activated charcoal

REMS

Contraindicated in:

Use Cautiously in:

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

GI: black stools, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting

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 ↓ ability of charcoal to absorb other agents.

(Generic available)

Oral solution: 15 g/72 mL^OTC; 25 g/120 mL^OTC; 25 g/240 mL^OTC; 50 g/250 mL^OTC
Oral suspension: 25 g/240 mL^OTC
In combination with:
sorbitol (Actidose with Sorbitol; Char-Flo with Sorbitol; Insta-Char/Sorbitol)

Antidote

CharcoAid 2000, Char-Flo, EZ Char, Insta-Char

Therapeutic effects:

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

Therapeutic Classification: antidotes

Pharmacologic Classification: adsorbents

Absorption: None.

Distribution: None.

Metabolism/Excretion: Excreted unchanged in the feces.

Half-Life: Unknown.

Aqueous Charcodote, Charac-50, Charcodote

(antidote)

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

Explain the purpose and side effects of activated charcoal. Inform patient that stools will turn black.
Poisoning: When counseling, discuss methods of prevention, need to confer with poison control center, health care provider, or emergency department before administering, and need to bring ingested substance to emergency department for identification.