From the Guidelines
Charcoal tablets are primarily used as an emergency treatment for certain types of poisoning and drug overdoses, with activated charcoal binding to toxins and chemicals in the digestive tract to prevent their absorption into the bloodstream. For poisoning treatment, a typical adult dose ranges from 25-100 grams, while children receive 10-25 grams, usually administered as a single dose within one hour of poison ingestion for maximum effectiveness 1. The use of charcoal tablets is supported by various studies, including a 2017 expert consensus recommendation for the management of calcium channel blocker poisoning in adults, which suggests considering decontamination with activated charcoal if a patient has ingested a potentially toxic amount of a poison up to one hour previously 1. Additionally, a 2016 guideline for the safe and effective prescribing of methotrexate for skin disease recommends giving activated charcoal to patients who have ingested 1 mg kg-1 of methotrexate (or greater) within an hour 1. It's essential to note that charcoal tablets should not be taken with other medications as they may reduce their effectiveness, and they aren't effective for all types of poisoning, particularly alcohol, strong acids, or petroleum products.
Some key points to consider when using charcoal tablets include:
- Administering the tablets as soon as possible after poison ingestion, ideally within one hour
- Using the correct dose, typically 25-100 grams for adults and 10-25 grams for children
- Avoiding co-administration with other medications to prevent reduced effectiveness
- Being aware of the limitations of charcoal tablets in treating certain types of poisoning
- Consulting with a healthcare provider or poison control center before using charcoal for poisoning treatment 1.
Overall, charcoal tablets can be a useful emergency treatment for certain types of poisoning and drug overdoses, but their use should be guided by healthcare professionals and based on the most recent and highest-quality evidence available.
From the Research
Uses of Charcoal Tablets
Charcoal tablets, also known as activated charcoal, have several uses, including:
- Preventing the gastrointestinal absorption of various drugs and toxins 2
- Increasing the elimination of toxic substances from the body 2, 3
- Reducing the risk of desorbing from the charcoal-toxin complex as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract 2
- Treating intestinal gas by preventing the large increase in the number of flatus events and increased breath hydrogen concentrations that normally occur following a gas-producing meal 4
Medical Applications
In medical settings, charcoal tablets are used to:
- Treat acute intoxications by administering 50 to 100g of activated charcoal to adult patients as soon as possible 2
- Enhance the elimination of many toxicologically significant agents, such as aspirin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbitone 2
- Reduce the risk of toxicity or improve clinical outcome and survival of poisoned patients 3
Administration and Safety
Charcoal tablets can be administered:
- Orally, with a recommended dose of 1 g/kg for children and 50 to 100g for adult patients 2
- Repeatedly, every 4 to 6 hours, until recovery or until plasma drug concentrations have fallen to non-toxic levels 2
- Prehospital, without markedly delaying transport or arrival of overdose patients into the ED, and is generally safe 5