BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuMethanol poisoningWood alcohol poisoningMethanol is a nondrinking type of alcohol used for industrial and automotive purposes. This article discusses poisoning from an overdose of methanol.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Methyl alcohol Where Found Methanol is found in:Antifreeze AntifreezeAntifreeze is a liquid used to cool engines. It is also called engine coolant. This article discusses poisoning caused by swallowing antifreeze. Th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Canned heating sources Copy machine fluids De-icing fluid Fuel additives (octane boosters) Paint remover or thinner Shellac ShellacShellac poisoning can occur from swallowing shellac. This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposur...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Varnish VarnishVarnish is a clear liquid that is used as coating on woodwork and other products. Varnish poisoning occurs when someone swallows varnish. It is a m...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Windshield wiper fluid Note: This list may not be all-inclusive. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Airway and lungs:Breathing difficulty Breathing difficultyBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article No breathing Eyes:Blindness, complete or partial, sometimes described as "snow blindness" Blurred vision Blurred visionThere are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dilation (widening) of the pupils Heart and blood:Low blood pressure Nervous system:Agitated behavior Agitated behaviorAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Unresponsiveness (coma) ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness in which...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion Difficulty walking Dizziness Headache SeizuresSeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin and nails:Bluish-colored lips and fingernails (cyanosis)Stomach and intestines:Abdominal pain (severe) Diarrhea Liver problems, including yellow skin (jaundice) and bleeding JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea Pancreatitis (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) Vomiting, sometimes bloodyOther:Fatigue Leg cramps Weakness Home Care Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Before Calling Emergency The following information is helpful for emergency assistance:Person's age, weight, and condition Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. Poison Control The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.If you go to the emergency room, take the container with you, if possible. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:Activated charcoal Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests including a blood methanol level Chest x-ray CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV) Medicines to treat symptoms, including antidotes to reverse the effect of the poison (fomepizole or ethanol) Tube through the nose to remove remaining poison, if the person is seen within 60 minutes after swallowing it Because rapid removal of methanol is a key to treatment success and survival, the person will likely need dialysis (kidney machine). Outlook (Prognosis) Methanol is extremely poisonous. As little as 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) can be deadly to a child. About 2 to 8 ounces (60 to 240 milliliters) can be deadly for an adult. Blindness is common and often permanent despite medical care. Intake of methanol affects multiple organs. Organ damage may be permanent. How well the person does depends on how much poison is swallowed and how soon treatment is received.Open ReferencesReferencesBluth MH, Pincus MR, Abraham NZ. Toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 24. Nelson LS, Calello DP. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 96.Nelson ME. Toxic alcohols. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 136.Theobald JL, Corcoran JN. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 94.AllVideoImagesTog Tests for Methanol poisoning Methanol testRelated Information Review Date: 1/8/2025 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Methanol poisoningWood alcohol poisoningMethanol is a nondrinking type of alcohol used for industrial and automotive purposes. This article discusses poisoning from an overdose of methanol.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Methyl alcohol Where Found Methanol is found in:Antifreeze AntifreezeAntifreeze is a liquid used to cool engines. It is also called engine coolant. This article discusses poisoning caused by swallowing antifreeze. Th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Canned heating sources Copy machine fluids De-icing fluid Fuel additives (octane boosters) Paint remover or thinner Shellac ShellacShellac poisoning can occur from swallowing shellac. This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposur...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Varnish VarnishVarnish is a clear liquid that is used as coating on woodwork and other products. Varnish poisoning occurs when someone swallows varnish. It is a m...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Windshield wiper fluid Note: This list may not be all-inclusive. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Airway and lungs:Breathing difficulty Breathing difficultyBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airRead Article Now Book Mark Article No breathing Eyes:Blindness, complete or partial, sometimes described as "snow blindness" Blurred vision Blurred visionThere are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dilation (widening) of the pupils Heart and blood:Low blood pressure Nervous system:Agitated behavior Agitated behaviorAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Unresponsiveness (coma) ComaDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness in which...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Confusion Difficulty walking Dizziness Headache SeizuresSeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin and nails:Bluish-colored lips and fingernails (cyanosis)Stomach and intestines:Abdominal pain (severe) Diarrhea Liver problems, including yellow skin (jaundice) and bleeding JaundiceJaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea Pancreatitis (nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) Vomiting, sometimes bloodyOther:Fatigue Leg cramps Weakness Home Care Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional. Before Calling Emergency The following information is helpful for emergency assistance:Person's age, weight, and condition Name of the product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. Poison Control The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States 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 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.If you go to the emergency room, take the container with you, if possible. What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive:Activated charcoal Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth (intubation), and breathing machine (ventilator) Blood and urine tests including a blood methanol level Chest x-ray CT scan CT scanA computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...Read Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing) ElectrocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein (intravenous or IV) Medicines to treat symptoms, including antidotes to reverse the effect of the poison (fomepizole or ethanol) Tube through the nose to remove remaining poison, if the person is seen within 60 minutes after swallowing it Because rapid removal of methanol is a key to treatment success and survival, the person will likely need dialysis (kidney machine). Outlook (Prognosis) Methanol is extremely poisonous. As little as 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) can be deadly to a child. About 2 to 8 ounces (60 to 240 milliliters) can be deadly for an adult. Blindness is common and often permanent despite medical care. Intake of methanol affects multiple organs. Organ damage may be permanent. How well the person does depends on how much poison is swallowed and how soon treatment is received.Open ReferencesReferencesBluth MH, Pincus MR, Abraham NZ. Toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 24. Nelson LS, Calello DP. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 96.Nelson ME. Toxic alcohols. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 136.Theobald JL, Corcoran JN. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 94.
