Clinical data | |||
---|---|---|---|
Pronunciation | /ˈɛθənɒl/ | ||
Other names | Absolute alcohol; Alcohol (USP ); Cologne spirit; Drinking alcohol; Ethanol (JAN ); Ethylic alcohol; EtOH; Ethyl alcohol; Ethyl hydrate; Ethyl hydroxide; Ethylol; Grain alcohol; Hydroxyethane; Methylcarbinol | ||
Pregnancy category |
| ||
Dependence liability | Physical: Very High Psychological: Moderate[1] | ||
Addiction liability | Moderate (10–15%)[2] | ||
Routes of administration | Common: Oral Uncommon: suppository, inhalation, ocular, insufflation, injection[3] | ||
Drug class | Analgesic; Depressants; Sedatives; Anxiolytics; Euphoriants; GABAA receptor positive modulators Neurotoxins; | ||
ATC code | |||
Legal status | |||
Legal status |
| ||
Pharmacokinetic data | |||
Bioavailability | 80%+[4][5] | ||
Protein binding | Weakly or not at all[4][5] | ||
Metabolism | Liver (90%):[6][8] • Alcohol dehydrogenase • MEOS (CYP2E1) | ||
Metabolites | Acetaldehyde; Acetic acid; Acetyl-CoA; Carbon dioxide; Water; Ethyl glucuronide; Ethyl sulfate | ||
Onset of action | Peak concentrations:[6][4] • Range: 30–90 minutes • Mean: 45–60 minutes • Fasting: 30 minutes | ||
Elimination half-life | Constant-rate elimination at typical concentrations:[7][8][6] • Range: 10–34 mg/dL/hour • Mean (men): 15 mg/dL/hour • Mean (women): 18 mg/dL/hr At very high concentrations (t1/2): 4.0–4.5 hours[5][4] | ||
Duration of action | 6–16 hours (amount of time that levels are detectable)[9] | ||
Excretion | • Major: metabolism (into carbon dioxide and water)[4] • Minor: urine, breath, sweat (5–10%)[6][4] | ||
Identifiers | |||
| |||
CAS Number | |||
PubChem CID | |||
IUPHAR/BPS | |||
DrugBank | |||
ChemSpider | |||
UNII | |||
KEGG | |||
ChEBI | |||
ChEMBL | |||
PDB ligand | |||
Chemical and physical data | |||
Formula | C2H6O | ||
Molar mass | 46.069 g·mol−1 | ||
3D model (JSmol) | |||
Density | 0.7893 g/cm3 (at 20 °C)[10] | ||
Melting point | −114.14 ± 0.03 °C (−173.45 ± 0.05 °F) [10] | ||
Boiling point | 78.24 ± 0.09 °C (172.83 ± 0.16 °F) [10] | ||
Solubility in water | Miscible mg/mL (20 °C) | ||
| |||
|
Alcohol, sometimes referred to by the chemical name ethanol, is a depressant drug that is the active ingredient in fermented drinks such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits (hard liquor).[11] Technically, alcoholic beverages contain several types of psychoactive alcohols. The most prevalent alcohol is the primary alcohol ethanol (commonly referered to as "alcohol"). Ethanol has toxic and unpleasant actions in the body, many of which are mediated by its byproduct acetaldehyde.[12] Less prevalent alcohols found in alcoholic beverages, but that are less toxic than primary alcohols, are secondary, and tertiary alcohols. Tertiary alcohols are least toxic, since they cannot be oxidized into aldehyde or carboxylic acid metabolites. For example, 2M2B is 20 times more potent than ethanol. Some tertiary alcohols, like 2M2B have been synthesized and used recreationally. Alcoholic beverages are sometimes laced with toxic alcohols, such as methanol and isopropyl alcohol.[11] A mild, brief exposure to isopropyl alcohol (which is only moderately more toxic than ethanol) is unlikely to cause any serious harm, but many methanol poisoning incidents have occurred through history, since methanol is lethal even in small quantities, as little as 10–15 milliliters (2–3 teaspoons).
Alcohol is one of the oldest and most commonly consumed recreational drugs, causing the characteristic effects of alcohol intoxication ("drunkenness").[13] Alcohol has a variety of short-term and long-term adverse effects. Short-term effects from moderate consumption include happiness and euphoria, decreased anxiety, increased sociability, sedation, impairment of cognitive, memory, motor, and sensory function, while binge drinking may result in generalized impairment of neurocognitive function, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hangover-like symptoms, and generalized depression of central nervous system (CNS) function. Alcohol is addictive to humans, and can result in alcohol use disorder, dependence and withdrawal. It can have a variety of long-term adverse effects on health, such as liver and brain damage,[14][15][16] and its consumption can cause cancer.[17] The adverse effects of alcohol on health are most important when it is used in excessive quantities or with heavy frequency. However, some of them, such as increased risk of certain cancers, may occur even with light or moderate alcohol consumption.[18][19] In high amounts, alcohol may cause loss of consciousness or, in severe cases, death. In 2021, there were 2,627 deaths in the US due to alcohol poisoning.[20]
Alcohol works in the brain primarily by increasing the effects of γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA),[21] the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain; by facilitating GABA's actions, alcohol suppresses the activity of the CNS.[21] The substance also directly affects a number of other neurotransmitter systems including those of glutamate, glycine, acetylcholine, and serotonin.[22][23] The pleasurable effects of alcohol ingestion are the result of increased levels of dopamine and endogenous opioids in the reward pathways of the brain.[24][25]
...alcohol dependence (is) a substantial risk of regular heavy drinking...
(Compulsive alcohol use) occurs only in a limited proportion of about 10–15% of alcohol users....
AcademicPress2013
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).pmid3319346
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).pmid3279433
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).Levine2003
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).The brain is a major target for the actions of alcohol, and heavy alcohol consumption has long been associated with brain damage. Studies clearly indicate that alcohol is neurotoxic, with direct effects on nerve cells. Chronic alcohol abusers are at additional risk for brain injury from related causes, such as poor nutrition, liver disease, and head trauma.
pmid11391069
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).pmid24164436
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).