Saline cathartics and saline cathartics plus activated charcoal as antidotal treatments

Efficacy of Whole Bowel Irrigation Using Solutions with or without Adsorbent in the Removal of Paraquat in Dogs

1 The efficacy of whole bowel irrigation with a solution containing either polyethylene glycol (PEG) with electrolyte or an adsorbent (Kayexalate™) with a cathartic (sorbitol) was investigated in 18 dogs who had been given 250 mg kg -1 paraquat dichloride via a jejunal tube to eliminate the influence of gastric absorption.

2 Plasma paraquat concentrations 2 and 3 h after the initiation of bowel irrigation and at the end of the study (5 h later) were significantly lower in the bowel irrigation groups than in the control (no bowel irrigation) group.

3 The total body clearances of paraquat in the bowel irrigation groups were significantly greater than in the control group.

4 There were no significant differences between the two different irrigation solution groups in plasma paraquat concentration, the area under the plasma concentration time curve and the total body clearance.

5 In the PEG with electrolyte group, about 70% of the administered dose of paraquat was removed by means of bowel irrigation (n=4).

6 The adjunction of the adsorbent had no beneficial effects.

7 Haemodynamic changes associated with whole bowel irrigation were unremarkable except that right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures were elevated in the latter part of the study.

Gastrointestinal decontamination in the acutely poisoned patient

Objective

To define the role of gastrointestinal (GI) decontamination of the poisoned patient.

Data Sources

A computer-based PubMed/MEDLINE search of the literature on GI decontamination in the poisoned patient with cross referencing of sources.

Study Selection and Data Extraction

Clinical, animal and in vitro studies were reviewed for clinical relevance to GI decontamination of the poisoned patient.

Data Synthesis

The literature suggests that previously, widely used, aggressive approaches including the use of ipecac syrup, gastric lavage, and cathartics are now rarely recommended. Whole bowel irrigation is still often recommended for slow-release drugs, metals, and patients who "pack" or "stuff" foreign bodies filled with drugs of abuse, but with little quality data to support it. Activated charcoal (AC), single or multiple doses, was also a previous mainstay of GI decontamination, but the utility of AC is now recognized to be limited and more time dependent than previously practiced. These recommendations have resulted in several treatment guidelines that are mostly based on retrospective analysis, animal studies or small case series, and rarely based on randomized clinical trials.

Conclusions

The current literature supports limited use of GI decontamination of the poisoned patient.

Position Paper: Cathartics

The administration of a cathartic alone has no role in the management of the poisoned patient and is not recommended as a method of gut decontamination. Experimental data are conflicting regarding the use of cathartics in combination with activated charcoal. No clinical studies have been published to investigate the ability of a cathartic, with or without activated charcoal, to reduce the bioavailability of drugs or to improve the outcome of poisoned patients. Based on available data, the routine use of a cathartic in combination with activated charcoal is not endorsed. If a cathartic is used, it should be limited to a single dose in order to minimize adverse effects of the cathartic. A review of the literature since the preparation of the 1997 Cathartics Position Statement revealed no new evidence that would require a revision of the conclusions of the Statement.

Position statement: cathartics. American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists

In preparing this Position Statement, all relevant scientific literature was identified and reviewed critically by acknowledged experts using agreed criteria. Well-conducted clinical and experimental studies were given precedence over anecdotal case reports and abstracts were not usually considered. A draft Position Statement was then produced and subjected to detailed peer review by an international group of clinical toxicologists chosen by the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. The Position Statement went through multiple drafts before being approved by the Boards of the two societies and being endorsed by other societies. The Position Statement includes a summary statement for ease of use and is supported by detailed documentation which describes the scientific evidence on which the Statement is based. The administration of a cathartic alone has no role in the management of the poisoned patient and is not recommended as a method of gut decontamination. Experimental data are conflicting regarding the use of cathartics in combination with activated charcoal. No clinical studies have been published to investigate the ability of a cathartic, with or without activated charcoal, to reduce the bioavailability of drugs or to improve the outcome of poisoned patients. Based on available data, the routine use of a cathartic in combination with activated charcoal is not endorsed. If a cathartic is used, it should be limited to a single dose in order to minimize adverse effects.

Pediatric gastrointestinal decontamination in acute toxin ingestion

The appropriate implementation of the various modalities of gastrointestinal (GI) decontamination is critical in the management of the pediatric patient who is examined in the emergency department or private office after an acute ingestion. Gastrointestinal decontamination includes gastric lavage, syrup of ipecac, activated charcoal, and whole bowel irrigation. Clinical studies have delineated the role and efficacy of these procedures. Trends in GI decontamination place less emphasis on ipecac and gastric lavage and more emphasis on activated charcoal alone in the patient with a mild overdose. Gastric lavage is indicated in serious ingestion and is most effective if done soon after the exposure. Whole bowel irrigation is the newest addition and has important clinical use in the treatment of serious iron ingestions as well as in older adolescent cocaine body suffers and packers. Indications and contraindications of the various forms of GI decontamination are discussed and relevant clinical studies are reviewed.

