Ethyl alcohol absorption

Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) absorption is the physiological process by which alcohol moves from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, occurring primarily through passive diffusion (StatPearls, 2023). Approximately 20% of absorption occurs in the stomach, while the remaining 80% takes place in the small intestine due to its significantly larger surface area (NIH/NIAAA). This process is not a specific molecular target, such as a receptor or enzyme, but rather a pharmacokinetic phase that is heavily influenced by the rate of gastric emptying. Drugs like metoclopramide can accelerate absorption by increasing gastric motility, whereas anticholinergic drugs like atropine may delay it (PubMed). While absorption is critical for determining the onset and peak of ethanol's effects on the central nervous system, it lacks the discrete molecular structure required to be classified as a therapeutic target itself.

Other names

Ethanol absorptionAlcohol absorptionGastrointestinal ethanol absorption

Ethanol absorption is a passive process; drugs interact with this process by modulating gastric emptying rates or inhibiting first-pass metabolism by gastric alcohol dehydrogenase.