Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Jun 1993
ReviewMethanol intoxication. How to help patients who have been exposed to toxic solvents.
Methanol intoxication can be a challenge, in part because it is relatively uncommon but also because of the pharmacokinetics involved. A patient may not experience symptoms and thus may not present for treatment for several hours, or even a day or two, after exposure to the toxic substance. ⋯ Treatment focuses on prevention of methanol conversion to its toxic metabolites, correction of metabolic acidosis, and elimination of the toxic substances from the system. Ethanol and bicarbonate administration and hemodialysis have been effective.