Poppy's Chronic Pain Forum Archives
Poppy's Chronic Pain Forum Archives
Page Thirteen
This is a place for articles that may require reading more than once.
Activated Charcoal
When buying charcoal you should look for 'activated charcoal'. You can buy it in tablets, capsules, powdered, or in liquid form. The powdered charcoal is very hard to work with and if you try to mix it with water, it takes forever. It also flys all over the place! I prefer the liquid or the tablets or capsules. The rule of thumb is to take as much as you can. It absorbs the toxins in your system. Hospitals use charcoal for drug overdoses. Here's more information:
Charcoal is carbon. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. According to Encylopedia Britannica, "The use of special manufacturing techniques results in highly porous charcoals that have surface areas of 300-2,000 square metres per gram. These so-called active, or activated, charcoals are widely used to adsorb odorous or coloured substances from gases or liquids."
The word adsorb is important here. When a material adsorbs something, it means that it attaches to it by chemical attraction. The huge surface area of activated charcoal gives it countless bonding sites. When certain chemicals pass next to the carbon surface they attach to the surface and are trapped. The drugs or poisons stick to the charcoal and pass out of your body with it during regular bowel movements. Stools and anything thrown up will be black until all the charcoal has cleared the body.
That's all you really need to know. But I wouldn't want to lose my reputation as an Encyclopaedia! *g* So, if you are interested, here is more information on charcoal:
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Activated Charcoal has been used effectively in the healing arts for centuries. Doctors still use it today as a healing agent, an antidote for poisons, and an effective treatment for indigestion and gas. Modern Industry also relies on Charcoal to deodorize, decolorize and purity solutions. Charcoal can do these varied tasks because of its amazing ability to attract other substances to its surface and hold them there. This is called adsorption. Charcoal can adsorb thousands of times its own weight in gases, heavy metals, poisons, and other chemicals, thus making them ineffective or harmless.
The form of Charcoal used in modern medical science is Activated Charcoal U.S.P., a pure naturally produced, wood charcoal carbon that has no carcinogenic properties. Activated Charcoal is an odorless, tasteless powder. One teaspoonful of it has a surface area of more than 10,000 square feet. This unique feature allows it to adsorb large amounts of chemicals or poisons. The powder must be stored in a tightly sealed container, as it readily adsorbs impurities from the atmosphere. Charcoal from burnt toast is not effective, and Charcoal briquettes can be dangerous because they contain fillers and petrochemicals to help them ignite.
Studies show that Activated Charcoal is harmless when ingested or inhaled, or when it comes in contact with the skin. In rare cases, charcoal may mildly irritate the bowel in sensitive persons, but no allergies or side effects have been recorded. Ingested Charcoal may linger in the colon, but this is not harmful. Many pediatricians and pediatric handbooks recommend that Activated Charcoal be kept on hand as an antidote in the family medicine chest, especially in households that include small children (5, 10, 38, 41, 53, 64).
Scientific experiments over many years attest to the effectiveness of charcoal as an antidote. In one experiment, 100 times the lethal does of Cobra venom was mixed with charcoal and injected into a laboratory animal. The animal was not harmed (15). In other experiments, arsenic and strychnine were mixed with charcoal and ingested by humans under laboratory conditions. The subjects survived even though the poison dosages were 5 to 10 times the lethal dose (1, 3, 14, 16, 17, 38) .
HOW MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS USE CHARCOAL:
Today doctors, paramedics and medical centers use Activated Charcoal in a number of different ways:
1. to eliminate toxic by-products that cause anemia in cancer patients (33, 50, 54).
2. to disinfect and deodorize wounds (48, 50, 58, 59).
3. to filter toxins from the blood in liver and kidney diseases (31, 48, 65).
4. to purify blood in transfusions (48, 60, 65).
5. to cut down on odors for ileostomy and colostomy patients (20, 22, 48) .
6. to treat poisonings and overdoses of aspirin, Tylenol and other drugs (10, 30, 46, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 62, 63).
7. to treat some forms of dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia, and "foot and mouth" disease (20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 37, 38 & 48) .
