Brand & Generic Names
| Acta-Char |
Charcocaps |
| Acta-Char Liquid |
Charcodote |
| Actidose-Aqua |
Charcodote TFS |
| Actidose with Sorbitol |
Insta-Char |
| Aqueous Charcodote |
Liqui-Char |
| Charac-50 |
Pediatric Aqueous Charcodote |
| Charac-tol 50 |
Pediatric Charcodote |
| Charcoaid |
SuperChar |
Basic Information
- Habit forming? No
- Prescription needed? No
- Available as generic? Yes
- Drug class: Antidote (adsorbent)
Uses
- Treatment of poisonings from medication.
- Treatment (infrequent) for diarrhea or excessive gaseousness.
Dosage & Usage Information
How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow
whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or
food.
Liquid--Take as directed on label. Don't mix with chocolate
syrup, ice cream or sherbet.
When to take:
For poisoning--Take immediately after poisoning. If your
doctor or emergency poison control center has also recommended
syrup of ipecac, don't take charcoal for 30 minutes or until
vomiting from ipecac stops.
For diarrhea or gas--Take at same times each day.
Take one or more hours after taking other medicines.
If you forget a dose:
For poisonings--Not applicable.
For diarrhea or gas--Take as soon as you remember up to 2
hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose
(don't double this dose).
What drug does:
Helps prevent poison from being absorbed from stomach and
intestines.
Helps absorb gas in intestinal tract.
Time lapse before drug works:
Begins immediately.
Don't take with:
Ice cream or sherbet.
Overdose
SYMPTOMS:
None expected.
WHAT TO DO:
Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger
amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or
hospital emergency room for instructions.
Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects
Life-threatening:
None expected.
Always:
Black bowel No action necessary.
movements.
Infrequent:
Rare:
Unless taken with
cathartic, can cause
constipation when taken
for overdose of other
medicine.
Warnings & Precautions
Don't take if:
The poison was lye or other strong alkali, strong acids (such as
sulfuric acid), cyanide, iron, ethyl alcohol or methyl alcohol.
Charcoal will not prevent these poisons from causing ill
effects.
Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you are taking it as an antidote for poison.
Over age 60:
No problems expected.
Pregnancy:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.
Breast-feeding:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.
Infants & children:
Don't give to children for more than 3 or 4 days for diarrhea.
Continuing for longer periods can interfere with normal
nutrition.
Prolonged use:
No problems expected.
Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.
Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.
Discontinuing:
No problems expected.
Others:
No problems expected.
Possible Interaction with Other Drugs
| GENERIC NAME |
COMBINED EFFECT |
|
|
|
| ------------------------ |
----------------------- |
| Any medicine taken |
May decrease |
| at the same time |
absorption of medicine. |
Possible Interaction with Other Substances
| INTERACTS WITH |
COMBINED EFFECT |
| --------------- |
--------------- |
| Alcohol: |
None expected. |
|
|
|
| Beverages: |
None expected. |
|
|
|
| Cocaine: |
None expected. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chocolate syrup, ice cream |
Decreased charcoal effect. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Marijuana: |
None expected. |
|
|
|
| Tobacco: |
None expected. |
