Activated charcoal: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

Functions & Usage

What is activated Charcoal used for?

Activated charcoal or activated charcoal is a drug commonly used to treat stomach pain due to excess gas, diarrhea, or indigestion.

Activated charcoal is also used to reduce itching caused by kidney dialysis treatment and to treat poisoning or drug overdose.

The origin of this charcoal used is from a research test. In 1831, Professor Touery drank a lethal dose of strychnine in front of colleagues at the French Academy of Medicine.

However, Professor Touery drank the poison along with active charcoal so that the poison did not have a lethal effect. Since then, activated charcoal has been tested and tested for medical purposes.

Activated charcoal is made from coal, wood, or other materials. Charcoal or charcoal is called active when it is processed using high temperatures combined with gases and other oxidative substances.

Charcoal works by absorbing toxins and chemicals in the intestines. Activated charcoal has a porous texture with a negative electric charge. This is what makes charcoal attract positive molecules such as toxins and gases.

Charcoal also cannot be absorbed by the body. As a result, the poison absorbed by the charcoal will be carried out by the body through defecation. Activated charcoal is usually used to treat emergencies as a first aid at the time of poisoning. This is due to its properties that can help inhibit toxins from being absorbed by the body.

1. For the kidneys

Charcoal is believed to help kidney function by filtering out toxins and undigested drugs.

Several studies conducted on animals have shown that activated charcoal can help improve kidney function and reduce gastrointestinal damage and inflammation in people with chronic kidney disease.

A 2014 study from California used mice with chronic kidney disease. The mice were given 4 grams of charcoal induction every day. Then the results were found that charcoal can reduce inflammation and intestinal damage significantly.

2. Diarrhea

Activated charcoal is believed to absorb toxins in digestion. So some people who believe in using activated charcoal to help overcome diarrhea problems.

In 2017, there was a study that examined the benefits of activated charcoal for treating diarrhea. The results of the researcher's study concluded that activated charcoal can prevent bacteria and drugs from being maximally absorbed in the body.

3. To treat poisoning

In hospital emergency rooms, medical personnel can sometimes use activated charcoal to treat overdoses or poisonings. Activated charcoal can often help cleanse toxins from the following medicines:

• Over-the-counter NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Sedative
• Calcium channel blockers
• Dapsone drug
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Malaria medicine
• Methylxanthines (mild stimulants)

Activated charcoal cannot bind all types of poisons or drugs, especially those that are corrosive. The following are the toxins that activated charcoal cannot absorb:

• alcohol
• lye
• iron
• lithium

In addition, petroleum products, such as fuel oil, gasoline, paint thinners, and some cleaning products cannot be absorbed by activated charcoal. If in a case of poisoning the patient is conscious, the doctor can give the patient a drink made from powdered activated charcoal and mixed with water.

The medical staff can also administer the activated charcoal mixture through a feeding tube in the nose or mouth if necessary. A person should be given activated charcoal within 1 to 4 hours after poisoning. This is the maximum limit for activated charcoal to work optimally in the body.

How to use

How do you use activated charcoal?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Generally, take this medication with a full glass (250 ml) of water. Do not crush, break, or chew activated charcoal tablets or capsules. Immediately swallow the pill thoroughly.

Charcoal is usually taken after a meal or at the first signs of symptoms when the stomach feels uncomfortable.

Stop using charcoal and call your doctor if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days or you also have a fever. Do not take an amount greater than or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Here are some other ways to use activated charcoal:

• If the poisoned patient vomits while drinking activated charcoal, another dose will be given via a nasogastric or orogastric tube. This is a tube that is inserted through the nose or mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach.
• If the patient is unconscious, the doctor may perform endotracheal intubation (the procedure of inserting a tube through the mouth into the trachea). It aims to deliver oxygen and help protect the airway and lungs from stomach contents, which minimizes the risk of the patient vomiting and choking.