8. to treat poisonous snake, spider and insect bites (38.).
Activated Charcoal is REQUIRED by law to be part of the standard equipment on many ambulances, for use in poisonings. Mushroom poisoning, brown recluse spider bites, and snake bites can all be treated with Activated Charcoal. Doctors also use Activated Charcoal to prevent and treat intestinal infections, and as a cleansing and healing agents. Jaundice of the newborn, bee stings, poison ivy reactions, and many other illnesses can be helped with Activated Charcoal.
SUBSTANCES ADSORBED BY CHARCOAL:
Acetaminophen
Aconitine
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride
Amphetamine
Antimony
Antipyrine
Arsenic
Aspirin
Atropine
Barbital Barbiturates
Ben-Gay
Benzodiazepines
Cantharides
Camphor
Chlordane
Chloroquine
Chlorpheniramine
Chlorpromazine
Cocaine
Colchicine
Congesprin
Contac
Dalmane
Darvon
Delphinium
2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid
Digitalis or Foxglove
Dilantin
Diphenylhydantoin
Diphenoxylates
Doriden
Doxepin
Elaterin
Elavil
Equanil
Ergotamine
Ethchlorvynol
Gasoline
Glutethimide
Golden Chain
Hemlock
Hexachlorophene
Imipramine
Iodine
Ipecac
Isoniazid
Kerosene
Lead Acetate
Malathion
Mefenamic Acid
Meprobamate
Mercuric chloride
Mercury
Methylene Blue
Methyl Salicylate
Miltown
Morphine
Multivitamins with Minerals
Muscarin
Narcotics
Neguvon
Nicotine
Nortriptyline
Nytol
Opium
Oxazepam
Parathion
Penicillin
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Pesticides
Phenobarbital
Phenolphthalein
Phenol
Phenolthiazines
Phenylpropanolamine
Placidyl
Potassium Permanganate
Primaquine
Propantheline
Propoxyphene
Quinacrine
Quinidine
Quinine
Radioactive Substances
Salicylamide
Salicylates
Secobarbital
Selenium
Serax
Silver
Sinequan
Sodium Salicylate
Sominex
Stramonium
Strychnine
Sulfonamides
Talwin
Tofranil
Tree Tobacco
Yew
Valium
Veratrine
Some Silver & Antimony Salts
Many Herbicides 32, 39, 40
& 4000+ chemicals, drugs, toxins, & wastes
HOME USE OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL:
Indigestion and Gas -
A study made in 1981 shows that activated charcoal cuts down on the amount of gas produced by beans and other gas-producing foods. It adsorbs the excess gas as well as the bacteria that form the gas (57). Activated charcoal helps to eliminate bad breath, because it cleanses both the mouth and the digestive tract (38) . It is also helpful in relieving symptoms of nervous diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea (Turista), spastic colon, indigestion, and peptic ulcers. For such problems take between 1 teaspoon and 1 1/2 tablespoons of powdered charcoal up to 3 times a day. Take it between meals, as food can reduce its effectiveness. Swirl the charcoal in a glass of water and drink it down or mix it with olive oil for easy ingestion by use of a spoon (38, 47, 57, 58) .
Activated charcoal is inexpensive, simple to use and is a time-tested natural remedy that has many valuable uses without dangerous side effects or contradictions, a very efficient cleaner of the body when taken orally. It also helps to purify the blood (10, 38).
Charcoal may adsorb and inactivate other medications. Usually you can take charcoal two hours before or after other drugs. If you are taking prescription drugs, check with your doctor before beginning treatment with charcoal.
You can take charcoal intermittently for long periods or regularly for up to 12 weeks.
TREATMENT OF WOUNDS, ULCERS, AND BRUISES:
Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal, describes the use of charcoal compresses to speed the healing of wounds and eliminate their odors. This article tells about the amazing ability of human skin to allow transfer through its permeable membrane and pores of liquids, gasses and even micro-particles by the application of moist activated charcoal compresses and poultices which actually draw bacteria and poisons through the skin and into the poultice or compress. Poultices must be kept moist and warm to allow this healing process to take place (59).
