How Dangerous Is It to Consume Rubbing Alcohol? – When it comes to drinking rubbing alcohol, the digestive tract suffers the most, even when only swallowing a small amount. The body metabolizes these extremely high alcohol levels into acetone. If consumed to intoxication, the substance can lead to organ damage.
Because it’s a central nervous system depressant, side effects can include dizziness, headaches and inebriation. Because it’s a gastrointestinal irritant, it can cause nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting blood. In addition, “due to having a higher molecular weight than ethanol, isopropanol, is more intoxicating than ethanol and can produce an altered sensorium, hypotension, hypothermia, and even cardiopulmonary collapse.
Hypotension is associated with severe overdose and related to a mortality rate of nearly 45 percent,” according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
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What happens if you drink 100% isopropyl alcohol?
The Full Story – A busy day is now an even busier evening. You rush to prepare dinner while also keeping an eye on your toddler. Together, you’re reciting the names of some animals. Suddenly, you sense that the room is a little too quiet. You turn and see him bringing a bottle of rubbing alcohol to his mouth.
He takes a sip like he would out of a water bottle! You drop everything you’re doing and run over to him. How in the world was he able to reach over the counter where the bottle was? And how did he manage to open the cap? The face he makes tells you he hates the taste. But, he did drink a mouthful of it.
What do you do now? Rubbing alcohol is a very common household item. You can buy it in any drug or grocery store. It is very effective in killing bacteria; in many households, it is the go-to item to clean minor cuts and scrapes. It is colorless, flammable and has a very strong odor of alcohol.
- The main ingredient of rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol (or Isopropanol).
- Rubbing alcohol is commonly 70% isopropyl alcohol, but the percentage ranges from 60% to 99% isopropyl alcohol.
- Other than rubbing alcohol used for first aid, isopropyl alcohol can also be found in other products such as hand sanitizers, glass and jewelry cleaners, stain removers, and other household disinfectants.
The internet also abounds with DIY uses for isopropyl alcohol such as using it as a solvent to clean furniture and carpet, enhance art projects, and even to tie dye clothing. One myth that used to be quite common is that rubbing alcohol can be applied to the skin to lower a fever – this is NOT TRUE and can actually be quite dangerous, especially for small children.
- Poison Control is often called about children who drank a sip of rubbing alcohol.
- Sometimes, they drink it by mistake after it is poured into a cup or water bottle.
- Because it tastes so strong, they usually don’t drink much.
- In general, swallowing such small amounts of rubbing alcohol leads to very few symptoms.
The most common symptoms from a small, unintentional ingestion may include nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset. Isopropyl alcohol is different from the alcohol found in liquor, beer and wine. That kind of alcohol is known as ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is sometimes abused, even though it is not meant to be swallowed.
It is cheaper than liquor, widely available, and can cause a feeling of intoxication. However, isopropyl alcohol is much more potent than ethyl alcohol and can lead to serious problems if ingested inappropriately. Someone who swallows isopropyl alcohol may appear drunk. Effects include sedation, slurred speech, unsteadiness when walking, and vomiting.
Isopropyl alcohol is also extremely irritating to the digestive tract. Drinking a lot of it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pain, and bleeding in the stomach and intestines. This can lead to dehydration, low blood pressure, shock, and coma. Rubbing alcohol can also be toxic when inhaled.
Always keep rubbing alcohol stored up and out of reach of children. Never transfer it from its original bottle to another container. Always use rubbing alcohol in a well-ventilated area. Never swallow rubbing alcohol to get drunk. It is not the same as ethanol! Drinking it can cause dangerous poisoning.
Use the web POISON CONTROL ® online tool or call Poison Control right away if someone swallows rubbing alcohol. Do not try to make the person throw up! Do not wait to see what will happen! Serkalem Mekonnen, RN, BSN, MPH Certified Specialist in Poison Information
What happens if you drink isopropyl alcohol to get drunk?
The Risks and Dangers of Drinking Rubbing Alcohol – Drinking rubbing alcohol is much more dangerous compared to drinking ethanol. Isopropanol is more intoxicating than ethanol at comparable concentrations and is more likely to produce impaired consciousness (such as slurred speech, stumbling, and sedation), decreased body heat production, dangerously low blood pressure, and even cardiopulmonary collapse.
Rubbing alcohol is rapidly absorbed by the body, with blood levels peaking between 30 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion.1 Due to the chemical makeup of rubbing alcohol it is metabolized much differently than ethanol, causing the body to become overwhelmed by toxins. Essentially, rubbing alcohol is broken down into acetone, the toxic chemical found in nail polish remover.
Acetone is a gastrointestinal irritant that can cause the following digestive tract issues: 3
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting blood
- Bleeding in the stomach and intestines
- Diarrhea
- Bladder rupture
Acetone also triggers severe depression of the central nervous system. This can result in the following dangerous conditions: 3
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Inebriation
- Coma
Rubbing alcohol is very dangerous to consume at any quantity. Massive ingestion is especially risky and can cause depressed cardiovascular function, internal bleeding, organ damage, shock, and even death.3
Why do I like the smell of isopropyl alcohol?
