Antizol is a medication that can be injected to treat actual or suspected methanol or ethylene glycol poisoning. An example of ethylene glycol poisoning would be poisoning with antifreeze. Methanol poisoning, also known as wood alcohol poisoning, can come from many fuels, solvents and other household chemical products. Methanol poisoning can cause symptoms such as blindness, severe abdominal pain, seizures, vomiting, and bluish-colored fingernails and lips.

This medication is usually injected by a doctor or other medical professional. Antizol may be injected on its own, or administered in conjunction with hemodialysis to clear poison out of the body. Once injected, Antizol acts as a competitive inhibitor of an enzyme in your body called alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme causes a chemical reaction to happen faster, and breaks down methanol and ethylene glycol into poisonous forms. Antizol adheres to the alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme and inhibits it from turning ethylene glycol or methanol poisonous.

Antizol may cause some side effects once injected. These side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, anxiety, back pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, a metallic taste in your mouth, ringing in your ears, back pain, a sore throat, vision changes, altered sense of smell or taste, a hangover feeling, or a mild rash. Experiencing any of these more common and mild side effects will not generally require medical attention unless they become bothersome or persistent.