Gastrointestinal Decontamination

Gastrointestinal decontamination plays an important role in the management of poisoned patients. The use of ipecac syrup has declined, and the use of activated charcoal has increased, during the period 1983 to 1991. If an emetic is used, ipecac syrup is the emetic of choice. If gastric emptying is done in an emergency department, gastric lavage is preferred. Recent studies in animals, human volunteers, and poisoned patients suggest that activated charcoal and a cathartic is as effective, or more effective, than ipecac or lavage plus activated charcoal and a cathartic. As such, activated charcoal and a cathartic should be considered the primary decontamination procedures to be used in a hospital.

Contribution of sorbitol combined with activated charcoal in prevention of salicylate absorption

The use of cathartics and activated charcoal in treating toxic ingestions has become a standard treatment modality. Sorbitol has been shown to be the most rapidly acting cathartic, but its therapeutic significance has been debated. Using a previously described aspirin overdose model, ten healthy volunteers participated in a crossover design study that investigated the effect of activated charcoal alone versus that of activated charcoal and sorbitol in preventing salicylate absorption. In phase 1 of the study, subjects consumed 2.5 g aspirin followed by 25 g activated charcoal one hour later. Urine was collected for 48 hours and analyzed for quantitative salicylate metabolites. Phase 2 was identical except that 1.5 g/kg sorbitol was consumed with the activated charcoal. The mean amount of aspirin absorbed without the use of sorbitol was 1.26 +/- 0.15 g, whereas the mean absorption was 0.912 +/- 0.18 g with the addition of sorbitol. This is a 28% decrease in absorption of salicylates attributable to the use of sorbitol. The difference is significant at P less than .05 by the paired Student's t test. This study demonstrates that the addition of sorbitol significantly decreases drug absorption in a simulated drug overdose model. Effects on absorption in actual overdose situations and on patient outcome should be the subjects of further study.

Effects of magnesium citrate and clidinium bromide on the excretion of activated charcoal in normal subjects

The efficacy of cathartics in shortening the gastrointestinal transit time of activate charcoal (AC) in the presence of drugs that alter gastrointestinal motility has not been determined. We evaluated the effects of magnesium citrate (MC) on the excretion of activated charcoal in healthy volunteers alone and with concurrent administration of the anticholinergic drug clidinium bromide. Forty subjects were randomized to clidinium bromide 5 mg or placebo capsule (PC), followed by activated charcoal 15 g and magnesium citrate or a placebo liquid (PL). The onset and duration of excretion of activated charcoal were noted. Mean onset times for activated charcoal were: group I (CB, MC) 4.5 +/- 2.1 h; group II (CB, PL) 17.0 +/- 10.0 h; group III (PC, MC) 6.3 +/- 5.8 h; and group IV (PC, PL) 20.6 +/- 8.4 h. The onset of excretion of activated charcoal was statistically different in both magnesium citrate groups as compared with the placebo liquid groups. The duration of activated charcoal in the stool was similar among the groups. The addition of clidinium bromide did not appear to affect gastrointestinal transit time. These results support previous studies of the effects of cathartics on the excretion of activated charcoal, and suggest that cathartic efficacy is not inhibited by anticholinergic drugs when used in therapeutic doses.

Effect of whole-bowel irrigation on the antidotal efficacy of oral activated charcoal

Whole-bowel irrigation was studied in three volunteer subjects and compared with oral activated charcoal as a gastrointestinal decontamination procedure for acute drug overdose. The volunteer subjects were given 650 mg aspirin and were assigned randomly to the following treatment groups: 24-hour urine collection only; immediate whole-bowel irrigation with a polyethylene glycol solution; 50 g oral activated charcoal followed by whole-bowel irrigation; and oral activated charcoal alone. The cumulative 24-hour urinary salicylate excretion was measured in each trial. Catharsis was achieved rapidly with whole-bowel irrigation. Oral activated charcoal without catharsis was most effective in decreasing aspirin absorption (P = .011). These results do not support the routine use of a cathartic in combination with oral activated charcoal.

