Complications

Severe complications can result from alcohol poisoning, including:

• Choking. Alcohol may cause vomiting. Because it depresses your gag reflex, this increases the risk of choking on vomit if you've passed out.
• Stopping breathing. Accidentally inhaling vomit into your lungs can lead to a dangerous or fatal interruption of breathing (asphyxiation).
• Severe dehydration. Vomiting can result in severe dehydration, leading to dangerously low blood pressure and fast heart rate.
• Seizures. Your blood sugar level may drop low enough to cause seizures.
• Hypothermia. Your body temperature may drop so low that it leads to cardiac arrest.
• Irregular heartbeat. Alcohol poisoning can cause the heart to beat irregularly or even stop.
• Brain damage. Heavy drinking may cause irreversible brain damage.
• Death. Any of the issues above can lead to death.