It is best known as the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol, but is also present in window cleaners, toiletries, disinfectants, antifreeze, and paint remover. To complicate matters some products that contain isopropyl alcohol also contain methanol, ethanol, or ethylene glycol. Unless the ingested dose is large, absorption occurs in as little as 30 minutes. This agent is well absorbed through the lungs and rectal mucosa. The alcohol can also penetrate the skin, but with less success than via a pulmonary or GI exposure.
Isopropyl alcohol is metabolized to acetone in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase.
The acetone is also excreted in the lungs, saliva, and gastric juices. Animal studies have suggested that isopropyl alcohol is two-three times more potent than ethanol as a CNS depressant. The breakdown product, acetone, is also a CNS depressant. Central nervous system effects include headache, muscular incoordination, ataxia, confusion, and coma. The initial excitatory phase that is well recognized with ethanol intoxication does not seem to be present with isopropanol ingestion.