What type of kinetics applies for alcohol in the body? Also explain the clinical significance of this.

Due to alcohol being so lipophilic it is rapidly absorbed and distributed across the blood brain barrier throughout the body . If alcohol is administered when someone is observing a fast the alcohol would reach its peak concentration within half an hour. The presence of food delays the absorption of alcohol by decreasing the rate it takes the stomach to become empty. Body fluids such as the volume of water in the body has an influence on the absorption of alcohol as it reaches its peak concentration faster in women than in men as women have less body fluids compared to that of men. Metabolism of alcohol primarily takes place in the liver.

Alcohol causes CNS suppression and if taken in access can be proven to be fatal and have severe side effects.

Give a brief summary of the metabolic pathway of ethanol metabolism.

Metabolism of ethanol includes two pathways which includes:

1. Alcohol dehydrogenase system: low to moderate amounts of alcohol metabolised

Limited amount of NAD therefore the saturation of system l. Alcohol dehydrogenase catalyses the conversion of alcohol to acetaldehyde. Where aldehyddehidrogenase is responsible for the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate.

2. Microsomal-Ethanol Oxidations System. Mixed function oxidases and higher concentrations of alcohol metabolised

 NADPH comes across as the cofactor and therefore this system is not easily saturated. Alcohol is broken down to acetaldehyde where aldehyde dehydrogenase will convert acetaldehyde to acetate.

Which drugs can affect this metabolism and what are the effects thereof?

Disulfiram, Metronidazole, Cephalosporin and Hypoglycaemic drugs

These drugs inhibit aldehyddehidrogenase which is the enzyme responsible for converting acetaldehyde to acetate. Acetaldehydes builds up and causes vomiting and nausea as well as headaches