Brand Name
US Brand Name
Actidose-Aqua
Charcoal
Diarrest
Di-Gon II
Donnagel
EZ-Char
Kaodene NN
Kaolinpec
Kaopectate
Kaopek
Kerr Insta-Char
Canadian Brand Name
Aqueous Charcodote Adult
Aqueous Charcodote Pediatric
Charcodote
Charcodote Pediatric
Charcodote Tfs
Charcodote Tfs Pediatric
Description
Activated charcoal is used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It helps prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning. Ordinarily, this medicine is not effective and should not be used in poisoning if corrosive agents such as alkalis (lye) and strong acids, iron, boric acid, lithium, petroleum products (e.g., cleaning fluid, coal oil, fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner), or alcohols have been swallowed, since it will not prevent these poisons from being absorbed into the body.
Some activated charcoal products contain sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sweetener. It also works as a laxative, for the elimination of the poison from the body.Products that contain sorbitol should be given only under the direct supervision of a doctor because severe diarrhea and vomiting may result.
Activated charcoal has not been shown to be effective in relieving diarrhea and intestinal gas.
Activated charcoal may be available without a doctor's prescription; however, before using this medicine, call a poison control center, your doctor, or an emergency room for advice.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Suspension
- Powder for Suspension
- Powder
Before Using
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to medicines in this group or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Activated charcoal should be used only under the direct supervision of your doctor, poison control center, or other health care professional.
Geriatric
Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of activated charcoal in the elderly, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
However, elderly persons with slow digestion are more likely to develop constipation if given more than one dose of activated charcoal.
Pregnancy
Activated charcoal has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.
Breastfeeding
Activated charcoal has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Drug Interactions
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 these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Naltrexone
- Potassium Citrate
- Safinamide
- Samidorphan
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amantadine
- Amifampridine
- Amphetamine
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Bromazepam
- Bromopride
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Butalbital
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Cannabidiol
- Cannabis
- Carbinoxamine
- Cetirizine
- Citalopram
- Clobazam
- Clonazepam
- Clopidogrel
- Clozapine
- Codeine
- Daridorexant
- Desmopressin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dexmedetomidine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dextromethorphan
- Diazepam
- Digoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Donepezil
- Doxylamine
- Duloxetine
- Escitalopram
- Esketamine
- Fenfluramine
- Fentanyl
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of medicines in this class. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Bleeding, intestinal or
- Blockage, intestinal or
- Hole in the intestine—Activated charcoal may make these conditions worse.
- Decreased alertness—To prevent activated charcoal from getting into the patient's lungs, it may be necessary to place a tube in the patient's throat before activated charcoal is given.
- Dehydration—Use of laxatives, such as sorbitol, is not recommended.
- Slow digestion—Activated charcoal may not work properly.
- Surgery, recent—Activated charcoal may cause abdominal or stomach problems.
Proper Use
Before taking this medicine, call a poison control center, your doctor, or an emergency room for advice. It is a good idea to have these telephone numbers readily available.
To prevent activated charcoal powder from scattering, be careful when opening and adding water to the powder container.
It is very important that you shake the liquid form of this medicine well before taking it, because some might have settled in the bottom. Be sure to drink all the liquid. Then rinse the container with a small amount of water, shake the container, and drink this mixture to get the full dose of activated charcoal.
If you have been told to take both this medicine and ipecac syrup to treat the poisoning, do not take this medicine until after you have taken the ipecac syrup to cause vomiting and the vomiting has stopped. This usually takes about 30 minutes.
Do not take this medicine mixed with chocolate syrup, ice cream or sherbet, since they may prevent the medicine from working properly.
If you are taking any other medicine, do not take it within 2 hours of the activated charcoal. Taking other medicines together with activated charcoal may prevent the other medicine from being absorbed by your body. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
Dosing
The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For activated charcoal
- —For oral dosage form (powder):
- For treatment of poisoning:
- Treatment with one dose:
- Adults and teenagers—Dose is usually 25 to 100 grams mixed with water.
- Children 1 through 12 years of age—Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams mixed with water, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kilogram (kg) (0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound) of body weight mixed with water.
- Children up to 1 year of age—Dose is usually 10 to 25 grams mixed with water, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg (0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound) of body weight mixed with water.
- Treatment with more than one dose:
- Adults and teenagers—At first, the dose is 50 to 100 grams. Then the dose may be 12.5 grams given every hour, 25 grams given every two hours, or 50 grams given every four hours. Each dose should be mixed with water.
- Children up to 13 years of age—At first, the dose is 10 to 25 grams. Then the dose is based on body weight. It is usually 1 to 2 grams per kg (0.45 to 0.91 gram per pound) of body weight given every two to four hours. Each dose should be mixed with water.
- Treatment with one dose:
- For treatment of poisoning:
- —For oral dosage form (oral suspension):
- For treatment of poisoning:
- Treatment with one dose:
- Adults and teenagers—Dose is usually 25 to 100 grams.
- Children 1 through 12 years of age—Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg (0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound) of body weight.
- Children up to 1 year of age—Dose is usually 10 to 25 grams, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg (0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound) of body weight.
- Treatment with more than one dose:
- Adults and teenagers—At first, the dose is 50 to 100 grams. Then the dose may be 12.5 grams given every hour, 25 grams given every two hours, or 50 grams given every four hours.
- Children up to 13 years of age—At first, the dose is 10 to 25 grams. Then the dose is based on body weight. It is usually 1 to 2 grams per kg (0.45 to 0.91 gram per pound) of body weight given every two to four hours.
- Treatment with one dose:
- For treatment of poisoning:
For activated charcoal and sorbitol
- For oral dosage form (oral suspension):
- For treatment of poisoning:
- Adults and teenagers—Dose is usually 50 to 100 grams of activated charcoal given one time.
- Children 1 through 12 years of age—Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams of activated charcoal given one time.
- Children up to 1 year of age—Use is not recommended.
- For treatment of poisoning:
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rare
- Pain or swelling in stomach
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue:
More common
- Diarrhea
Less common or rare
- Constipation
- vomiting
Activated charcoal will cause your stools to turn black. This is to be expected while you are taking this medicine.
There have not been any other side effects reported with this medicine. However, if you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
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