Make a poultice by putting 1-2 tablespoons of charcoal powder in a container and adding just enough water to make a paste. Spread the paste on a paper towel, cloth, or piece of gauze cut to fit the area to be treated. Make sure the cloth is moist, warm, and thoroughly saturated with the paste. Place it over the wound cloth-side down and cover it with a piece of plastic wrap or plastic bag cut to overlap the poultice by an inch on every side. Fix in place with adhesive tape. Poultices should be changed every 6-10 hours. Do not put charcoal directly on broken skin, as it may cause a tattooing effect (21, 23, 24, 29, 38, 50).
POISONINGS:
Activated charcoal can be used as an antidote in poisoning from most drugs and chemicals. DO NOT USE WITH THE FOLLOWING: cyanide, mineral acids, caustic alkalies, alcohol, or boric acid. Other antidotes are more effective. Consult a Poison Control Center or a doctor immediately for instructions and information in any poisoning emergency (10, 51, 52).
In poisonings, activated charcoal works by adsorbing the poison or drug, inactivating it, and carrying it inert throughout the digestive system so that it can be eliminated from the body. Charcoal is neither adsorbed nor metabolized by the body (6, 13, 47, 53).
In a poisoning emergency, if the patient is conscious, first induce vomiting if it can be done quickly. Syrup is ipecac is a commonly used emetic preparation. The dosage is 1/2 oz. for children and 1 oz. for adults. Induced vomiting will bring up about 30% of the poison from the person's stomach. Then give charcoal to help inactivate the remaining 70%. The usual dose of charcoal is 5 to 50 grams, dependent on the amount of poison taken and the person's body size. Adults should receive at least 30 grams, or about half a cup of lightly packed powder. Larger doses are needed if the person has eaten a meal recently. A dose of 200 grams is not excessive in severe poisoning cases. Powdered charcoal can be given in fruit juice, chocolate syrup, jam, or honey to make it easier to get down. Ice cream is not recommended as it makes the charcoal less effective.
Powdered charcoal reaches its maximum rate of adsorption rapidly, within one minute. The sooner it is given the better the chances of successful treatment. The dose can be repeated every four hours, or until charcoal appears in the stool (3, 10, 41, 47, 48, 52, 53, 60, 61).
Do not give charcoal or anything else to an unconscious patient. Consult a doctor at once. Do not give charcoal before giving an emetic, because the Activated Charcoal will adsorb the emetic and make it ineffective. Charcoal does not work in every poisoning situation, so be sure to follow your doctor's instructions.
CONCLUSIONS:
Activated charcoal taken as a powder is the most effective form of charcoal that can be used. The best method of use is to take the required spoonfuls of powder, place them in the bottom of a cup or glass, and add water while rapidly stirring the charcoal into the water, then drink it down, along with a second glass of water to include any residue. Alternate methods listed below can also be used.
You can put charcoal into empty gelatin capsules. They may act more slowly than powder; the capsule must dissolve before the charcoal can work. Vegetarians who object to gelatin can use starch papers called Kokko-Oblates to allow convenient ingestion of activated charcoal powder. These are obtained at health food stores.
Medical researchers have discovered, that Activated Charcoal is so effective both chemically and physically, because of it's electrical charge and the thousands of microscopic tunnels created by the process used to make it. The medical profession uses it as an antidote (10, 38, 41). It is inexpensive, harmless, and easy to use.
DOSAGES:
1 tsp./8 oz. Glass - PURE Water (1-3 times/day) - General Health
1 tsp./8 oz. Glass - PURE Water (4-7 times/day) - General Illness (Flus, Colds)
1 tsp./8 oz. Glass - PURE Water (10-12 times/day) - Serious Illness
REFERENCES:
1. British Medical Journal, August 26, 1972.
2. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980, p. 33, 47.
3. Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica 4:275, 1948.
4. Journal of the American Medical Association 64:1882, May 29, 1915.
5. Thrash, Agatha & Calvin Rx: Charcoal, New Lifestyle Books, 1998.
6. Journal of the American Medical Association 210(10): 1846, December 8, 1969.
7. Bulletin de la Society de Chime Biologique 27:513-518, October-December, 1945.
8. Journal of Animal Science 34:322-325, February, 1972.
9. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980 p. 63.
