Currently, the uses of activated charcoal(CAS: 7440-44-0, also called activated carbon) differ according to whether they are approved by physicians or alternative medicine practitioners. Studies of the effectiveness of treatments with activated charcoal have been conducted, and dosages have been standardized for some maladies. The most widely accepted uses of activated carbon are as treatments for poisoning and overdoses.
Common Medical Uses
Activated charcoal is not an antidote for all medication overdoses, but it is effective for quinine, carbamazepine, and phenobarbitals, among other medications listed in medical records. Used as an antidote, the activated carbon absorbs organic chemicals in the stomach before the chemicals can spread through the body. Effectiveness as an antidote, however, is dependent upon the amount of poison ingested and how quickly medical attention is received. Some physicians treat adults with oral doses of its laxatives to purge poisons from the body quickly; patients receiving this treatment should be carefully monitored for diarrhea.
Alternative medicine practitioners have other uses for activated charcoal; some use it as a general detoxifying agent when treating recreational amphetamine and cocaine use, or even as a hangover remedy for alcohol use. Other uses include combating blood pathogens such as viruses, harmful bacteria, and systemic infections. Additionally, for those with buildups of toxins in their systems due to exposure to chemicals and toxic substances at work, practitioners use activated carbon along with special diets and saunas to treat compromised immune systems.
Side Effects
Most activated charcoal side effects are fairly benign, but the possibility of more severe effects is one of the reasons it should only be used under a doctor’s supervision.
The most common side effects is a tendency to turn the patient’s stools black. Normally, black stool is a cause for concern, but in this case, it usually only represents the charcoal clearing from the body. Diarrhea can often occur following this treatment, but unless it continues for a prolonged amount of time afterward, it is not a dangerous effect. Vomiting is another common side effect, but does not usually indicate a severe reaction.
Somewhat less common activated carbon side effects are also related to the gastrointestinal tract. These can include constipation, as well as a swelling or pain in the stomach. Constipation is often due to the charcoal absorbing water from the GI tract, and usually doesn’t require further medical attention.
Other side effects involve more severe forms of the mechanisms underlying constipation. Charcoal can absorb water, and occasionally this can lead to dehydration. Persistent constipation can result in a blockage of the GI tract, which can also be dangerous if left untreated. Allergic reactions may sometimes occur as one of the activated charcoal side effects.
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