Blood alcohol levels
|
BAC |
Symptoms |
|
<50 mg/dL |
Some impairment in motor coordination and thinking ability Talkativeness Relaxation |
|
50-150 mg/dL |
Altered mood (increased wellbeing or unhappiness) Friendliness, shyness or argumentativeness Impaired concentration and judgement Reduced sexual disinhibition |
|
150-250 mg/dL |
Slurred speech Unsteady walking Nausea Double vision Increased heart rate Drowsiness Mood, personality and behaviour changes that may be sudden, angry and antisocial |
|
300 mg/dL |
Unresponsive/extremely drowsy Speech incoherent/confused Memory loss Vomiting Heavy breathing |
|
>400 mg/dL |
Breathing slowed, shallow or stopped Coma Death |
Adapted from: Table 163.1 in Brust, J. C. M. (2005). Alcoholism. In L. P. Rowland (Ed.), Merritt’s neurology (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.and Table 1 in Vonghia, L., Leggio, L., Ferrulli, A., Bertini, M., Gasbarrini, G., Addolorato, G., et al. (2008). Acute alcohol intoxication. European Journal of Internal Medicine, 19(8), 561-567.