10. Clinical Toxicology 3(1); 1-4, March, 1970.
11. Annals of Emergency Medicine 9:11, November, 1980.
12. AMA Archives of Industrial Health 18:511-520, December, 1958.
13. Archives of Environmental Health 1:512, December, 1960.
14. Journal of the American Medical Association 240(7):684, August 18, 1978.
15. Comptes rendus Hebdomadaires des Seance de 1-Academie des Sciences 187:959-961, November 19, 1928.
16. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 26; 103-108, September, 1973.
17. Journal of the American Medical Association 209(12); 1821, September 22, 1969.
18. Management of Poisoning, Pediatrics for the Clinician, p. 325.
19. Journal of the American Medical Association, June 15, 1984, 3104 & 3130.
20. Patient Care, October 30, 1977, p. 152.
21. Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Monthly 47;652-655, December, 1968.
22. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 12:500-502, May, 1964.
23. Journal of the American Medical Association 64:1671, 1915.
24. Chirurg 19:191, April, 1948.
25. Quarterly Journal of Pharmacology 1:334-337, July-September, 1928.
26. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York; Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980, p. 123.
27. Ibid, p. 131.
28. Ibid, p. 133.
29. White, Ellen G. Selected Messages, Volume Two, Washington, D.C.
Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1958, p. 294.
30. Nature 184(Suppl 15); 1165-6. October 10, 1959.
31. Medical World News, February 17, 1967.
32. Cooney, David O. Activated Charcoal, New York; Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1980.
33. The Lancet 1:1301, 1974
34. Annals of Internal Medicine 93:446-449, 1980.
35. British Medical Journal 2:1465, November 25, 1978.
36. Medical Tribune, April 12, 1978, p. 2.
37. Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics 96:873-878, 1930.
38. Home Remedies, A. Thrash, M.D. & C. Thrash, M.D., 1981.
39. Common Poisons & Injurious Plants, U.S. Public Health, FDA 1981-7006.
40. Handbook of Common Poisonings in Children, U.S. Public Health, 1976-7004.
41. Pediatrics, Vol. 54, No. 3, Sept, 1974, Drs. Corby & Decker.
42. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, Sept. 76, pp. 965.
43. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, June 79.
44. Am. J. Hospital Pharmacy, Aug. 79.
45. Clinical Toxicology, May 75.
46. Hospital Form ulary, 1983.
47. Martingale Extra Pharmacopeia, 28th edition, pp. 72, 1982.
48. AMA Drug Evaluations 5th Edition, 1983.
49. Wildwood San. & Hospital, Wildwood, Ga. Marjorie Baldwin, M.D.
50. Conn's Current Therapy 1984, pp. 925 & 927.
51. Merck Manual 14th Edition.
52. American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, 1976.
53. Facts & Comparisons, 1981.
54. Klin Wochenschr, 1982.
55. Our Earth, Our Cure, R. Dextreit, 1974. Swann House Publishing Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.
56. Effect of orally administered activated charcoal on Intestinal Gas. Hall, Thompson & Strother.
Loma Linda Medical School, 1981.
57. Prevention, Feb. 1981, pp. 136.
58. Lancet, Sept 13, 1980.
59. American Medical News, pp. 37, June 22, 1984.
60. European Journal of Pharmacology 24:557, 1983.
61. The Pediatric Clinics of N.A., Vol. 17, No. 3, Aug. 1970.
62. Hospital Pharmacy News, pp. 6, May 1984.
63. Journal of Pediatrics, Holt & Holz, pp. 306.
64. British Medical Journal, pp. 51, Oct. 7, 1972.
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These are the urls for the above information:
HealingTools.com
HealthSquare.com
Mother Nature.com
and this is from WebMd Canada:
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.:
* Actidose-Aqua 1
* Actidose with Sorbitol 2
* CharcoAid 2
* CharcoAid G 1
* CharcoAid 2000 1
* Insta-Char in an Aqueous Base 1
* Insta-Char in an Aqueous Base with Cherry Flavour 1
* Insta-Char Pediatric in an Aqueous Base with Cherry Flavour 1
* Insta-Char Pediatric with Cherry Flavour in a Sorbitol Base 2
* Insta-Char with Cherry Flavour in a Sorbitol Base 2
* Liqui-Char 1
* Liqui-Char with Sorbitol 2
In Canada:
* Aqueous Charcodote 1
* Aqueous Pediatric Charcodote 1
* Charcodote 2
* Charcodote TFS-25 2
* Charcodote TFS-50 2
* Pediatric Charcodote 2
Note:
For quick reference, the following medicines are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.
