Drug Information

Drug Interaction:

Interacting drugs- summary

Activated Charcoal cab absorb drugs while they are in the GI tract. Therefore take charcoal 2 hours before or 1 hour after medication

Charcoal +

Acetaminophen

charcoal can reduce absorption of these drugs and actually remove them

Barbiturates

from systemic circulation which may reduce effectiveness of a given agent.

Carbamazepine

Charcoal is also used as an antidote for overdoses.

Syrup of Ipecac-

Do not administer concomittantly. activated charcoal will absorb and inactivate this agent Effectiveness of other medication will be decreased when used concurrently because of adsorption by the activated charcoal

Drug/Food interactions- Do not mix charcoal with milk, ice cream, or sherbet since it will decrease the absorptive capacity of the activated charcoal.

Indication:

Poisoning

For relief of intestinal gas, diarrhea, GI distress associated with indigestion and accompaning cramps or odour.

Adverse Reaction:

Vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. Black stools. Airway obstruction.

GI- rapid ingestion of high doses may cause vomiting. Constipation or diarrhea may occur. Stools will be black.

.Respiratory- aspiration of activated charcoal has been reporeted to produce airway obstruction and a limited number of fatalities have occured.

Bronchiolitis obliterans - resulting in death has developed several weeks after the aspiration of activated charcoal.

Contra-Indications:

Ineffective for poisoning or overdose of mineral acids and alkalies. Not efffective in poisoning of ethanol, methanol, and iron salts.

Special precautions: Warnings-

Diarrhea- if diarrhea persists for > 2 days or is accompanied by fever, consult physician

Emesis- induce emesis before giving activated charcoal.After ipecac-induced vomiting the patient may be intolerant of activated charcoal for 1 to 2 hours.

Gastric lavage- activated charcoal can be administered in the early stages of gastric lavage. Use activated charcoal without sorbitol. The gastric lavage returns will be black. High dosage or prolonged use does not cause side effects or harm to patients nutritional state

Children- Do not use in children < 3 years of age.

Dosages/ Overdosage Etc:

Indication:

Poisoning

Dosage:

Administer to conscious persons only.

Adults- 25 to 100g (or 1g/kg or approx 10 times the amount of poison ingested) as a suspension (4 to 8 ounces of water). For maximum effect administer activated charcoal soln within 30 minutes after ingestion of poison.

Overdosage- Bowel obstruction

Patient Information:

Charcoal activated- Oral

1.Allergies-

Tell your doctor if you are have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to

activated charcoal. Also tell your healthcare care professional if you are

allergic to any other substances such as foods. preservatives or dyes.

2. Diet-

Make sure that you are on any special diet, such as low-sodium or low-sugar,

or any other special diet. Most medicines contain more than their active

ingredient

3.Pregnancy-

Activated charcoal has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in

nursing babies.

4. Breast-feeding-

Activated charcoal has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in

humans

5.Children-

In babies and children under 3 years of age, activated charcoal should not be used

regularly to relieve diarrhea and gas, since it affect the childs nutrition. Also the

fluid loss caused by diarrhea may result in a severe condition. For this reason,

a medicine for diarrhea must not be given without first checking with their doctor.

If a medicine for diarrhea is used , it is also very important that a sufficient amount

of liquids be given to replace the fluid lost by the body. If you have any questions,

about this, check with your doctor

6.Older adults-

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore,

it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way than they do in

younger adults, or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people.

There is no specific information comparing use of activated charcoal in the elderly

this medicine is not cause different side effects or problems in older people than it

does in younger adults.

However, the fluid loss caused by diarrhea may result in severe condition. For this

reason, elderly persons with diarrhea, in addition to using a medicine for diarrhea

must receive a sufficient amount of liquids to replace the fluid lost by the body.

7. Other medicines-

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two

different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.

In such cases your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions

may be necessary.

Tell your doctor if you are using any other prescription or non-prescription

(Over-the counter) OTC medicine.

8. Other medical problems-

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of activated

charcoal to relieve diarrhea. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have

any other medical problems especially-

Dysentry- this condition may get worse, a different kind of treatment may

be needed.

Pharmacology/ Pharmacokinetics:

Pharmacology:

Activated charcoal is a carbon residue derived from organic material by exposing it to oxidizing gas compound of steam,oxygen and acids at high temperature, resulting in an increase of surface area.

Activated carbon is an absorbent,detoxicant, and soothing agent. It reduces the volume of intestinal gas and relieves related discomfort

Interaction with Food:

Do not mix charcoal with milk, ice cream or shorbet since it will decrease the adsorptive capacity
of the activated charcoal.

Take on an empty stomach with plenty of liquid.
Allow to disintrgrate with water with stirring or take with whole liquid
Take at least 2 hour before or 2 hr after medications.
Avoid milk, ice cream, ans cocoa

Charcoal, activated ( *** )- @ - Antidotes- emetics

Drug Interaction

Indication

Adverse Reaction

Contra-Indications

Dosages/ Overdosage Etc

Patient Information

Pharmacology/ Pharmacokinetics

Interaction with Food