Activated Charcoal Flashcards
Activated Charcoal Route
Oral
Activated Charcoal Presentation
50g in 250ml
Granules or suspension in water
Activated Charcoal indications (ingested toxins in general)
emergency treatment of acute oral poisoning and oral drug overdose
- adults and children over 1 who have ingested toxins less than 1 hour before a clinician arrives
- adults and children irrespective of time of ingestion who have ingested toxins and toxbase or the national poisons information service has advised the administration of the drug.
Activated Charcoal Indications (paracetamol)
Recommended dose of paracetamol is 4g in 24hours
any amount over this is an overdose
Single acute overdose is over 4g in a period of less than an hour
When calculating toxic doses:
in pregnant individuals their pre pregnancy weight should be used
for patients over 110kg the toxic dose should be calculated with 110kg rather than their actual weight
Activated Charcoal: Contraindications
children under 1
more than 1 hour since ingestion
administration not advised by toxbase or NPIS
Vomiting patients
patients with reduced gastro-intestinal motility (opioid medication, abdo surgery)
Poisoning due to: cyanide, petroleum distillates, metal salts, mineral acids, malathion and corrosive substances
Activated Charcoal Cautions
precautions to prevent aspiration (especially in children)
reduced the effectiveness of other antidotes
overdose along with recreational alcohol can still be treated as long as they are alert enough to swallow
Shake bottle vigorously
Activated Charcoal Side Effects
Black stools
Intestinal Obstruction, Bezoar Formation and Intestinal perforation
Activated Charcoal Dosage (Children)
aged 1-12
encourage the child to drink 125ml (25g of activated charcoal - half the bottle)
unless a large quantity of a toxin has been ingested, then the full 50g should be administered
Activated Charcoal Dosage (Adults)
Aged 12+
Single dose of 50g in 250ml as soon as possible after ingestion of potential poison
