Įthanol can be administered intravenously or orally.

Diethylene glycol is metabolized via ADH to hydroxy-ethoxyacetic acid and diglycolic acid and causes anion-gap metabolic acidosis, bilateral cortical necrosis, and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Poisoning by diethylene glycol (historically and tragically used as a glycerin substitute and also in household products such as wallpaper stripper and Sterno brand heating fuel ) is less common but associated with very high morbidity and mortality. Both can produce irreversible CNS toxicity. Ethylene glycol is metabolized via ADH to glycolic acid, which results in anion-gap metabolic acidosis, and oxalic acid, which results primarily in renal toxicity due to the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. Retinal toxicity secondary to methanol poisoning is usually irreversible.

Methanol is metabolized via ADH to formic acid, which results in anion-gap metabolic acidosis and ocular toxicity. However, they are metabolized by ADH to toxic metabolites that can cause end-organ damage and death. Methanol and ethylene glycol, as parent compounds, are relatively nontoxic. The toxicity of methanol and of ethylene glycol is well described, and each year in the United States there are about 5000 exposures that require treatment and 20–30 associated deaths reported to poison centers.

Antifreeze antidote