Methanol per se is not acutely toxic; Formate is the methanol metabolic product responsible for neurotoxicity of methanol exposure.
Shortly after ingestion, methanol produces central nervous system depression that manifests short duration inebriation. This is then followed by a latent period lasting between 14 -18 hrs; the time it takes for alcohol dehydrogenase to metabolize methanol to formate and for formate to accumulate. The latent period however will be prolonged if ethanol was co-ingested.
Consequently, methanol-poisoned patients often present to medical facilities several hours after exposure, often without any sign of alcohol intoxication. Some of the delayed toxic effects includes: blurring and clouding of vision, respiratory depression and acidosis.
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