Before Using
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
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.
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Nalmefene
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Naltrexone
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Potassium Citrate
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Safinamide
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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.
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Alfentanil
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Alprazolam
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Amantadine
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Amifampridine
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Amphetamine
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Benzhydrocodone
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Benzphetamine
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Bromazepam
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Bromopride
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Buprenorphine
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Bupropion
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Butorphanol
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Calcium Oxybate
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Cannabidiol
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Cannabis
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Carbinoxamine
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Cetirizine
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Citalopram
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Clobazam
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Clonazepam
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Clopidogrel
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Clozapine
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Codeine
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Daridorexant
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Desmopressin
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Desvenlafaxine
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Dexmedetomidine
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Dextroamphetamine
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Dextromethorphan
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Diazepam
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Digoxin
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Dihydrocodeine
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Donepezil
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Doxylamine
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Duloxetine
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Escitalopram
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Esketamine
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Fenfluramine
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Fentanyl
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Flibanserin
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Fluoxetine
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Fluvoxamine
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Gabapentin
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Gabapentin Enacarbil
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Gepirone
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Glucagon
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Glycopyrrolate
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Glycopyrronium Tosylate
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Granisetron
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Hydrocodone
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Hydromorphone
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Hydroxyamphetamine
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Ketamine
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Lacosamide
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Lasmiditan
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Lemborexant
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LetibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg
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Levocetirizine
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Levomilnacipran
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Levorphanol
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Lisdexamfetamine
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Lithium
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Lofexidine
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Lorazepam
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Loxapine
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Magnesium Oxybate
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Meclizine
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Meperidine
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Metaxalone
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Methacholine
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Methadone
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Methamphetamine
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Methylene Blue
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Metoclopramide
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Midazolam
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Milnacipran
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Mirtazapine
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Morphine
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Morphine Sulfate Liposome
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Nalbuphine
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Olanzapine
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Oliceridine
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Ondansetron
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Oxycodone
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Oxymorphone
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Ozanimod
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Paroxetine
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Pentazocine
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Periciazine
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Phenobarbital
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Potassium Oxybate
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Pregabalin
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Primidone
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Quetiapine
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Remifentanil
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Remimazolam
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Revefenacin
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Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
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Scopolamine
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Secretin Human
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Sertraline
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Sodium Oxybate
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Sufentanil
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Tapentadol
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Ticagrelor
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Tiotropium
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Topiramate
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Tramadol
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Trazodone
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Venlafaxine
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Vilazodone
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Vortioxetine
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Zolpidem
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Zuranolone
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:
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Bleeding, intestinal or
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Blockage, intestinal or
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Hole in the intestine—Activated charcoal may make these conditions worse.
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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.
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Dehydration—Use of laxatives, such as sorbitol, is not recommended.
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Slow digestion—Activated charcoal may not work properly.
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Surgery, recent—Activated charcoal may cause abdominal or stomach problems.
Portions of this document last updated: July 01, 2024
Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.