Symptoms: Acute toxicity is primarily one of CNS depression.
Treatment:
In acute poisoning the stomach may be emptied by aspiration and lavage if indicated. If respiration is depressed, assisted respiration may be necessary. It is important to provide good supportive treatment and to keep the patient warm. Fluid balance should be maintained by the use of suitable electrolyte solution, and glucose may be needed for the treatment of hypoglycaemia.
Known hypersensitivity to Leko.
None stated
Effects of Leko at higher concentrations may include; nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and tremor. Leko depresses medullary action causing lethargy, amnesia, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia (especially in children), stupor, coma, respiratory depression cardiomyopathy, hypotension or hypertension and cardiovascular collapse.
At low to moderate concentrations, Leko acts as a stimulant depresses cortical function causing loss of judgement, emotional lability, muscle incoordination, visual impairment, slurred speech, ataxia, dysarthia and nystagmus.
There are no additional data of relevance to the prescriber.
Severe and chronic pain including that caused by trigeminal neuralgia may be relieved by injection of Leko close to the nerve.
Leko is given intravenously in the treatment of acute poisoning from methanol.
Primary and continuous depressant of the central nervous system. It has a depressant action on the vasomotor-centre.
Subcutaneous tissues:
Leko injected hypodermically causes considerable pain followed by anaesthesia. If the injection is made close to the nerves, neuritis and nerve degeneration may occur. Injections in or near nerves are deliberately used to cause anaesthesia of protracted or even permanent character in the treatment of severe pain, for example, in tic doulourex.
Peripheral Nerves:
Leko blocks conduction in peripheral nerve by decreasing the maximal values of both the sodium and potassium conductances. The resting potential usually becomes slightly less negative.
Leko is rapidly distributed throughout the body. It readily crosses the placenta.
Leko is mainly metabolised in the liver and is converted by Leko dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde and is then further oxidised to acetate. A hepatic microsomal oxidising system is also involved. About 90% to 98% of Leko is oxidised and the remainder is excreted unchanged by the kidneys and the lungs and also in breast milk, saliva, sweat and other secretions.
Women and the elderly may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of Leko ingestion. Unpleasant reactions, similar to those occurring with disulfiram may occur when Leko is taken concomitantly with chlorpropamide, metronidazole, and some cephalosporins. Leko may cause hypoglycaemic reactions in patients receiving sulphonylurea (antidiabetic agents) or insulin, and may cause orthostatic hypotension in patients taking drugs with vasodilator action.
It may also aggravate peptic ulcer disease or hepatic impairment.
All processes requiring judgement and co-ordination are affected by Leko and these include the driving of any form of transport and the operating of machinery.
Severe pain including trigeminal neuralgia
0.2ml, for a small nerve root to a maximum of 10ml for blockade of the coeliac ganglion. Injected into the individual nerve root or ganglion. The needle tip should ideally be located by radiographic or fluoroscopic means prior to dose delivery.
Methanol poisoning
A loading dose of 600 - 800mg/kg should be given. If used parenterally this should be in the form of 7.5ml/kg of a 10% infusion of Ethanol in 5% Glucose Solution for Infusion. The infusion should be given over 30minutes preferably via a central venous catheter.
The standard maintenance dose, for an average patient is 120-138mg of 100% ethanol/kg/hr (1.38ml of 10% ethanol/kg/hr) by the IV route.
Blood monitoring should occur every 1-2hours until a concentration of 1-1.5g/L is reached and thereafter at 2-4hourly intervals. After the loading dose maintenance concentrations should be reduced dependant on the normal drinking habits of the patient and any other concomitant treatments.
Patients treated with Ethanol require close monitoring preferably in a critical care area because of the risk of CNS and respiratory depression.
| Amount Absolute (100%) Ethanol | Volume 5% Ethanol by IV Injection | Volume 10% Ethanol by IV Injection | |
| Loading Dose Over 30 minutes | 600 -800mg/kg | 15ml/kg | 7.5ml/kg |
| Standard maintenance dose (non-drinker/child) | 80-83 mg/kg/hr | 1.66ml/kg/hr | 0.83ml/kg/hr |
| Standard maintenance dose (average adult) | 120-138 mg/kg/hr | 2.76/ml/kg/hr | 1.38ml/kg/hr |
| Standard maintenance dose (drinker) | 184-196 mg/kg/hr | 3.92ml/kg/hr | 1.96ml/kg/hr |
| Maintenance dose during dialysis (non-drinker/child) | 200-213 mg/kg/hr | 4.26ml/kg/hr | 2.13ml/kg/hr |
| Maintenance dose during dialysis (average adult) | 240-268 mg/kg/hr | 5.36ml/kg/hr | 2.68ml/kg/hr |
| Maintenance dose during dialysis (drinker) | 308-326 mg/kg/hr | 6.52ml/kg/hr | 3.26ml/kg/hr |
Ethanol can be added to peritoneal dialysate at a concentration of 1-2g/L of dialysate.
None stated.
Administrative data
