Activated charcoal

Question 1

activated charcoal (Insta-Char, Actidose-Aqua, Liqui-Char)
CLASS

Answer 1

Class: Adsorbent, antidote

Question 2

activated charcoal (instaChar, Actidose-Aqua, Liqui-Char)
PHARMACOLOGY AND ACTION

Answer 2

Adsorbs ingested toxic substances from the GI tract, thereby preventing
systemic absorption.

Question 3

Activated Charcoal (instaChar, Actidose Aqua, LiquiChar)
ONSET? Duration? Peak affect?

Answer 3

Onset: Immediate
Duration:Will act until excreted Peak Effect: Variable

Question 4

activated charcoal (instaChar, Actidose Aqua, Liqui-Char)
INDICATIONS? CONTRAINDICATIONS?

Answer 4

Indications
● Poisonings and overdoses (including after patient has evacuated poisons)
Contraindications
● Unprotected airway
● Altered mental status
● Absence of a gag reflex
● Ileus
● Intestinal obstruction
● Ingestion of petroleum distillates, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, acids, alkalis, corrosives,
alcohols, iron, lithium, and solvents

Question 5

activated charcoal (InstaChar, Actidose, LiquiChar)
ADVERSE REACTIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS

Answer 5

Gastrointestinal: Emesis, constipation, black stools, diarrhea, bowel obstruction

Question 6

active charcoal (instachar, actidose aqua, Liquichar)
DOSAGE

Answer 6

Adult: 25-100g PO/NG
Pediatric: Younger than 1 year: 1g/kg PO/NG
Older than 1 year: 25-100g PO/NG

Question 7

activated charcoal (instachar, actidose aqua, liquichar)
Special considerations

Answer 7

●Shake vigorously before use.
● Contact medical control before administering in cases of acetaminophen OD.
● Charcoal aspiration can produce an unmanageable airway.
● Aspiration of emesis containing charcoal can induce fatal pneumonitis.
● Use caution in patients with abdominal pain of unknown origin.
● Do not use charcoal with sorbitol additive in pediatrics.

Question 8

activated charcoal (instachar, actidose aqua, Liquichar)
Drug interactions

Answer 8

Moderate interactions with acetylcysteine, citalopram, digoxin, dyphylline, methotrexate,
and theophylline