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Alcohol Overdose Treatment

An alcohol overdose usually occurs in cases of binge drinking--consuming 5 or more drinks one right after the other--or otherwise taking in more alcohol than your body can safely process. If you're very lucky, it will simply make you violently ill. More serious cases of alcohol overdose can result in seizures, lowered body temperature, unconsciousness, and even death. Call 911 or contact a physician immediately upon detecting a case of alcohol overdose. Professionals can treat the condition safely and responsibly.

  1. Stop Drinking

    • The problem can't be corrected until the patient stops taking alcohol into his body. If you suspect a case of alcohol overdose or are aware of the patient's binge drinking, cut him off immediately. Keep him off until his body has had time to process all of it. It takes the average person one hour to process the alcohol in a single bottle of beer, glass of wine or shot of hard liquor. Make sure the patient is closely monitored and doesn't take any additional alcohol during that time.

    Breathing

    • The most important step in treating an alcohol overdose is to monitor the patient's breathing and make sure it remains steady. Believe it or not, vomiting can actually be a good thing with alcohol overdose--it gets rid of the excess alcohol before the body has time to absorb it. However, if the patient is unconscious, he may choke on the vomit. Always ensure that the patient's breathing passages are clear and that there is no danger of choking. Keep him sitting up. Stay with him at all times to make sure he is safe.

    Dehydration

    • Alcohol can dehydrate the body, which creates health concerns of its own. Hospitals may administer intravenous fluids in order to keep the body hydrated, but if the patient is conscious and able to take liquids, you can give him water to drink or ice to suck on. Have him swallow it slowly and gradually to prevent the risk of choking, and make sure someone sober is with him at all times while he re-hydrates.

    Warmth

    • Alcohol overdose lowers the body temperature, which can be extremely dangerous in cold weather environments. There's a danger of hypothermia if the patient is left out in the open, and even in safer conditions there may be a risk. Keep the patient warm by wrapping him in coats or blankets. Monitor his body temperature.

    Dangers

    • In cases of alcohol overdose, certain traditional methods of handling a hangover may be counterproductive. In particular, "sleeping it off" can be dangerous, since the patient can lose consciousness while he's asleep. Keep the person awake at all times and as alert as possible until the alcohol has worn off.

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