Alcohol (drug)
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| Pronunciation | /ˈɛθənɒl/ | ||
| Synonyms | Absolute alcohol; Alcohol (USP); Cologne spirit; Drinking alcohol; Ethanol (JAN); Ethylic alcohol; EtOH; Ethyl alcohol; Ethyl hydrate; Ethyl hydroxide; Ethylol; Grain alcohol; Hydroxyethane; Methylcarbinol | ||
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| Dependence liability |
Moderate | ||
| Addiction liability |
Moderate (10–15%) | ||
| Routes of administration |
Common: by mouth, topical Uncommon: suppository, inhalation, ocular, insufflation, injection |
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| Drug class | Central depressants; Sedatives; Anxiolytics; Euphoriants; GABAA receptor positive modulators | ||
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |||
| Bioavailability | 80%+ | ||
| Protein binding | Weakly or not at all | ||
| Metabolism |
Liver (90%): • Alcohol dehydrogenase • MEOS (CYP2E1) |
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| Metabolites | Acetaldehyde; Acetate; Acetyl-CoA; Carbon dioxide; Water; Ethyl glucuronide; Ethyl sulfate | ||
| Biological half-life | None (constant rate elimination) | ||
| Excretion | • Major: metabolism (into carbon dioxide and water) • Minor: urine, breath, sweat |
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| Formula | C2H6O | ||
| Molar mass | 46.0684 g/mol | ||
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| Density | 0.7893 g/cm3 (at 20 °C) | ||
| Melting point | −114.14 ± 0.03 °C (−173.45 ± 0.05 °F) | ||
| Boiling point | 78.24 ± 0.09 °C (172.83 ± 0.16 °F) | ||
| Solubility in water | 1000mg/mL (at 25 °C) | ||
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Alcohol, also known by its chemical and scientific name ethanol, is a psychoactive and recreational drug which is found as the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages. It is one of the oldest and most common recreational drugs, causing the characteristic effects of alcohol intoxication or "drunkenness". Among other effects, alcohol produces euphoria, decreased anxiety, increased sociability, sedation, impairment of cognition, memory, and motor function, and generalized depression of central nervous system function.
Alcohol works in the brain primarily by increasing the effects of a neurotransmitter called γ-aminobutyric acid, or GABA. This is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and by facilitating its actions, alcohol temporarily suppresses the activity of the central nervous system. The pleasant effects of alcohol ingestion are due to increased levels of dopamine and endogenous opioids, other neurotransmitters, in the reward pathways of the brain.
Alcohol can be addictive to humans, as in alcoholism, and can result in dependence. It has a number of adverse effects on health. The drug has been adjudged to be neurotoxic when consumed in sufficient quantities. In high doses or overdose, alcohol may cause loss of consciousness or, in severe cases, death. It is a causative factor for many traffic accidents and fatalities due to intoxicated driving.
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Wikipedia