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

Absorption

Distribution

Metabolism

 rapid absorption in GI tract after ingestion, increase distribution, which reaches peak after 30 mins, the distribution depends on the body weight. 90% of alcohol is metabolism in the liver this implies that it interacts with most of the enzymes in the liver, therefore cautioned in patients with liver diseases and the rest is metabolised by lungs and urine.

 

• Give a brief summary of the metabolic pathways of ethanol metabolism.

ethanol is metabolism by 2 enzyme systems, namely:

1. Alcohol dehydrogenase: low to moderate amounts • Limited amount of NAD (co- enzyme): zero-order kinetics, (7 – 10 g/h) • 

2. MEOS (mixed function oxidases) higher concentrations (>100mg/dL) • MEOS activity ↑ with chronic use, can be induced, partially responsible for tolerance

end product : Acetaldehyde

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

disulfiram

metronidazole 

cephalosporins 

hypoglycemics

inhibits aldehydrogenase  and aldehyde will accumulate and cause unpleasant reaction of facial flushing, nauseous, vomiting dizziness and headaches