Activated Charcoal Flashcards
How is activated charcoal presented?
50g in 250ml
What is activated charcoal used for?
Acute oral poisoning or oral drug overdose
What age range is activated charcoal used for?
Adults and children aged 1 and over
When should activated charcoal be administered?
If toxins have been ingested less than an hour before attendance by ambulance crew OR if TOXBASE or the National Poisons Information Service have been contacted and advise administration
What is considered paracetamol overdose?
If the recommended dose of 4g (or 75mg/kg) is exceeded and ingested in 24 hours for an adult patient.
When is toxicity of paracetamol overdose unlikely?
If less than 75mg/kg of paracetamol has been ingested within a 24 hour period
How should toxic dose of paracetamol be calculated for pregnant patients?
Using the patient’s pre-pregnancy weight
How should toxic dose for patients weighing more than 110kg be calculated?
By using a maximum of 110kg instead of the patient’s actual weight
What are 5 contraindications of activated charcoal?
Children under 1 year
Ingestion more than 1 hour on ambulance arrival
Not advised by TOXBASE or the NPIS
Vomiting patients
Patients with reduced gastrointestinal motility such as with a risk of obstruction, takes opioids or has had recent abdominal surgery
What types of poisoning should activated charcoal not be used for?
Cyanide
Petroleum distillates
Metals salts including lithium and iron
Ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, iron salts, sodium chloride, lead boric acid, and other mineral acids
Malathion
Corrosive substances
What 4 precautions should be taken with activated charcoal?
Aspiration especially in small children
Will reduce the effectiveness of other antidotes
Patients who have overdosed and consumed alcohol should only be administered activated charcoal if they are alert and able to safely swallow the charcoal
Shake bottle vigorously
What 4 side effects are there for activated charcoal?
Black stools
Intestinal obstruction
Ball of material that does not pass in the stomach (bezoar formation)
Intestinal perforation
What is the dose of activated charcoal for an adult?
50g in 250ml
What is the dose of activated charcoal for children ages 1 to under 12 years?
25g in 125ml (half the contents) unless large quantity of poison has been consumed in which case 50g in 250ml should be administered
