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Ethanol (Alcohol)

Depressantoral · inferred

CNS depressant primarily eliminated by zero-order (constant rate) kinetics via alcohol dehydrogenase at ~7-10 g/hour. The "half-life" listed is an effective approximation at moderate intake. Metabolite EtG is detectable in urine for 24-80 hours and is used as a biomarker of recent consumption.

Projected serum levels — 1 drinks (≈ 14k mg), as needed (shown daily)

Ethanol (Alcohol)
Ethanol (Alcohol) modeled serum levels, 1 drinks (≈ 14k mg) as needed (shown daily) over 15 days Population-based pharmacokinetic estimate. Steady state reached after approximately 1 days. 0 5k 10k 15k 20k Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 11 Day 15 Time on a regular schedule ≈ steady state · day 1

Maintenance schedule: 1 drinks (≈ 14k mg) as needed (shown daily) (oral).

Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 11.9k mg, trough ≈ 130 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a reference dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.

Key facts

Category
Depressant
Route modeled
Oral
Model confidence
inferred
Half-life
3.6 h
Common dose
1 drinks (≈ 14k mg)
Reference dose range
5k–60k drinks (single dose)
Suggested cadence
as needed (shown daily)
Validated against
35k mg oral — Cmax 600 mg/L at 0.75 h

Documented interactions

  • danger
    1,4-BDO (1,4-Butanediol) + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    1,4-BDO and ethanol both compete for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Ethanol delays and prolongs the conversion of 1,4-BDO to GHB, producing an unpredictable, drawn-out, and intensified GHB curve. Once…

  • danger
    7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    Concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine is a potent mu-opioid agonist. Combined with alcohol, additive CNS and respiratory depression is far more dangerous than whole-leaf kratom + alcohol. Risk of fatal…

  • danger
    Acetaminophen (Tylenol / Paracetamol) + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    Alcohol induces CYP2E1, increasing toxic NAPQI metabolite formation from acetaminophen. High risk of liver failure.

  • danger
    Cocaine + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    Cocaine + alcohol forms cocaethylene in the liver, which is cardiotoxic with a much longer half-life than cocaine alone.

  • danger
    Codeine + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    Alcohol potentiates opioid respiratory depression. Codeine is metabolized to morphine; alcohol increases CNS depression.

  • danger
    Dextromethorphan (DXM) + Ethanol (Alcohol) Contraindicated

    At recreational DXM doses, alcohol potentiates CNS depression causing respiratory depression, severe ataxia, and loss of consciousness. Many cough syrups already contain alcohol. Combined CNS…

Serum checks 198 modeled interaction pairings for ethanol (alcohol) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.

Research behind this entry

  1. Clinical Pharmacokinetics of Ethanol Holford NHG · Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 1987 DOI

    Foundational review describing ethanol one-compartment pharmacokinetics with concentration-dependent (Michaelis-Menten) elimination, primarily via hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase at 7-10 g/h.

  2. The Rate and Kinetic Order of Ethanol Elimination Wagner JG et al. · Forensic Science International, 1984 DOI

    Demonstrated that ethanol elimination follows apparent zero-order kinetics at typical intoxicating concentrations, with mean elimination rates of 12-30 mg%/h depending on drinking history.

  3. Role of Variability in Explaining Ethanol Pharmacokinetics: Research and Forensic Applications Holford NHG · Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2003 DOI

    Updated analysis of ethanol PK variability including sex differences, genetic ADH/ALDH polymorphisms, fed/fasted state effects, and implications for forensic BAC back-calculation.

3 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.