5. Addiction – There are some users who will tell you sniffing isopropyl alcohol gives a sense of feeling good, calmness, euphoria, peaceful relaxation and an enormous high. These feelings cause them to feel like they have to smell rubbing alcohol, and they gradually become addicted. Memory impairment, nerve damage, and brain cell loss can all happen, as can blindness and eye irritation.
Can you have 100 alcohol?
Top image: Auchentoshan Distillery, photo by Alan Jamieson /Flickr. – Ethanol, the business molecule of alcohol, is more volatile than water. Given any set of conditions, it will be more likely to fly away than water molecules. This includes higher temperatures. Heat up a mix of ethanol and water, and more of the ethanol will go away. This proved a bane to liquor makers, until someone stumbled on the secret of distillation. Heat up a mixture of ethanol and water to a point where the alcohol boils but the water (except for the stray molecule or two) does not, and you can make a liquid that’s pure water and collect a steam that’s pure ethanol. Few people actually wanted pure ethanol, though. Though a little extra kick was good, only the hardcore drinkers demanded pure alcohol — and they weren’t going to be repeat customers. So it took a relatively long time for people to realize that no one could make pure alcohol or pure water from ethanol and water. This is because ethanol is not an ordinary mixture, it’s an azeotrope. Instead of boiling purely and separately at two different temperatures, its vapor will form a certain proportion. Steam from alcohol is 95.57 percent alcohol. Get a pot of 95.57 percent ethanol boiling and the steam will be 95.57 percent ethanol right down until the last drop evaporates. That’s the limit. It seems like it should be enough. (There is, reportedly a Bolivian beverage, Cocoroco, that’s 96 percent ethanol. It’s not legal, but it does exist.) However, leave it to people to try and change it. Someone found a solution. Benzene, when added to a mixture of water and ethanol, will allow more alcohol to steam upwards. What a disappointment that benzene was found to be carcinogenic. Well, we still can dream. ]” href=”http://www.solvent-recycling.com/azeotrope_1.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Solvent Recycling, Proof : The Science of Booze by Adam Rogers,]
What is 90% alcohol used for?
Rubbing or isopropyl alcohol is a common and surprisingly versatile household item. From cleaning your blinds to getting out pesky permanent marker stains, read on for rubbing alcohol’s many uses — and some safety tips. Here’s an overview of uses for rubbing alcohol in different settings (we’ll go into more detail below): There’s a good reason rubbing alcohol is a part of most people’s first-aid kits.
Antiseptic. Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericidal treatment, This means it kills bacteria but doesn’t necessarily prevent their growth. Rubbing alcohol can also kill fungus and viruses. However, it’s important a person uses a rubbing alcohol concentration of no less than a 50 percent solution. Otherwise, the solution may not effectively kill bacteria. Postoperative nausea. An evidence review found the time to 50% relief of postoperative nausea symptoms was faster when smelling rubbing alcohol compared to traditional medications used to treat nausea, such as ondansetron (Zofran), Smelling rubbing alcohol can quickly help relieve nausea, usually when you smell a soaked cotton pad or ball. Surface disinfectant. You can use alcohol as a disinfectant for items like scissors, thermometers, and other surfaces. However, alcohol isn’t always reliable enough as a hospital-grade disinfectant. It can also damage the protective coating on some items, such as plastic tiles or glasses lenses.
Most manufacturers sell rubbing alcohol in different formulation strengths, namely 70 or 90 percent rubbing alcohol. As a general rule, 70 percent rubbing alcohol is more friendly for use on your skin.
Astringent. Alcohol is a natural astringent that can help to tighten pores and leave your skin feeling refreshed. Apply after cleansing your skin and before applying moisturizer or sunscreen. Unfortunately, rubbing alcohol can be very drying to skin so don’t use on any dry areas. Also, applying it after shaving or to open acne areas can cause a burning sensation. Deodorant. Rubbing alcohol can be a quick helper if you’re out of deodorant. You can spray directly on your armpit, but avoid after shaving since it can sting. Some people also mix essential oils such as lavender with the alcohol for a skin-soothing scent. Evaporating water from the ear. If you’ve got water in your ears from a pool, mix a solution of 1/2 teaspoon rubbing alcohol and 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar. Pour or place the solution using a dropper into your ear while your head is to the side. Allow the solution to drain out. Don’t apply it if you have an ear infection or tear in your eardrum as the solution could go deeper into your ear. Liniment for muscle aches. Applying a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol on aching muscles can create a cooling sensation and stimulate blood flow to aching areas. Only apply to a small area. Putting alcohol on your entire body could cause harmful neurological effects because your skin can soak it in. Shapeable ice packs. Ice packs can become shapeable thanks to rubbing alcohol. To make, combine one part alcohol with three parts water in a well-sealed plastic bag and place in the freezer. Before using, wrap a soft cloth around the bag and apply to any areas that need icing.
Alcohol has multiple uses in your home, from polishing to disinfecting. Grab a bottle and check the following household to-dos off your list.
Cleaning blinds. Wrap an alcohol-soaked washcloth around a spatula, place a rubber band around the cloth, and clean between the slats of blinds. This can be a quick and easy to way get these hard-to-clean blinds clean. Cleaning dry erase boards. You’ll need at least a 90 percent rubbing alcohol solution to truly remove dry erase marks. You can put the solution into a spray bottle or apply some on a washcloth or paper towel to clean the board. Cleaning makeup brushes. You can harness alcohol’s disinfectant properties to clean your makeup brushes. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a small cup and dip your makeup brush into the cup, swirling it around for a few seconds. Rinse the brush with lukewarm water and lay flat on a towel to dry. Cleaning sinks and chrome. Rubbing alcohol can make these surfaces clean and shiny again. Pour the alcohol on a soft cloth and clean. You don’t have to follow up with water to rinse because the alcohol will evaporate. Deodorizing shoes. If your shoes are starting to smell a little strong, spraying on rubbing alcohol can help. Setting them out in the sun to fully dry can further aid the alcohol in killing bacteria. Disinfecting computer mouse and keyboard. Using a 90 percent or greater rubbing alcohol can make for a quickly evaporating cleaner for your electronics. Use an alcohol-soaked cotton swab or damp alcohol-soaked microfiber cloth to clean your computer’s keyboard and mouse. Disinfecting mobile phone. From skin oils to makeup, there are lots of things that can dirty up your phone. Use an alcohol pad or wipe to clean and disinfect. Dissolving windshield frost. You can mix up a quick defrosting solution by combining one part water and two parts 70 percent rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. Spraying this on the windshield will make the frost easier to remove. Getting rid of fruit flies. Spraying fruit flies with rubbing alcohol will kill them almost on contact. However, don’t aim toward any fruit as rubbing alcohol can cause fruit to spoil. Creating homemade disinfectant. You can clean most surfaces by spraying or wiping rubbing alcohol on them. However, don’t apply alcohol to permeable materials like quartz and granite. Plastic laminate and sealed marble are fine. Cleaning jewelry. If your rings, bracelets, and other jewelry have lost their luster, soaking them in rubbing alcohol can help. Wipe them off with a clean cloth afterward to achieve a super shine. Preventing ring around the collar. Wiping your neck with a rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton pad or ball can help you keep your shirts cleaner longer. Refreshing sponges. Soaking kitchen sponges in rubbing alcohol can help to disinfect them so they’re ready for use. This money-saving trick can give your sponges new life. Removing hairspray from mirrors and tile. Sticky hairspray can cloud up your mirrors and tiles. Soak or spray alcohol on a soft cloth and use to achieve a crystal-clear surface. Removing ink and permanent marker stains. You can give pesky stains the boot by soaking a stained area in rubbing alcohol for several minutes. Follow this up by washing the garment. Removing stickers. If your little one went a little overboard with the stickers, try saturating the sticker with rubbing alcohol. Wait 10 minutes and you should be able to more easily wipe the sticker away. Cleaning stainless steel. Alcohol can make an excellent stainless steel cleaner by removing water spots and disinfecting the surface. Use a damp alcohol-soaked microfiber towel to clean any stainless steel in your home.
Despite what the internet might say, the following aren’t great uses for rubbing alcohol.
Acne. Use rubbing alcohol with caution on acne-prone skin, The rubbing alcohol can be very drying, which could cause your skin to overproduce oil and worsen blemishes. If you have any open skin areas, the rubbing alcohol could also burn when applied. Fever, Parents used to use rubbing alcohol applied to a child’s skin to give off a cooling sensation. However, this method is potentially dangerous because a child’s skin can absorb the alcohol and become toxic. Even adults can have neurological and heart problems from applying alcohol-soaked towels to bare skin. Baths. Alcohol baths are dangerous for the same reason as applying alcohol to the skin for fevers. The body may absorb the alcohol and cause toxic symptoms. Lice. Although rubbing alcohol can help to kill lice, it can also cause chemical burns on the scalp. Avoid this method in favor of more proven treatments, such as medicated lice shampoos.
If you aren’t sure if alcohol is safe for you to use, ask your doctor or other healthcare provider. Rubbing alcohol has many uses in your home, including cleaning and disinfectant purposes. You can also take advantage of its antiseptic and cooling purposes on the skin in small amounts. Remember to not drink it, use it on children, or use it near open flames.
Why do I like the smell of isopropyl alcohol?
5. Addiction – There are some users who will tell you sniffing isopropyl alcohol gives a sense of feeling good, calmness, euphoria, peaceful relaxation and an enormous high. These feelings cause them to feel like they have to smell rubbing alcohol, and they gradually become addicted. Memory impairment, nerve damage, and brain cell loss can all happen, as can blindness and eye irritation.