Alcohols (medicine)
by mouth | |
Drug class | Antiseptics, disinfectants, antidotes |
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Legal status | |
Legal status |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Metabolism | Liver |
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Alcohols, in various forms, are used within medicine as an
Side effects of alcohols applied to the skin include skin irritation.
Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic as early as 1363, with evidence to support its use becoming available in the late 1800s.[8] Commercial formulations of hand sanitizer or with other agents such as chlorhexidine are available.[7][9]
Medical uses
95% ABV ethanol is known as spiritus fortis in medical context.
Antiseptics and disinfectants
Ethanol is listed under Antiseptics, and Alcohol based hand rub under Disinfectants, on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[10]
Applied to the skin, alcohols are used to
Both ethanol and isopropyl alcohol are common ingredients in topical antiseptics, including hand sanitizer.[11]
Treatment for ethylene glycol toxicity, and methanol toxicity
When taken by mouth or
Mechanism
Ethanol, when used for toxicity,
Sclerosant
Absolute ethanol is used as a sclerosant in sclerotherapy. Sclerotherapy has been used "in the treatment of simple pleural effusions, vascular malformations, lymphocytes and seromas."[14]
Sedative
Ethchlorvynol, developed in the 1950s, was used to treat insomnia, but prescriptions for the drug had fallen significantly by 1990, as other hypnotics that were considered safer (i.e., less dangerous in overdose) became much more common. It is no longer prescribed in the United States due to unavailability, but it is still available in some countries and would still be considered legal to possess and use with a valid prescription.
History
Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic as early as 1363 with evidence to support its use becoming available in the late 1800s.
Society and culture
Economics
Ablysinol (a brand of 99% ethanol medical alcohol) was sold from $1,300 to $10K per 10-pack in 2020 due to FDA administrator action granting exclusivity when used for treating
Unproven COVID-19 hand sanitizer
Vodka was alleged to be an effective homemade hand sanitizer, or an ingredient in one. The company whose brand was alleged to be protective responded to the rumours by citing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statement that hand sanitizers needed to be at least 60% alcohol to be effective, and stating that their product was only 40% alcohol.[23][24][medical citation needed]
References
- ^ ISBN 9780857111562.
- ^ ISBN 9789241547659.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-118-28020-1. Archivedfrom the original on 18 September 2017.
- ISBN 978-3-319-14911-0. Archivedfrom the original on 18 September 2017.
- PMID 25327922.
- ^ "WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (19th List)" (PDF). World Health Organization. April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ PMID 9880479.
- ^ ISBN 9780683307405. Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2017.
- PMID 27515139.
- hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
- ^ Research Cf (12 May 2023). "Q&A for Consumers | Hand Sanitizers and COVID-19". FDA.
- PMID 27147840.
- S2CID 26495651.
- PMID 34447570.
- ISBN 978-1-4614-8441-7. Archivedfrom the original on 18 September 2017.
- PMID 14903452.
- PMID 13028241.
- PMID 13159700.
- ^ Hines RD (2002). The Pursuit of Oblivion. p. 327.
- ^ Paavola A (12 February 2020). "Why price of dehydrated alcohol is going from $1,300 to $10K". www.beckershospitalreview.com.
- ^ "Biotech executives, having pledged fair pricing, criticize drugmaker for steep hike". BioPharma Dive.
- ^ "Statement on Belcher Pharmaceuticals". linkedin. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Fact or Fiction: Tito's Vodka can be used in hand sanitizer?". KGTV. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Don't use vodka to sanitise hands". BBC News. 6 March 2020.