Ethyl alcohol is used today in the food and medical industries. It is included in many drugs, and is also used externally to treat wound surfaces on the skin. In medicine, a solution of ethanol from 33% to 95% can be used. Everyone should know that ethyl alcohol does not go through a high degree of purification. The instructions for use indicate that it is intended for external use only. Only for special indications and in a hospital, it is used for injection and inhalation. At home, based on it, you can make tinctures from medicinal herbs that will be used only externally, for example, for compresses.
Characterization and description of the drug
According to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol is an antiseptic and disinfectant. It is a clear solution with a characteristic odor and a burning taste, it is highly flammable. The composition of the drug is ethanol and water. The quantitative composition of the ingredients may vary. According to the instructions for use, in ethanol 95% of ethanol contains from 95.1% to 96.9%, in a preparation with a strength of 70% it is from 69.3% to 70.7%, and in alcohol 40% - from 40, 1% to 41.6%.
In medical practice, ethanol is used, which contains 95%, 90%, 70%, 40% or 33% ethanol. The drug is placed in bottles with a capacity of 100, 200, 400 or 50 ml, as well as in canisters of 10, 21.5 and 31.5 liters.
Ethanol is a monohydroxy alcohol. It is also called alcohol or methylcarbinol. In addition to medicine, it is used as a fuel, solvent, as well as in the food and perfume industries.
Store the drug in a cool, dark place, away from fire. Its shelf life is unlimited.
According to the instructions for use, in medicine, ethyl alcohol is used in the following cases:
- Disinfection of the skin.
- Rubdown.
- Compresses
- The manufacture of tinctures and medicines for outdoor use.
- Prevention of premature birth.
- With pulmonary edema.
- Therapy of the initial stages of mastitis, furunculosis, panaritium.
- Hand treatment of the surgeon and the surgical field.
- Preservation of biological material.
Drug action
According to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol refers to narcotic substances. CNS cells are especially sensitive to it. When it is exposed to them, alcoholic excitement occurs as a result of a decrease in the processes of inhibition, inhibition of the activity of the medulla oblongata, spinal cord, and also the respiratory center. When ingested in large quantities, ethanol leads to a breakdown of all vital functions.
With external use of the drug, its antimicrobial and irritating effect is observed. With an increase in the concentration of ethyl alcohol, the antiseptic, bactericidal effect also increases. It is active against viruses, gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
According to the reviews of doctors and instructions for use, ethyl alcohol 70% has the highest activity, is able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the epidermis. Therefore, it is usually used to disinfect the skin. But he does not have the ability to eliminate microbial spores. The drug with an ethanol concentration of 95% has a tanning effect on the mucous membranes and skin.
The drug at a concentration of 70% has a cauterizing, astringent and irritating effect, which helps to stop the spread of inflammatory tissue edema, increase blood vessels.
The instructions for the use of ethyl alcohol 90% indicate that the drug has a local irritant effect. As a result, the skin loses its sensitivity, perspiration decreases, and itching stops.
With external use, the drug does not enter the bloodstream.
Medical ethyl alcohol: instructions for use
Outwardly use the drug in the form of lotions, compresses. They are applied from three to five times a day for fifteen minutes. You can also use the tool for wiping. According to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol 40% is best suited for these purposes. In some cases, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1.
The drug is used for disinfecting the hands of surgeons, processing the surgical field. In this case, 90 percent ethyl alcohol can be used.
When pulmonary edema, 95% ethanol inhalation is used. They are introduced through a nasal catheter. If a mask is used, then ethyl alcohol is taken at 40 percent. Every half hour, the patient needs to inhale oxygen in order to prevent the absorption and stimulating effect of the vapors. Ten minutes after the start of inhalation, the effect of the medication is observed, and after 1.5 hours the maximum therapeutic effect is achieved.
With an abscess or gangrene of the lung, according to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol 33% is administered intravenously, after diluting it with a solution of sodium chloride in an amount of twenty milligrams.
