Charcoal/activated (Charcoal)

Category:

• Antidote

Description:

• Adsorbent, detoxicant

Indications:

• Emergency treatment in most poisonings

Contraindications:

• Unconsciousness, semiconsciousness

• Poisoning with cyanide, mineral acids, alkalies

Precautions:

• Absence of bowel sounds

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• GI: black stools, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

Dosage:

Administered orally

• Adult: Poisoning: 

  • PO 25-100g (or 1 g/kg or approximately 10 times the amount of poisoning ingested)

  • may give 20-40g every 6 hours for 1-2 days in severe poisoning

• Child <1year: Poisoning: 

  • 1 g/kg as single dose

• Child 1-12 years: Poisoning: 

  • 25-50g as single dose

Drug Interaction:

• Digitalis glycosides: Reduced digoxin levels; less effect on digitoxin