Activated charcoal

Brand Names

Charcoal, Actidose-Aqua, Activated Charcoal, Charcoal Plus DS, EZChar, Insta-Char, Liqui-Char, Optimum Charcoal

What is Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has been "activated" by exposing it to an oxidizing gas compound of steam, oxygen and acids at high temperature. It is used to treat toxicity or suspected toxicity. It is used to absorb unwanted "drugs" or "toxins" that may have been ingested.

The maximum amount of a drug adsorbed by activated charcoal is approximately 100-1000 mg/g of the charcoal.

Side effects of Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal usually causes no serious side effects, but high doses of it can lead to:

• Vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Stool will appear black

Indication

Activated charcoal is used to treat stomach pain caused by excess gas, diarrhea or indigestion.

Charcoal also is used to relieve itching related to kidney dialysis treatment and to treat poisoning or drug overdose.

Precautions

The intake of activated charcoal is not recommended for people who have:

• an allergic reaction to charcoal
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• any type of serious illness

Dosage forms

Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Decontamination

Single-dose: 25-100 g orally or by nasogastric tube once as a slurry in water.

Multiple-dose:

Initial dose: 50-100 g orally or by nasogastric tube as a slurry in water

Maintenance dose: 12.5 g every hour, 25 g every 2 hours or 50 g every 4 hours until symptoms resolve.

Usual Adult Dose for Flatulence

Capsules and tablets: 500-1040 mg up to 4 times daily as needed. It is not effective in the treatment of poisoning.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gastrointestinal Decontamination

Single dose:

<1 year: 0.5-1 g/kg or 10-25 g orally or by nasogastric tube once

1-12 years: 0.5 -1 g/kg or 25- 50 g orally or by nasogastric tube once

13-18 years: 25- 100 g orally or by nasogastric tube once

Multiple-dose:

<13 years: Initial dose: 10-25 g orally or by nasogastric tube as a slurry in water

Maintenance dose: 1-2 g/kg every 2- 4 hours

13-18 years: Initial dose: 50-100 g orally or by nasogastric tube as a slurry in water

Maintenance dose: 12.5 g every hour, 25 g every 2 hours or 50 g every 4 hours until toxic symptoms resolve

Usual Pediatric Dose for Flatulence

3-18 years: Capsules and tablets: 500- 1040 mg up to 4 times daily as needed. It is not effective in the treatment of poisoning.