A member asked:

What can happen to your body if you drink rubbing alcohol?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

Many things: Isopropyl or rubbing alcohol is much more potent than ethyl alcohol. While drinking it can make you "drunk" just like ethyl alcohol, the margin between "drunk" and dead is much thinner. If too much is consumed it can lead to coma and death just like ethyl (drinking) alcohol can. It is also much more likely to cause gastritis (stomach inflammation) than ethyl alcohol.

Answered 4/11/2014

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Dr. John Munshower answered

Specializes in Family Medicine

Toxic: Rubbing alcohol is used to disinfect, to bring down fever and to soothe skin and it is made of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (ipa) in water. The ingredient used isopropyl is very toxic and has a high effect on the central nervous system. It causes alcohol poisoning which leads to vomiting, confusion and slow breath. In large quantities it can cause death.

Answered 3/20/2016

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