Activated charcoal is often taken by mouth to treat various types of poisonings. You might need to take an activated charcoal treatment after accidentally ingesting a toxic substance. Your doctor will tell you how and when to take activated charcoal, so don't take the treatment without first consulting a healthcare professional.
Description
Activated charcoal treatments are usually available in the form of a chewable tablet, suspension, pill, liquid or powder, the Mayo Clinic says. Activated charcoal treatments and emergency kits are sold under the brand names of Diarrest, Donnagel, EZ-Char, Kaopectate, Kaopek and Actidose-Aqua. It's also sold under CharcoCaps, Kerr Insta-Char, Charcoal and other brand names, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Function
Activated charcoal essentially protects your stomach lining from absorbing toxins, the Mayo Clinic says. Activated charcoal also contains sorbitol, a substance that has a laxative effect. The charcoal acts to absorb the toxins and remove them from your digestive tract, explains the University of Michigan Health System. These combined actions prevent your body from absorbing poisons and effectively rid your digestive system of the toxic substances. Activated charcoal is useful for treating poisoning from drugs such as acetaminophen, but it's not effective for ingestion of corrosive agents, petroleum products, alcohols, iron, lithium or boric acid.
Uses
Although it's mainly used to treat poisoning, activated charcoal treatments might also help in relieving intestinal gas and bloating, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Activated charcoal may have some potential in treating high cholesterol as well, says the University of Michigan Health System. In some cases, you might take activated charcoal to treat porphyria, specifically erythropoietic protoporphyria, a genetic condition involving an excess of the red blood cell components called porphyrins in your body, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Porphyria can cause mild to severe problems with your skin and nervous system, and activated charcoal is sometimes used to promote the excretion of porphyrins through your stools. But one medical study, led by R. J. Hift and published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2003, found that taking activated charcoal actually worsened porphyria. Talk to your physician before taking activated charcoal to treat any medical problem.
Side Effects
The most common side effects that you might experience after taking an activated charcoal treatment include nausea, vomiting and darkening of your urine, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Activated charcoal can also cause darkened or black stools, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Increased stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea also sometimes occur. Some people might be allergic to activated charcoal treatments, so seek emergency medical attention if you think you're having an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include swelling, itching, hives and difficulty breathing.
Warnings
You must take activated charcoal for poisoning under the close supervision of a healthcare professional. Activated charcoal treatments may not be safe for children under the age of 12, pregnant or breastfeeding women and people with chronic constipation or bowel obstructions, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. The sorbitol found in activated charcoal is also a sweetening agent, which could cause an allergic reaction if you have fructose intolerance or allergies to fruit-derived sugars. Activated charcoal can interact negatively with many different medications, supplements and herbal remedies, so discuss with your doctor any medicines you're taking.
