Drinking Rubbing Alcohol

What is Rubbing Alcohol?

Isopropyl Alcohol vs Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is a mixture of water isopropyl alcohol. Sometimes, it contains additional ingredients. By contrast, isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol with no other ingredients. Because this substance contains isopropyl alcohol, the two liquids have similar properties, but they are not the same. For example, both are disinfectants and have antibacterial properties.

However, because it is undiluted, isopropyl alcohol is too hazardous to use as a disinfectant for the skin or home. Companies use isopropyl alcohol in industrial settings to manufacture products while rubbing alcohol is for at-home use.

Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol, among other ingredients, such as water. Most rubbing alcohol brands contain 70% isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is also not the same substance as ethyl alcohol, which is the type of alcohol in beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.

What is Rubbing Alcohol Used for?

Rubbing alcohol is a relatively recent invention, as the term was only fully realized in the 1920s. It was first used as a lining or soaking solution for bandages.

Since that time, rubbing alcohol has become a standard inclusion in most medical kits and hospital environments. It’s capable of thoroughly disinfecting any surfaces in just seconds, so it’s frequently used on open wounds and for surgical instruments.

Despite their similarities, isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol have different uses.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Manufacturers use isopropyl alcohol to make:

Rubbing Alcohol

People typically use rubbing alcohol at home as an antiseptic to clean cuts and scrapes, lowering the risk of infection. It may be part of an at-home first aid kit or medicine cabinet.

If rubbing alcohol contains wintergreen or methyl salicylate, individuals may use it to help relieve muscle aches that are the result of exertion. An additional use involves disinfecting small objects in the home.

What Happens If You Drink Rubbing Alcohol 

Drinking rubbing alcohol can quickly lead to alcohol poisoning – even death. Individuals have died after drinking one pint of isopropyl alcohol. The human body absorbs rubbing alcohol very quickly. Approximately 80 percent is absorbed within 30 minutes of ingestion. Because of its chemical makeup, rubbing alcohol does not metabolize in the human body.

People struggling with alcoholism or addiction might see that rubbing alcohol has “alcohol” in its title, know that it’s cheaper than distilled or fermented ethanol, it’s widely available over the counter (and under-the-counter, as many people store it under bathroom or kitchen sinks, particularly when there’s no risk of small children accidentally drinking it), and drinking rubbing alcohol can lead to intoxication. The side effects of rubbing alcohol poisoning are the same as those of a drunk person. However, it’s not even close to being the same alcohol you purchase at liquor stores. This substance is poison. Drinking just a tiny amount can result in life-threatening consequences.

Types of Alcohol

There are three types of alcohol classified by chemists: methyl, isopropyl, and ethyl alcohol. Most types of rubbing alcohol are made from isopropyl alcohol, with concentrations of 68-99 percent alcohol in water. It’s tastes horrible, colorless, smells like fingernail polish remover, and can be found in antifreeze, antiseptic hand sanitizers, paint, household cleaners, thinner, sterilizers, and personal care products To make this substance unpleasant to drink, isopropyl alcohol is mixed with chemicals in a laboratory to give it a bitter taste.

Methyl alcohol, methanol, and wood alcohol—named because it was once produced as a byproduct of the destructive distillation of wood—are all the same type of alcohol. Methyl alcohol is commonly found in paint remover, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, copy machines, carburetor fluid, octane boosters, canned fuels for boats or camp stoves, or—very commonly—converted to formaldehyde. It’s strong, flammable, and colorless and can be absorbed through the skin, eyes, lungs, and digestive system. Symptoms of ingesting Methyl alcohol include low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, blurred vision or blindness (formaldehyde can damage optic nerves), fatigue, and damage to the nervous system, stomach, and intestines.

Ethyl alcohol, commonly known as ethanol, drinking alcohol, or grain alcohol, is found in most alcoholic beverages. It’s flammable, colorless, and—when denatured (think: chemicals added to discourage recreational abuse)—can be used as a topical antiseptic or fuel additive. Ethanol is the scientific name for the intoxicating agent produced when sugar is fermented by yeast. 

Symptoms of Drinking Rubbing Alcohol

Drinking rubbing alcohol can lead to the fast absorption of the substance in the body, leading to quick and toxic effects. Because of the differences in chemical composition, isopropyl is not metabolized as quickly or as efficiently as ethyl alcohol. Through the metabolizing process, the human body breaks down isopropyl alcohol into formate, carbon dioxide, and acetone, a toxic chemical found in nail polish.

Symptoms of Rubbing Alcohol Poisoning 

When rubbing alcohol is ingested, it leads to isopropyl alcohol poisoning, The substance is broken down into acetone, the toxic chemical found in nail polish remover. Acetone is a gastrointestinal irritant that can cause the following digestive tract issues:

Acetone also triggers severe depression of the central nervous system. This can result in the following dangerous conditions:

Rubbing alcohol is very dangerous to consume at any quantity. Massive ingestion is especially risky and can cause depressed cardiovascular function, internal bleeding, organ damage, shock, and even death.

Treatment for Rubbing Alcohol Poisoning

What do I do if I have isopropyl alcohol poisoning? You should never induce vomiting because this can further damage your esophagus. But there are steps you should take when you or someone you know has alcohol poisoning:

The goal of treatment is to remove the alcohol from your body and keep your organs working properly. Treatment for rubbing alcohol poisoning can include: