentration of blood.

Increase in alcohol concentration increases movement

What does food do to alcohol absorption

Food slows absorption through the pyloric sphincter: a muscle regulating movement from the stomach to the small intestine

How is alcohol metabolized in the body

A constant rate regardless of concentration (this is zero order kinetics)

Alcohol is metabolized 1-1 ½ ounces per hour (1 shot)

What is the enzyme that helps metabolize alcohol that some people don’t have?

Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase

What enzyme family metabolizes alcohol

Cytochrome P450

What BAC does vomiting typically start

.15%

Describe induction of alcohol

When alcohol is regularly consumed it increases the P450 enzymes thus increasing the metabolic rate of alcohol and other drugs

• this is the basis for metabolic tolerance

What impairs metabolism of alcohol?

Heavy alcohol use as it leads to liver damage that impairs metabolism of alcohol and similar drugs