Alcohol Flashcards
How is alcohol metabolized.. describe
Mostly metabolized by the liver..BUT also the pancreas, stomach and brain
Alcohol dehydrogenase is the enzyme which metabolizes alcohol … ethanol… into acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyde is a carcinogen
Acetaldehyde is broken down into acetate which is broken down into CO2 and H2O
What effects the rate of alcohol metabolism?
Weight 130mg/kg
Males do it faster
Age…age slows. It down
Food
Personal metabolism and genes
CNS symptoms of intoxication
Impairs nerve system chemicals
Initially a stimulant but then a depressant
BAL 30-50mg/100 mL
…euphoria, removal of pain, stress
Increased confidence decreased inhibition
Slight decrease in mental ability and coordination.
BAL 100-200 mg/100ml
…emotional instability
Decreased concentration
Delayed motor response
Impaired judgement
End result
Unconsciousness depressed resp
Hyperthermia
Chronic consequences of excessive drinking
Pancreatic
Liver disease
Metabolic syndrome
Cariomyopathy
Hypertension
Ischemic heart disease
Decreased testosterone
Cancer
…mouth, liver, GI, oesophagus, pancreas, stomach
Neurological consequences of excessive drinking
Wernickes encephalopathy and korsakoff syndrome.. lack of thiamine (vit B1) ..poorly absorbed due to gastritis
Wernickes… leg.tremors, wide gait, ataxia, visual.changes, double vision, prosis, delerium/confusion
Korsakoff…if symptoms of Wernickes persist they can turn into this….memory problems and loss of cog functioning, confusability, hallucinations
Mild alcohol withdrawal
Limbic system
Craving, headache, sensitive to light, vertigo, nystagmus, myalgia, nausea/vomiting, tachycardia, hypertension, diaphoresis, tremor, insomnia, anxiety, pallor, polydipsea
Severe alcohol withdrawal
Delirium tremors….
Complete.confusion, agitation, vis hallucinations, fever, tachycardia, hypertension, dehydration symptoms
Electrolyte imbalances
CiWA scale used to assess severity
CIWA scale
Assess B/P and pulse
Scale.for…
Nausea/vomiting
Tactile hallucination
Tremor
Auditory hallucination
Sweating.amd diaphoresis
Vis hallucination
Anxiety
Headache
agitation
Change in orientation
Treatment
Thiamine for wernickes and korsakoff
Replacing electrolyte, fluid, glucose
Benzo
Alcohol
Antabuse which blocks.the breakdown of Acetaldehyde
Treatment
Thiamine for wernickes and korsakoff
Replacing electrolyte, fluid, glucose
Benzo
Alcohol
Antabuse which blocks.the breakdown of Acetaldehyde
