Alcohol Intoxication

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is alcohol intoxication? Alcohol intoxication, also called drunkenness, is a temporary (short-term) condition after drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol is made up of a chemical called ethanol which may come from grains, or fruits such as grapes. It is found in beer, wine, liquor, such as vodka and whiskey, or other adult drinks. With alcohol intoxication, the amount of alcohol you have taken is more than what your body can handle. Alcohol intoxication may cause abnormal body changes and you may not be able to think, act, or talk properly. Diagnosing and treating alcohol intoxication as soon as possible may relieve your symptoms and prevent more serious problems.

What causes alcohol intoxication? Drinking alcohol may be a common practice when you are celebrating, feeling sad, or stressed out. When you drink alcohol, it quickly enters the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body, including the brain. Abnormal changes in the brain may happen during or shortly after drinking alcohol. Alcohol affects the different neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are substances that carry signals from one nerve to the other. These neurotransmitters allow signals to flow along a pathway going to your brain. Alcohol decreases the signal flow and causes the brain to slow down its activity. Your emotions, thoughts, behavior, and judgment are affected as you get more and more drunk.

What are the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication? You may have any of the following signs and symptoms while drinking alcohol, or soon after:

• Main alcohol intoxication signs and symptoms:
  
  
  • Changes in behavior, such as being too aggressive, or showing sexual behavior that is not right for the place and time. You may also have mood swings.
    
    
  • Difficulty being in a social or work setting.
    
    
  • Feeling more sleepy than usual, or having a hard time staying awake.
    
    
  • Having trouble thinking clearly, understanding, or remembering things.
    
    
  • Movements do not work together correctly, such as while walking, eating, or driving.
    
    
  • Nystagmus (abnormal fast movement of the eyes).
    
    
  • Slurred speech or talking too much and too loud.
    
    
  • Unsteady when standing still, walking, or running.
  
  
• Other alcohol intoxication signs and symptoms:
  
  
  • Dizziness, headache, or body weakness.
    
    
  • Facial flushing (skin may turn red).
    
    
  • High blood pressure or fast heartbeat.
    
    
  • Nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
    
    
  • Seizures (convulsion).
    
    
  • Trouble seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting, or breathing.
    
    
  • Decreased ability to think or respond, or coma (a deep sleep-like state).

How is alcohol intoxication diagnosed?

• Your caregiver will take a detailed health history from you. This may include information on how much and what kind of alcohol you drank. He may want to know when your symptoms started, and how long they lasted. Your caregiver will also smell your breath and check how steady you stand, walk, or run. Questions to test your memory and judgment may be asked. You may also have to take different tests or rating scales to learn more about your drinking problem. Blood, urine, breath, or saliva tests may be done to check the amount of alcohol in your body.
  
  
• You will be diagnosed as intoxicated if:
  
  
  • You have drank alcohol recently.
    
    
  • Behavior or mental changes such as the following developed while or shortly after drinking alcohol:
    
    
    • Aggressive or sexual behavior that is not right for the place or time.
      
      
    • Mood swings, such as quickly changing from feeling very happy to very sad.
      
      
    • Poor judgement.
      
      
    • Poor ability to function in a social or work setting.
    
    
  • If during or shortly after drinking alcohol you have one or more of the following signs:
    
    
    • Slurred speech.
      
      
    • Movements do not work together correctly, such as while walking, eating, or driving.
      
      
    • Walking is unsteady.
      
      
    • Nystagmus (abnormal fast movement of the eyes).
      
      
    • Poor memory or ability to focus.
      
      
    • Decreased ability to think or respond, or coma (a deep sleep-like state).
    
    
  • You do not have a different medical or mental condition which has these signs and symptoms.

How is alcohol intoxication treated? You may need any of the following:

• IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Medicines: Caregivers may give you certain medicines to relieve your symptoms. These may include medicines to treat headache, body pain, seizures, or vomiting.
  
  
• Respiratory support:
  
  
  • Oxygen: You may need extra oxygen to help you breathe easier. It may be given through a plastic mask over your mouth and nose. It may be given through a nasal cannula, or prongs, instead of a mask. A nasal cannula is a pair of short, thin tubes that rest just inside your nose. Tell your caregiver if your nose gets dry or if the mask or prongs bother you. Ask your caregiver before taking off your oxygen. Never smoke or let anyone else smoke in the same room while your oxygen is on. Doing so may cause a fire.
    
    
  • Ventilator: A ventilator is a special machine that can breathe for you if you cannot breathe well on your own. You may have an endotracheal tube (ET tube) in your mouth or nose. A tube called a trach may go into an incision (cut) in the front of your neck. The ET tube or trach is hooked to the ventilator. The ventilator can also give oxygen to you.
  
  
• Other treatments:
  
  
  • Glucose: This medicine may be given to increase the amount of sugar in your blood.
    
    
  • Vitamin supplement: Vitamin B1, also called thiamine, may be given to prevent other conditions that may affect the brain.

Where can I find support and more information? Having alcohol intoxication may be hard for you and your family. Contact the following for more information:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
  Web Address: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.
  

• National Clearinghouse on Drug and Alcohol Information
  Phone: 1-800-7296686
  Web Address: www.health.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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