Treatment using activated charcoal is usually given by a doctor. This is not an arbitrary substance which can be used at home. The doctor will determine the dose or amount of charcoal to be given based on the patient's weight (with a special dose for children). The doctor will also compensate with some generous amount of the poison that is ingested.

How do you save activated charcoal?

Store at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules.

Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage for Activated Charcoal for adults?

Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Decontamination:

• Activated Charcoal:
• Single dose: 25-100 g orally or by a nasogastric tube once, as a slurry in water. The routine use of a single dose of activated charcoal is not recommended.
• 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. Not effective in the treatment of poisoning.

What is the dose of activated charcoal for children?

Usual children's dosage for Gastrointestinal Decontamination:

Provides an aqueous suspension or as a slurry in water.

Single dose:

• <1 year: 0.5-1 g / kg or 10-25 g orally or by a single nasogastric tube
• 1-12 years: 0.5-1 g / kg or 25-50 g orally or by a single nasogastric tube
• 13-18 years: single dose: 25-100 g orally or by nasogastric tube once

The routine use of a single dose of activated charcoal is not recommended.

In what dosage is activated charcoal available?

This drug is available in preparations:

• Liquid
• Suspension
• Tablet
• Chewable tablets
• Powder for suspension

Side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to activated charcoal?

Seek immediate medical help if you experience signs of a common allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This list is not a complete list of side effects and other things can still occur. Contact your doctor for medical advice about the side effects of this drug.

Generally, activated charcoal is considered safe and has rarely been reported to experience severe side effects when used and at the correct dosage.

However, there are still some common side effects that can occur when consuming activated charcoal. Generally you will feel nausea and vomiting. In addition, the risk of constipation and black stool color are two other side effects that are frequently reported.

When activated charcoal is used as an emergency medicine for poisoning, there is a risk that it may pass to the lungs, rather than the stomach. This usually occurs when the patient vomits or is completely unconscious when given activated charcoal.

Additionally, activated charcoal may worsen symptoms in people with the condition porphyria variegate, which is a rare genetic disease that affects the skin, intestines and nervous system. Also, in very rare cases, activated charcoal has been linked to blockage of the opening in the intestine.

It is worth mentioning that activated charcoal can also reduce the absorption of certain drugs. Therefore, people taking medication should consult a doctor before taking it.

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions & Warnings

What do you need to know before using activated Charcoal?

You should not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to charcoal.

If possible, before you take activated charcoal, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, or if you have:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease, or
• Other types of serious illness

If you have the condition, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to keep it safe while taking this drug.

Do not give this medicine to children under 1 year of age without doctor's instructions. Do not take activated charcoal with other medicines. Drink activated charcoal at least 2 hours before or 1 hour after other drug doses. Activated charcoal can usually bind to other toxic or medicinal substances and can make them less effective.

Is Activated Charcoal safe for pregnant and lactating women?

It is not yet known what safety and effectiveness activated charcoal is for pregnant and lactating women. Consult your doctor before pregnant and breastfeeding women use any type of drug.

Drug Interactions

What drugs may interact with activated charcoal?

Although some drugs should not be taken at the same time, in other cases some drugs can also be used together even though interactions may occur.

In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with these drugs or change some of the other drugs you take.

• Naltrexone

Using this medication with any of the following medicines is not usually recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both drugs.

• Acrivastine
• Bupropion
• Carbinoxamine
• Fentanyl
• Hydrocodone
• Meclizine
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Mycophenolic Acid
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Suvorexant
• Tapentadol
• Umeclidinium

Can food or alcohol interact with activated charcoal?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions can interact with activated charcoal?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Bleeding in the intestine or
• Intestinal blockage or
• Activated charcoal can make intestinal conditions that have lesions or holes worse.
• A low level of awareness can run the risk of getting activated charcoal into the patient's lungs. There may be a need for a tube in the patient's throat before activated charcoal is given.
• Concomitant use of laxatives, such as sorbitol and charcoal, is not recommended. This can put you at risk of dehydration

Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, call your local emergency services provider 119 or 118 or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment