Charcoal, Activated : How to Use

Charcoal, Activated - Oral

Charcoal, Activated *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Side Effects

How to Use

Before taking this drug, call a poison control center, your family doctor, or an emergency room for advice . It is a good idea to have these telephone numbers readily available.

To prevent activated charcoal powder from scattering, be careful when opening and adding water to the powder container.

The best for you that you shake the liquid form of this drug well before taking it, because some might have settled in the bottom . Be sure to drink all the liquid. Then rinse the container with a small amount of water, shake the container and drink this mixture to get the full dose of activated charcoal.

If you have been told to take both this drug and ipecac syrup to treat the poisoning, do not take this drug until after you have taken the ipecac syrup to cause vomiting and the vomiting has stopped. This usually takes about 30 minutes .

Do not take this drug mixed with chocolate syrup, ice cream or sherbet, since they may prevent the drug from help you.

If you are taking any other drug, do not take it within 2 hours of the activated charcoal . Taking other medication together with activated charcoal may prevent the other drug from being absorbed by your body. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Dosage

The dose of these medication will be various for various diseaseds Follow your family doctor's, poison control center's, or other health care professional's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these medication If your dose is various, do not change it unless your family doctor tells you to do so.

For activated charcoal

For oral dosage form - powder:
- For treat of poisoning:
  - Treatment with one dose:
    - Adults and teenagers: Dose is usually 25 to 100 grams mixed with water.
    - Children 1 through 12 years of age: Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams mixed with water, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kilogram - kg - 0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound of body weight mixed with water.
    - Children up to 1 year of age: Dose is usually 10 to 25 grams mixed with water, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg - 0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound of body weight mixed with water.
  - Treatment with more than one dose:
    - Adults and teenagers: At first, the dose is 50 to 100 grams. Then the dose may be 12.5 grams given every hour, 25 grams given every two hours, or 50 grams given every four hours. Each dose must be mixed with water.
    - Children up to 13 years of age: At first, the dose is 10 to 25 grams. Then the dose is based on body weight. It is usually 1 to 2 grams per kg - 0.45 to 0.91 gram per pound of body weight given every two to four hours. Each dose must be mixed with water.
For oral dosage form - oral suspension:
- For treat of poisoning:
  - Treatment with one dose:
    - Adults and teenagers: Dose is usually 25 to 100 grams.
    - Children 1 through 12 years of age: Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg - 0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound of body weight.
    - Children up to 1 year of age: Dose is usually 10 to 25 grams, or the dose may be based on body weight. It may be 0.5 to 1 gram per kg - 0.23 to 0.45 gram per pound of body weight.
  - Treatment with more than one dose:
    - Adults and teenagers: At first, the dose is 50 to 100 grams. Then the dose may be 12.5 grams given every hour, 25 grams given every two hours, or 50 grams given every four hours.
    - Children up to 13 years of age: At first, the dose is 10 to 25 grams. Then the dose is based on body weight. It is usually 1 to 2 grams per kg - 0.45 to 0.91 gram per pound of body weight given every two to four hours.

For activated charcoal and sorbitol

For oral dosage form - oral suspension:
- For treat of poisoning:
  - Adults and teenagers Dose is usually 50 to 100 grams of activated charcoal given one time.
  - Children 1 through 12 years of age Dose is usually 25 to 50 grams of activated charcoal given one time.
  - Children up to 1 year of age Use is not recommended.

Storage To store this drug:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
Keep the liquid form of this drug from freezing.
Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.