Definition

Wood alcohol, also called methyl alcohol or methanol, is an extremely poisonous chemical found in paint remover.

Alternative Names

Paint remover; Methyl alcohol; Alcohol - methyl; Methanol 

Poisonous Ingredient

  • Methanol

Where Found

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

After initial symptoms (which mostly affect the nervous system), a second set of symptoms occur about 10 - 30 hours later. The second set of symptoms are more severe and affect the eyes, blood, and respiratory system.

Home Treatment

Seek emergency medical care immediately. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

  • Patient's age, weight, and condition
  • Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
  • Time it was swallowed
  • Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

  • Fluids by IV
  • Hemodialysis
  • Medicines to treat symptoms
  • Activated charcoal
  • A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)
  • Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
  • Medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison
  • Oxygen
  • Breathing tube
  • Bronchoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs
  • Irrigation (washing of the skin) -- perhaps every few hours for several days
  • Skin debridment (surgical removal of burned skin)

Expectations (prognosis)

Methanol is extremely poisonous. As little as 2 TABLEspoonfuls can be deadly to a child, and 2 to 8 oz. can be deadly to an adult.

How well a patient does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a patient gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Review Date:5/17/2006
Reviewed By: Janeen R. Azare, PhD, MSPH, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.