Activated charcoal: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:40, 20 December 2011

Background

Does not work with:
- Iron
- Lithium
- Lead
- Hydrocarbons
- Toxic alcohols

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

Dose

1gm/kg PO
Mix with water or juice

Administration

PO (at least 50 g of charcoal within 20min)
1. It is NOT necessary for charcoal to be administered by a NGT or OGT
2. Improved taste if activated charcoal is chilled
3. In children, may mix with juice, yogurt or ice-cream
See also Gastric Lavage

Complications

Aspiration
Bowel obstruction

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Indications==
+==Background==
-#Drug ingested is adsorbed by charcoal and has significant potential for toxicity, and
+*Does not work with:
-#One of the following:
+**Iron
-##Time since ingestion is less than 1-2 hours
+**Lithium
-##The drug has significant enterohepatic circulation
+**Lead
-#The drug delays gastric emptying AND time since ingestion is less than 4 hours
+**Hydrocarbons
-#The drug is in a controlled release preparation AND time since ingestion is less than 12-18 hours
+**Toxic alcohols
-==Dose==
+== Indications ==
-#1g/kg PO
+#Ingested drug is adsorbed by charcoal AND one of the following:
-#Mixed with water (sorbitol no longer recommended)
+##Time since ingestion is less than 1-2hr
+##Drug has significant enterohepatic circulation
+##Drug delays gastric emptying AND time since ingestion is <4hr
+##Drug is a controlled release preparation AND time since ingestion is <12-18hr
-==Administration==
+== Dose ==
-#PO (at least 50 g of charcoal within 20 minutes)
+#1gm/kg PO
-##It is NOT necessary for charcoal to be administered by a nasogastric or orogastric tube
+#Mix with water or juice
-##Improved taste if activated charcoal is chilled
-##In children, may mix with juice, yogurt or ice-cream
+== Administration ==
+#PO (at least 50 g of charcoal within 20min)
+##It is NOT necessary for charcoal to be administered by a NGT or OGT
+##Improved taste if activated charcoal is chilled
+##In children, may mix with juice, yogurt or ice-cream
 #See also [[Gastric Lavage]]
-==Complications==
+== Complications ==
-# Aspiration
-#Bowel obstruction
+#Aspiration
+#Bowel obstruction
-==See Also==
+== See Also ==
-[[Gastric Lavage]]
+*[[Gastric Lavage]]
-[[Category:Procedures]]
+[[Category:Procedures]] [[Category:Tox]]
-[[Category:Tox]]