One of the important principles in the management and treatment of poisoning with toxic alcohols, especially methanol, is rapid diagnosis 

One of the important principles in the management and treatment of poisoning with toxic alcohols, especially methanol, is quick and correct diagnosis. Since it is not possible to conduct an emergency test to determine serum alcohol levels in most parts of the country, the existence of clinical differences between methanol and ethanol poisoning is of particular importance.
General symptoms: A person suffering from ethyl alcohol poisoning has symptoms of drunkenness, irritability, talkativeness, hot flushes, and a feeling of heat, as well as aggressiveness and rudeness. If the people who are poisoned with toxic alcohols (methanol) do not show obvious signs of drunkenness and due to the shock, they have cold hands and feet and sometimes shivering.
The smell of alcohol: Usually, the smell of alcohol can be smelled from the mouth of patients suffering from ethyl alcohol poisoning. This situation is less common in patients with toxic alcohol (methanol) poisoning. Convulsion is one of the symptoms of severe intoxication in toxic alcohols.
General condition of the patient: absorption of ethanol (alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages) is very fast and the peak of its symptoms is in the first one to two hours in the form of drunkenness, flushing, talkativeness, digestive symptoms, etc. In case of ingestion of large amounts, it may be associated with a decrease in consciousness and respiratory arrest. What is important is that the patient's condition improves over time. This situation is not seen in toxic alcohols, especially methanol. The patient usually presents late (commonly after 24 hours) and the clinical condition of the patient worsens every hour.
Ocular manifestations: patients suffering from ethyl alcohol poisoning usually do not complain of vision problems, while in methyl alcohol poisoning the pupils are slow to respond to light or have no response.

Blood sugar: there is usually hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in ethanol poisoning and hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar) in methanol poisoning. Also, hyperkalemia (increased blood potassium) is seen in methanol poisoning, if hypokalemia (low blood potassium) may be a symptom of ethanol poisoning due to excessive vomiting.