Activated charcoal: Difference between revisions

(Text replacement - "== " to "==")
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**Pediatric
**Pediatric


== Indications ==
==Indications ==
*Ingested drug is adsorbed by charcoal AND one of the following:  
*Ingested drug is adsorbed by charcoal AND one of the following:  
#Time since ingestion is less than 1-2hr  
#Time since ingestion is less than 1-2hr  
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*Instances where urgent endoscopy will be needed (eg. Ingestion of caustic material)
*Instances where urgent endoscopy will be needed (eg. Ingestion of caustic material)


=== Limitations ===
===Limitations ===
*Does not work with:
*Does not work with:
**Heavy metals ([[Iron Toxicity|Iron]], [[Lead Toxicity|Lead]], [[Arsenic]], [[Mercury]], Zinc)
**Heavy metals ([[Iron Toxicity|Iron]], [[Lead Toxicity|Lead]], [[Arsenic]], [[Mercury]], Zinc)

Revision as of 01:58, 5 July 2016

General

  • Type: Antidote
  • Dosage Forms:
  • Common Trade Names: Actidose-Aqua [OTC]; Actidose/Sorbitol [OTC]; Char-Flo with Sorbitol [OTC]; EZ Char [OTC]; Kerr Insta-Char in Sorbitol [OTC]; Kerr Insta-Char [OTC] [1]

Adult Dosing

  • 25-100gm PO[2]
  • Common standard dose is 50gm

Pediatric Dosing

  • 0.5-1 gm/kg PO[2]

Special Populations

Indications

  • Ingested drug is adsorbed by charcoal AND one of the following:
  1. Time since ingestion is less than 1-2hr
  2. Drug has significant enterohepatic circulation
  3. Drug delays gastric emptying AND time since ingestion is <4hr
  4. Drug is a controlled release preparation AND time since ingestion is <12-18hr

AACT recommendations

  • Activated charcoal "should not be administered routinely in the management of poisoned patients."[2]
  • Consider if patient presents within one hour of an ingestion of a toxic amount of a substance known to be absorbed by charcoal
    • Administration of charcoal after an hour may continue to be beneficial
  • They emphasize that there is no definitive data that activated charcoal improves clinical outcome

Contraindications

  • Altered mental status
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Increased risk of aspiration
  • Ingestion of substances not absorbed by charcoal
  • Instances where urgent endoscopy will be needed (eg. Ingestion of caustic material)

Limitations

Adverse Reactions

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: not absorbed
  • Metabolism: not absorbed
  • Excretion: excreted whole in feces

Mechanism of action

  • Large surface area of the charcoal binds toxins and prevents their absorption
  • Interrupts enteroenteric/enterohepatic circulation of drugs[3]

Comments

  • Created by heating wood and other natural materials in an airless environment
  • "Activated" by turning into fine powder, which ↑ surface area

See Also

References

  1. Activated Charcoal. online.lexi.com.elibrary.einstein.yu.edu/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/patch_f/6579?hl=5864#f_pregnancy-and-lactation. Updated 10/5/15. Accessed 12/30/15.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chyka PA, Seger D, Krenzelok EP, Vale JA; American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. Position paper: Single-dose activated charcoal. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2005;43(2):61-87.
  3. Position statement and practice guidelines on the use of multi-dose activated charcoal in the treatment of acute poisoning. American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 1999;37(6):731-51.