Methanol Poisoning
Article Sections
Introduction
Methanol is a colorless toxic alcohol found in automotive fluids (eg, brake fluid), fuels, industrial products, and contaminated homemade liquor (Table 1). Methanol poisoning, which typically occurs from an accidental or intentional (eg, self harm) oral ingestion, is characterized by altered mental status, visual disturbances, an elevated osmolar gap, and profound anion gap metabolic acidosis (Table 2). Early diagnosis and rapid treatment with the antidote, fomepizole, are essential to prevent permanent end-organ damage and death.
Risk factors
Most poisonings are related to one of the following:
- Accidental ingestion: can occur in children who gain access to chemicals or by consumption of homemade alcohol (home distillation can inadvertently produce methanol rather than ethanol)
- Intentional ingestion: suicide attempt or those seeking inebriation without access to ethanol (eg, alcohol use disorder, underage)
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