treatment
Last reviewed 01/2018
Remaining methanol in the stomach is removed with gastric lavage.
Metabolic acidosis is corrected with a bicarbonate infusion.
Intravenous ethanol inhibits the production of formate by competing for the active site of alcohol dehydrogenase:
- 50 g ethanol stat
- 10 g/hr ethanol infusion to maintain the plasma level of ethanol at 1-2 g/l
If the initial blood methanol concentration exceeds 0.5 g/l then haemodyalysis should be combined with the ethanol infusion. In this case the ethanol infusion should be increased to maintain blood ethanol levels.
Intravenous folate may prevent optic nerve damage:
- 1 mg/kg (50 mg max)
- give 6 doses each separated by 4 hours