Paper I — 2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) — Q11

Paper I

2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Explain the pharmacological basis for the use of ethyl alcohol in methanol poisoning.

Q111 marksShort Answers★✓

Answer

Methanol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, the toxic metabolite responsible for metabolic acidosis and ocular toxicity. Ethyl alcohol has a much higher affinity for alcohol dehydrogenase than methanol, so administering ethanol competitively saturates the enzyme, preventing/slowing methanol’s conversion to its toxic metabolites — allowing unmetabolized methanol to be excreted renally or removed by haemodialysis while toxicity is minimized.

Related Concepts

1. 1Ethyl and Methyl Alcohol

Other Years Asked

1. 1Pharmacotherapy of Alcohol dependence.2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 4 marks
2. 2Rationale of ethanol in methanol poisoning.2016 February (2010 Scheme)Short Note · 3 marks
3. 3Treatment of methanol poisoning.2015 February (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
4. 4Ethyl alcohol in methyl alcohol poisoning2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
5. 5Ethyl alcohol in Methyl alcohol poisoning.2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
6. 6Fomepizole in methanol poisoning2021 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
7. 7Rationale for use of ethanol in methanol poisoning2015 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
8. 8Mechanism of action of disulfiram2013 April (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
9. 9Fomepizole in methanol poisoning2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 1 mark
10. 10 Fomepizole in methyl alcohol poisoning2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.3 marks
11. 11Drugs used for Alcohol deaddiction2022 February (2019 Scheme)Short Answer · 0.2 marks