Ethanol Intoxication Complicating Intravenous Nitroglycerin Therapy
Authors: THOMAS L. SHOOK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1984)

Brief Reports1 October 1984Ethanol Intoxication Complicating Intravenous Nitroglycerin TherapyTHOMAS L. SHOOK, M.D., JAMES M. KIRSHENBAUM, M.D., RANDAL F. HUNDLEY, M.D., JEANNETTE M. SHOREY, M.D., GERVASIO A. LAMAS, M.D.THOMAS L. SHOOK, M.D., JAMES M. KIRSHENBAUM, M.D., RANDAL F. HUNDLEY, M.D., JEANNETTE M. SHOREY, M.D., GERVASIO A. LAMAS, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-101-4-498 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptIntravenous Nitroglycerin, occasionally in large doses, is increasingly being used for patients with unstable angina, variant angina, and left ventricular failure, and to control intraoperative and postoperative hypertension in patients with ischemic heart disease (1). Although the hemodynamic effects of intravenous nitroglycerin are carefully monitored during administration, attention is not usually given to the effects of the drug's diluent. We recently saw alcohol intoxication develop in two patients receiving high doses of intravenous nitroglycerin.Patient 1:A 71-year-old man with chronic stable angina was admitted to the hospital with rest angina. Intravenous nitroglycerin was added to the oral anti-anginal regimen....References1. JAFFE A and ROBERTS R. The use of intravenous nitroglycerin in cardiovascular disease. Pharmacotherapy. 1982;2:273-80. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. VESTAL R, MCGUIRE E, TOBIN J, ANDRES R, NORRIS A, and MEZEY E. Aging and ethanol metabolism. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1977;21:343-54. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. HILL N, ANTMAN E, GREEN L, and ALPERT J. Intravenous nitroglycerin: a review of pharmacology, indications, therapeutics effects and complications. Chest. 1981;79:69-76. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. RITCHIE J. The aliphatic alcohols. In: GOODMAN LS, GILMAN A, eds. The Phamacologic Basis of Therapeutics. 5th ed. New York: Macmillan Co; 1975: 137-46. Google Scholar5. ENGEL T and LUCK J. Effect of whiskey on atrial vulnerability and "holiday heart." J Am Coll Cardiol. 1983;1:816-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. GREENSPON A, STRANG J, LEWIS R, and SCHAAL S. Provocation of ventricular tachycardia after consumption of alcohol. TV Engl J Med. 1979;301:1049-50. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. AHMED S, LEVINSON G, and REGAN T. Depression of myocardial contractility with low doses of ethanol in normal man. Circulation. 1973;48:378-85. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. DELGADO C, FORTUIN N, and ROSS R. Acute effects of low doses of alcohol on left ventricular function by echocardiography. Circulation. 1975;51:535-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. CHILD J, KOVICK R, LEVISMAN J, and PEARCE M. Cardiac effects of acute ethanol ingestion unmasked by autonomic blockade. Circulation. 1979;59:120-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. PARKER W. Alcohol-containing pharmaceuticals. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1982;9:195-209. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: THOMAS L. SHOOK, M.D.; JAMES M. KIRSHENBAUM, M.D.; RANDAL F. HUNDLEY, M.D.; JEANNETTE M. SHOREY, M.D.; GERVASIO A. LAMAS, M.D.Affiliations: Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston, Massachusetts PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNitrates, organicDrugs Used to Treat Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Angina PectorisNitrates, organicDrug Interactions with Medicinal PlasticsModerate drinking and the cardiovascular system: risk factorsComplicated Acute Myocardial Infarction: Heart Failure, Shock, Mechanical ComplicationsNitroprusside, Nitroglycerin, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsUnstable AnginaDrug-Induced Reactions to Alcohol and FoodInfluence of ethanol on the delivery of intravenous nitroglycerin solutionsAutomatic control of arterial pressure after cardiac surgery Evaluation of a microcomputer-based control system using glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprussidePharmaceutical ExcipientsPropylene glycol-induced side effects during intravenous nitroglycerin therapyCombined use of nitroglycerin and N-acetylcysteine in the management of unstable angina pectoris.Antianginal and β-adrenoceptor blocking drugsIntravenous Nitroglycerin Administration and EthanolJ. M. OHAR, M.D., A. A. FOWLER, M.D., J. B. SELHORST, M.D., F. L. GLAUSER, M.D.Intravenous Nitroglycerin and Ethanol IntoxicationSCOTT H. KORN, M.D., JOYCE B. COMER, Pharm. D.Solvent Intoxication with Parenteral NitroglycerinMARVIN J. FELDMAN, M.S., PAUL F. SOUNEY, M.S., MARY BETH DRISCOLL, B.S. 1 October 1984Volume 101, Issue 4Page: 498-499KeywordsAlcoholismAnginaCardiovascular therapyDrug administrationDrugsEthanolHemodynamicsHypertensionIntoxicationUnstable angina ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 October 1984 PDF downloadLoading ...