How to sober up? How to use Fengdu tablets

Naloxone hydrochloride sublingual tablets, also known as "Fengdu" tablets, are an oral drug preparation approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the intoxication state of acute alcohol poisoning. Does naloxone have the effect of sobering up? How should naloxone hydrochloride sublingual tablets be used? First, let's take a look at what changes occur in the human body after drinking alcohol.

1 What happens to alcohol in the body?

The alcohol we drink begins to be absorbed in the digestive tract mucosa, with 80% being absorbed in the small intestine. The absorbed alcohol enters the blood and is rapidly distributed to various tissues in the body. 90% of alcohol is metabolized in the liver, where it is mainly oxidized into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase, then oxidized into acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase, and finally converted into carbon dioxide and water through the tricarboxylic acid cycle [1].

When a large amount of alcohol is consumed in a short period of time, the liver does not have time to metabolize it, and the alcohol will accumulate in the body, causing acute alcohol poisoning. Alcohol will enter the brain and inhibit the central nervous system. It may also affect the body's metabolism and cause damage to organs. Mild alcohol poisoning, which we often call simple drunkenness, usually manifests as emotional excitement, being able to answer correctly but speaking incoherently, being able to walk but with uncoordinated movements, and being sleepy but able to be awakened. Moderate alcohol poisoning may lead to worsening symptoms, such as drowsiness, manic or aggressive behavior, severe uncoordinated movements, and may also cause acidosis, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, and myocardial damage, arrhythmia, gastrointestinal bleeding and other manifestations of organ damage. Severe alcohol poisoning will show symptoms such as pale face, cold and clammy skin, slightly purple lips, etc., and will also experience severe metabolic disorders and acute dysfunction of important organs [2]. If symptoms of moderate to severe alcohol poisoning appear, the patient should be sent to a doctor for observation in a timely manner.

2 What is naloxone? What does it do?

In 1971, naloxone was first approved in the world for the treatment of opioid overdose. Opioids mainly include analgesics such as fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can quickly reverse the adverse reactions caused by overdose of such drugs. For example, if a person's breathing slows down or stops due to an overdose of opioids, naloxone can quickly restore his normal breathing.

At present, my country has approved the use of naloxone hydrochloride sublingual tablets for acute alcohol poisoning, which is limited to the intoxication state of acute alcohol poisoning with unstable gait, excessive talk, incoherence, euphoria, ataxia, slow perception, drowsiness, and lethargy, but not accompanied by coma and changes in vital signs [3]. The main function of naloxone is to relieve the central nervous system inhibition caused by alcohol poisoning, that is, to make people sober, but it is not a specific antidote for alcohol poisoning, but a "hangover drug".

3. Pay attention to the use of "Fengdu" tablets

Naloxone hydrochloride sublingual tablets are prescription drugs and should be used under the doctor's prescription. Naloxone has poor oral absorption and needs to be taken sublingually. Place the tablet under the tongue at the root of the tongue and press it with the tongue. Take 1 to 2 tablets at a time. The specific mechanism of naloxone for alcohol poisoning is not fully understood. People with hypertension, hypotension, arrhythmia and heart dysfunction should be cautious. In addition, naloxone has the effect of promoting the absorption of alcohol from the gastrointestinal tract [3]. Therefore, remember not to use it before drinking, and do not continue to drink after taking it, otherwise it will be more likely to cause alcohol poisoning.

4. Limit alcohol consumption and live a healthy life

Research in recent years has found that alcohol can affect the brain for up to six weeks after drinking. The "communication" of brain neurons is changing, and the transmission of neural signals is continuously restricted. A study in The Lancet pointed out that there is no "safe value" for drinking. As long as you drink, it will have adverse effects on your health. Therefore, the safest amount of alcohol is 0 [4]. Harmful use of alcohol is also related to a variety of diseases, such as liver damage, cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and malnutrition. Therefore, for the sake of our health, it is best not to drink alcohol, and if you do drink, you should limit your alcohol intake.

References:

[1] Sun Qingwen. Metabolism of alcoholic beverages in the human body and appropriate drinking amount [J]. Brewing Technology, 2006(08):126-127.

[2] Consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of acute alcohol poisoning[J]. Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2014, 23(02):135-138.

[3] Naloxone hydrochloride sublingual tablets instructions. Beijing Huasu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

[4] Alcohol affects the brain for up to six weeks. The Lancet: The safest amount of alcohol is zero [EB/OL].