Activated charcoal (medication)

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Activated charcoal (also known as activated carbon) is a medication used to treat poisoning and overdoses following oral ingestion. It is not effective for a number of poisonings including strong acids or alkali, cyanide, iron, lithium, arsenic, or ethanol.

Mechanism of action[edit | edit source]

Activated charcoal works by adsorption, a chemical reaction where certain substances are attracted to activated charcoal and bond with it. The large surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless bonding sites. When certain chemicals pass close to the charcoal surface, they attach to the surface and are trapped.

Medical uses[edit | edit source]

Activated charcoal is used to treat poisonings and overdoses following oral ingestion. It is usually only used in a hospital setting and should not be used at home. Activated charcoal is not effective for all types of poisonings. It is most effective when used within one hour of ingestion.

Side effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of activated charcoal include black stools, black tongue, vomiting or diarrhea, or constipation. In more serious cases, it can cause gastrointestinal blockages.

Contraindications[edit | edit source]

Activated charcoal is not recommended for use in people who have ingested corrosive substances such as strong acids or alkali, cyanide, iron, lithium, arsenic, or ethanol. It is also not recommended for people with slow digestion, blockages in the gut, or recent surgery.

History[edit | edit source]

Activated charcoal has been used as a poison antidote since the early 19th century. It was first used by French chemist Michel Bertrand in 1811 in an experiment to save a patient who had ingested mercury chloride.

See also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Activated charcoal (medication)

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate

AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Activated charcoal (medication): ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD