When wood alcohol, also known as methanol, is metabolized in the body, it is converted  from methyl alcohol, normal drinking alcohol, into into formic acid. Formic Acid is quite poisonous. It is famous for causing blindness.  Boulder Wood Alcohol! Safe or Deadly? The process occurs in two steps:

Methanol, or Wood Alcohol, Is Abbreviated CH3OH. Drinking Alcohol Is Abbreviated CH4OH.

1. Methanol alcohol is first metabolized by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase into formaldehyde.
2. Formaldehyde is then metabolized by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase into poisonous formic acid.

Formic acid is the primary toxin responsible for the harmful effects of methanol poisoning, including metabolic acidosis, optic nerve damage (leading to blindness), and central nervous system damage. If untreated, it can be fatal.

Antidotes such as ethanol or fomepizole are used in methanol poisoning to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase and prevent the formation of these toxic metabolites. So ironically, in an emergency, ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, normal drinking alcohol, can act as an anecdote for formic acid poisoning.

Additionally bizarre chemical interaction with the body is in the time over which methyl alcohol is converted, or metabolized into formic poisonous acid. If one is getting  more drunk over time without drinking more, wood alcohol, methanol is suspect. Even more counterintuitive is that the poison is a chameleon of poisons. If can mimic a wide variety of poisons and symptoms. Diagnosis can be very tricky.

Is there anything to worry about? Yes and no. FIRST identification of the formic acid poison is difficult. If you find that you are getting more drunk without imbibing any additional alcohol, that is suspicious. Symptoms are tricky.

Symptoms of formic acid poisoning, often resulting from methanol metabolism, are primarily due to its toxic effects on the nervous system, optic nerves, and metabolic processes. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:

1. Early Symptoms (can appear within hours):
2. • Nausea and vomiting
   • Abdominal pain
   • Headache
   • Dizziness
   • Fatigue or general weakness
3. Neurological Symptoms:
   • Confusion or altered mental status
   • Seizures
   • Coma in severe cases
4. Visual Symptoms:
   • Blurred vision
   • Changes in color perception (e.g., “snowstorm vision”)
   • Complete loss of vision, often due to damage to the optic nerve
5. Metabolic Symptoms:
   • Severe metabolic acidosis (low blood pH) leading to rapid breathing (hyperventilation) as the body tries to compensate for acid buildup
   • Malaise and increasing lethargy
6. Cardiovascular Symptoms:
   • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
   • Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
7. Systemic Symptoms:
   • Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) due to cellular damage
   • Multi-organ failure in advanced cases

Emergency Treatment If formic acid poisoning is suspected:

• Seek immediate medical attention.
• Administration of antidotes such as fomepizole or ethanol (to inhibit methanol metabolism).
• Use of sodium bicarbonate to treat acidosis.
• Hemodialysis in severe cases to remove formic acid and methanol from the bloodstream.

Prompt recognition and treatment are critical to prevent irreversible damage or death.

Lenny Lensworth Frieling

Shared Knowledge Is Power!

Leonard Frieling Pen Of Justice

• Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
• University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
• Former Judge
• Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
• Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
• Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
• First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
• Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
• Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
• Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
• Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
• Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
• Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
• http://www.Lfrieling.com