Ethanol Other names: Ethyl alcohol Alcohol

Alcohol may enhance the acute effects of drugs which depress the central nervous system, such as hypnotics, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, opioid analgesics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, and tranquillisers.

Alcohol may cause hypoglycaemic reactions in patients receiving sulphonylurea (antidiabetic agents) or insulin.

Alcohol and may cause orthostatic hypotension in patients taking drugs with vasodilator action.

Studies indicate the oral use of alcohol during first and second trimesters can have serious effects upon the foetus, including low birth weight. Use of alcohol during third trimester can cause withdrawal syndrome in babies. To minimise these risks, pregnant women are advised to limit their intake to 1-2 drinks/week (8 or 16g of ethanol). The volume of alcohol used in nerve blocks is of such a small amount, it is extremely unlikely the foetus would be affected. The risk to the foetus from significant methanol poisoning exceeds that of the appropriate treatment. In all cases the benefit must be weighed against the potential risk prior to using alcohol during pregnancy.

Alcohol is freely secreted in breast milk in concentrations slightly below those in blood. In all cases the benefit must be weighed against the potential risk prior to using alcohol during pregnancy or lactation.

All processes requiring judgement and co-ordination are affected by alcohol and these include the driving of any form of transport and the operating of machinery.