To stop premature birth, patients are injected intravenously with ethanol 95% (25 ml) dissolved in 5% glucose solution (500 ml) in an amount of twenty-five milliliters. The drug helps to stop the motility of the myometrium.
In some cases, ethyl alcohol is prescribed orally to patients with exhaustion and lack of appetite.
According to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol can be used as a rinse in the case when it is necessary to quickly remove water from medical instruments.
Usage restrictions
A contraindication to the use of the drug is hypersensitivity to ethanol, as well as acute inflammatory processes on the skin, children's age up to fourteen years.
There are no restrictions on the use of alcohol for pulmonary edema. But it is not recommended for use in cases of unresolved pain and myocardial infarction. Otherwise, inhalation will be difficult for patients to tolerate and will not produce the desired result. It is used only after administration of anesthetics or antihistamines.
With caution, use the medication in childhood and during breastfeeding.
With simultaneous use with tranquilizers and antipsychotics, their effect is enhanced. When using drugs with antidiabetic drugs, hypoglycemic coma may develop.
Inhibitors of MAO and Imipramin increase toxicity of ethyl alcohol. With the simultaneous use of sleeping pills, respiratory depression is possible. Ethanol reduces the effectiveness of Thiamine and antibacterial drugs, enhances the toxicity of nitrofurans.
Adverse reactions
During inhalation, respiratory tract irritation may occur. In the case of prolonged or repeated use of ethyl alcohol, addiction is observed, the effect of the drug will be reduced or completely disappear.
When applying a compress, hyperemia, soreness and redness of the skin can develop. In the event of negative symptoms, it is necessary to rinse the liquid with water and no longer apply. Do not allow the drug to enter the organs of vision.
Ethyl alcohol when used externally does not affect the ability to drive cars or other mechanisms.
Overdose
According to the instructions for use, ethyl alcohol in large doses negatively affects receptors and mediators of the brain, leads to suppression of the respiratory center, the development of paralysis, coma and even death.
The lethal dose of ethyl alcohol is 6 ml per kilogram of human weight. Signs of irreversible poisoning are:
- Cyanosis of the face.
- Swelling of the eyelids.
- Conjunctival hemorrhage.
- Minor erosion.
- Plethora of the brain and internal organs.
- Hemorrhages in the kidneys, pancreas, diaphragm.
In case of an overdose, a person may experience the following signs of poisoning:
- Decrease in body temperature.
- Narrowing of the pupils.
- Tachycardia.
- Cramps.
- Violation of cardiovascular activity.
- Aspiration of vomit.
- Coma.
If symptoms of an overdose appear, it is necessary to rinse the stomach and induce vomiting, then take sorbents. Treatment in this case is symptomatic.
Cost
You can buy ethyl alcohol at any pharmacy in the country. He is released on prescription. The cost of the drug depends on the volume of the vial. On average, five hundred and fifty rubles will have to be paid for a 95% bottle of ethyl alcohol with a capacity of 100 milliliters.
Some interesting facts
In medicine, ethyl alcohol belongs to the group of antiseptics. It is often used for fever. With a lack of medicines, it can serve as a component of local anesthesia. In some cases, it is used as an antidote for intoxication with toxic alcohols, for example, methanol or ethylene glycol.
The blood of a healthy person may contain 0.01% ethanol. Long-term use of ethyl alcohol leads to the development of cirrhosis of the liver, gastritis, gastric ulcer, cancer, anemia, stroke. The drug can cause metabolic disorders, damage and death of brain neurons.
Conclusion
Medical alcohol is obtained by fermentation of plant materials, in which sugar is present, by yeast. The tool has an effect on the central nervous system, it inhibits the activity of the spinal and medulla oblongata.
In small doses, it has a stimulating effect on respiration and blood circulation, and has narcotic and analgesic properties. These features of it serve as the basis for the introduction of ethyl alcohol in the composition of many anti-shock and blood-replacing fluids.
In large doses, the drug leads to negative consequences. With an overdose, a fatal outcome is possible.