activated charcoal

REMS

Acute management of many oral poisonings following emesis/lavage.

Contraind./Precautions ⬆ ⬇

Contraindicated in:

No known contraindications.

Use Cautiously in:

Poisonings due to cyanide, corrosives, ethanol, methanol, petroleum distillates, organic solvents, mineral acids, or iron;
Endoscopic examination (observation will be obscured).

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects ⬆ ⬇

GI: black stools, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting

Interactions ⬆ ⬇

Drug-drug:

Other drugs including laxatives will be adsorbed by charcoal and as a result will not be systemically absorbed from the GI tract.

Drug-Food:

Milk, ice cream, or sherbet will decrease the ability of charcoal to absorb other agents.

Availability ⬆ ⬇

(Generic available)

Powder: 15-; 25- 30-; 40-; 120-; 125-g 240-g^OTC containers
Oral suspension: 12.5 g/60 mL^OTC; 15 g/72 mL^OTC; 15 g/120 mL^OTC; 25 g/120 mL^OTC; 30 g/120 mL^OTC; 50 g/240 mL^OTC; 15 g/120 mL^OTC; 25 g/125 mL^OTC; 50 g/225 mL^OTC; 50 g/250 mL^OTC
In combination with: sorbitol (Actidose with Sorbitol); Charcoaid; Pediatric Charcodote; Charac-tol; (Charcodote TFS)^OTC

Route/Dosage ⬆ ⬇

Antidote

PO (Adults ): 25–100 g (may be repeated q 4–6 hr).
PO (Children 1–12 yr): 25–50 g (may be repeated q 4–6 hr).
PO (Children <1 yr): 1 g/kg (may be repeated q 4–6 hr).

US Brand Names ⬆ ⬇

Acta-Char Liquid-A, Actidose-Aqua, CharcoAid 2000, Insta-Char, Insta-Char Aqueous Suspension, Liqui-Char, SuperChar Aqueous

Action ⬆ ⬇

Binds drugs and chemicals in the GI tract.

Therapeutic effects:

Decreased intestinal absorption of drugs or chemicals in the overdose situation.

Classifications ⬆ ⬇

Therapeutic Classification: antidotes

Pharmacologic Classification: adsorbents

Pharmacokinetics ⬆ ⬇

Absorption: None.

Distribution: None.

Metabolism/Excretion: Excreted unchanged in the feces.

Half-Life: Unknown.

Canadian Brand Names ⬆ ⬇

Aqueous Charcodote, Charac-50, Charcodote

Time/Action Profile ⬆ ⬇

(antidote)

ROUTE	ONSET	PEAK	DURATION
PO	within min	unknown	4–12 hr

Patient/Family Teaching ⬆

Inform patient that stools will turn black.
Poisoning: When counseling, discuss methods of prevention, need to confer with poison control center, physician, or emergency department before administering, and need to bring ingested substance to emergency department for identification.

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Indications ⬇