This information applies to the following medicines:
1. Activated Charcoal (AK-ti-vay-ted CHAR-kole) *** ****
2. Activated Charcoal and Sorbitol (AK-ti-vay-ted CHAR-kole and SOR-bi-tole)
*** Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
**** Generic name product may be available in Canada
Category:
* Antidote, adsorbent ¥ Charcoal, Activated
* Antidote, adsorbent-laxative ¥ Charcoal, Activated and Sorbitol
Description:
Activated charcoal is used in the emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It helps prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. Sometimes, several doses of activated charcoal are needed to treat severe poisoning. Ordinarily, this medicine is not effective and should not be used in poisoning if corrosive agents such as alkalis (lye) and strong acids, iron, boric acid, lithium, petroleum products (e.g., cleaning fluid, coal oil, fuel oil, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner), or alcohols have been swallowed, since it will not prevent these poisons from being absorbed into the body.
Some activated charcoal products contain sorbitol. Sorbitol is a sweetener. It also works as a laxative, for the elimination of the poison from the body. Products that contain sorbitol should be given only under the direct supervision of a doctor because severe diarrhea and vomiting may result .
Activated charcoal may be available without a doctor's prescription; however, before using this medicine, call a poison control center, your doctor, or an emergency room for advice. Activated charcoal is available in the following dosage forms:
* Oral
* Activated Charcoal
* Powder (U.S. and Canada)
* Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
* Activated Charcoal and Sorbitol
* Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For activated charcoal, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to activated charcoal or to fructose (fruit sugar). Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - Activated charcoal has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.
Breast-feeding - Activated charcoal has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.
Children - Activated charcoal should be used only under the direct supervision of your doctor, poison control center, or other health care professional.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of activated charcoal in the elderly, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.
However, elderly persons with slow digestion are more likely to develop constipation if given more than one dose of activated charcoal.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of activated charcoal. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
* Bleeding, intestinal or
* Blockage, intestinal or
* Hole in the intestine - Activated charcoal may make these conditions worse
* Decreased alertness - To prevent activated charcoal from getting into the patient's lungs, it may be necessary to place a tube in the patient's throat before activated charcoal is given
* Dehydration - Use of laxatives, such as sorbitol, is not recommended
* Slow digestion - Activated charcoal may not work properly
* Surgery, recent - Activated charcoal may cause abdominal or stomach problems
Proper Use:
To prevent activated charcoal powder from scattering, be careful when opening and adding water to the powder container.
It is very important that you shake the liquid form of this medicine 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 medicine and ipecac syrup to treat the poisoning, do not take this medicine 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 medicine mixed with chocolate syrup, ice cream or sherbet, since they may prevent the medicine from working properly.
If you are taking any other medicine, do not take it within 2 hours of the activated charcoal . Taking other medicines together with activated charcoal may prevent the other medicine from being absorbed by your body. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
Dosing - The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your 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 medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
* For activated charcoal
* For oral dosage form (powder):
* For treatment 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 should 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 should be mixed with water.
* For oral dosage form (oral suspension):
* For treatment 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 treatment 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 medicine:
* Keep out of the reach of children.
* Store away from heat and direct light.
* Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
* Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
* Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Side Effects:
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if the following side effect occurs:
Less common or rare:
Pain or swelling in stomach
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue:
More common:
Diarrhea
Less common or rare:
Constipation; vomiting
Activated charcoal will cause your stools to turn black. This is to be expected while you are taking this medicine.
There have not been any other side effects reported with this medicine. However, if you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
