Alcohol Poisoning: Signs, Symptoms, and Causes

Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com. Severe alcohol poisoning may require hospitalization and ongoing monitoring and treatment to ensure the individual’s safety and well-being. In severe cases, the stomach may be emptied to remove remaining alcohol and toxins. You shouldn’t try to treat it at home or “sleep it off.” A major danger of alcohol poisoning is choking on your vomit, which can happen when you’re unconscious or sleeping. BAC can continue to rise even when a person stops drinking or is unconscious.

Talk to a healthcare professional, join a support group, or explore resources like Stop Drinking for guidance and encouragement. When you’re unconscious, there are still functions being carried out by your body such as automatic responses like breathing, heart rate, or regulating body temperature. Another automatic response is the gag reflex, which gets suppressed by alcohol.

Critical Signs and Symptoms of an Alcohol Overdose

Mixing prescription medication with alcohol can cause interactions. Learn the key differences between strep throat and sore throat, their symptoms, treatments, and when to see a doctor for effective relief. Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic Alcoholics Anonymous research institutions, and medical associations.

Is There Medication for Alcohol Poisoning?

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of alcohol poisoning, don’t hesitate to use Solv to quickly find an urgent care facility near you for immediate assistance. If someone you know is showing signs of alcohol poisoning, call 911 and stay with them until help arrives. While it may be difficult to tell whether someone is drunk enough to warrant help, it’s best to take every precaution. The most severe consequence is death, which can result from complications like respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, or organ failure.

Do Not Play Drinking Games with Beer Bongs and Funnels

But it’s best to take action right away rather than be sorry later. You may worry about what will happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if underage. But the results of not getting help in time can be far more serious. Alcohol poisoning also can occur when adults or children accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol. If you find yourself incredibly fatigued or can’t seem to wake up, even after a full night’s sleep, your body may be struggling with an alcohol-induced slumber that is not restorative. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission.

If you or someone you know needs support, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can prevent an alcohol overdose by limiting your alcohol intake. You might consider sticking with one drink or abstaining from alcohol altogether. If you combine alcohol and drugs, you may not feel the effects of the alcohol. This may cause you to drink more, increasing your risk for an alcohol overdose.

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As your BAC goes up, so does your risk of experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting, loss of consciousness, depressed breathing, and even death. Recognizing the signs of alcohol poisoning and knowing when to seek help can save lives. This acute form of alcohol intoxication overwhelms the body’s ability to metabolize and eliminate alcohol, resulting in a range of harmful physiological effects.

• The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers comprehensive treatment programs that address the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of addiction.
• When ethanol toxicity is suspected, quick action is vital to prevent serious harm or death.
• Findlay Recovery Center offers individualized treatment programs for alcohol addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Understanding Alcohol Poisoning: Symptoms and Dangers

This type of drinking leads to a highly elevated blood alcohol level, which essentially compounds all the ill-effects of drinking to the point that they become dangerous. In this article, we’ll walk you through the 12 key signs of alcohol poisoning, explain why it’s so dangerous, and emphasize the importance of seeking immediate medical attention. By understanding the risks, we hope to educate and empower you to make safer choices—and perhaps even reconsider the role alcohol plays in your signs of alcohol intoxication life.

If you think someone is experiencing alcohol poisoning, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Alcohol poisoning occurs when you drink so much that the alcohol in your blood affects your brain’s ability to sustain life. You get alcohol poisoning by drinking a large amount of alcohol at one time or by drinking alcohol while your body’s metabolism is slow to process the alcohol you do drink.

Treatment

Your alcohol metabolism is also affected, as lower body weight means fewer enzymes available to process alcohol. You’ll experience intoxication and potential poisoning symptoms more quickly than someone who weighs more. Yes, several medications can greatly increase your risk of alcohol poisoning through dangerous medication interactions. You’re particularly vulnerable if you take calcium channel blockers, opioids, or benzodiazepines while drinking. These prescription risks can intensify alcohol’s effects by slowing its metabolism or causing dangerous central nervous system depression.