Oral activated charcoal in the treatment of intoxications. Role of single and repeated doses

Activated charcoal has an ability to adsorb a wide variety of substances. This property can be applied to prevent the gastrointestinal absorption of various drugs and toxins and to increase their elimination, even after systemic absorption. Single doses of oral activated charcoal effectively prevent the gastrointestinal absorption of most drugs and toxins present in the stomach at the time of charcoal administration. Known exceptions are alcohols, cyanide, and metals such as iron and lithium. In general, activated charcoal is more effective than gastric emptying. However, if the amount of drug or poison ingested is very large or if its affinity to charcoal is poor, the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal can be saturated. In such cases properly performed gastric emptying is likely to be more effective than charcoal alone. Repeated dosing with oral activated charcoal enhances the elimination of many toxicologically significant agents, e.g. aspirin, carbamazepine, dapsone, dextropropoxyphene, cardiac glycosides, meprobamate, phenobarbitone, phenytoin and theophylline. It also accelerates the elimination of many industrial and environmental intoxicants. In acute intoxications 50 to 100g activated charcoal should be administered to adult patients (to children, about 1 g/kg) as soon as possible. The exceptions are patients poisoned with caustic alkalis or acids which will immediately cause local tissue damages. To avoid delays in charcoal administration, activated charcoal should be a part of first-aid kits both at home and at work. The 'blind' administration of charcoal neither prevents later gastric emptying nor does it cause serious adverse effects provided that pulmonary aspiration in obtunded patients is prevented. In severe acute poisonings oral activated charcoal should be administered repeatedly, e.g. 20 to 50g at intervals of 4 to 6 hours, until recovery or until plasma drug concentrations have fallen to non-toxic levels. In addition to increasing the elimination of many drugs and toxins even after their systemic absorption, repeated doses of charcoal also reduce the risk of desorbing from the charcoal-toxin complex as the complex passes through the gastrointestinal tract. Charcoal will not increase the elimination of all substances taken. However, as the drug history in acute intoxications is often unreliable, repeated doses of oral activated charcoal in severe intoxications seem to be justified unless the toxicological laboratory has identified the causative agent as not being prone to adsorption by charcoal. The role of repeated doses of oral activated charcoal in chronic intoxication has not been clearly defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Role of extracorporeal drug removal in acute theophylline poisoning. A review

Theophylline, with its narrow therapeutic margin, is a common cause of iatrogenic and deliberate overdose. Most cases of self-poisoning are with sustained release preparations, with peak concentrations occurring up to 12 or more hours after overdose. Toxic symptoms are often seen at concentrations above 15 mg/L. Theophylline is metabolised within the cytochrome P-450 system, with an average total body clearance of 50 to 60 ml/min. Clearance is, however, affected by many factors such as other drugs or disease, and in overdose zero order kinetics may result in prolonged half-lives. Toxicity is characterised by agitation, tremor, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains, seizures, and tachyarrhythmias. Hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis are more profound in acute toxicity, and hypercalcaemia is usually present. Seizures occur at lower concentrations after chronic over-medication than after acute overdose. Gastric lavage should be performed in all patients presenting early, and an oral multiple dose charcoal regimen started with 50 to 100g charcoal, repeating with 50g doses and checking theophylline concentrations at 2- to 4-hour intervals. Multiple dose charcoal can be expected to double the clearance of theophylline, being as effective as a haemodialysis. Of the invasive techniques available, charcoal haemoperfusion is the most effective, increasing clearance 4- to 6-fold. Supportive care is particularly important. The aggressive supplementation of potassium, treatment of emesis with droperidol and ranitidine, and treatment of tachyarrhythmias and hypotension (possibly with propranolol), together with oral multiple dose charcoal may obviate the need for haemoperfusion. Seizures suggest increased morbidity and mortality. Charcoal haemoperfusion should be considered if plasma concentrations are greater than 100 mg/L in an acute intoxication or greater than 60 mg/L in a chronic intoxication. The decision to haemoperfuse should not be based on plasma concentrations alone, but an overall evaluation of the patient's laboratory and clinical status.

The new black magic: activated charcoal and new therapeutic uses

Activated charcoal has been used for centuries as antidotal therapy for poisonings. New variations of charcoal therapy have developed over the last two decades. These modifications include multiple-dose activated charcoal (MDAC) therapy, charcoal hemoperfusion, and a new "superactive" charcoal (SAC). Recent literature suggests using initial charcoal therapy instead of ipecac as a first-line antidotal agent for many acute poisonings. The palatability of charcoal slurries has been enhanced by the addition of carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose, saccharin, chocolate syrup, or sorbitol. The new SAC has shown to adsorb 1.7 to 4 times the amount of substance tested compared with other activated charcoal preparations. Multiple-dose activated charcoal therapy has been shown effective in treating phenobarbital, digoxin, digitoxin, theophylline, and dapsone intoxications, among others. The problems associated with charcoal hemoperfusion therapy have been partially alleviated, and it is now alternative therapy for the seriously intoxicated patient.

The effect of activated charcoal on mouse sleep times induced by intravenously administered hypnotics

The effect of orally administered activated charcoal (AC) on the sleep times of mice following intravenous injection of various hypnotics was investigated. Preliminary studies with phenobarbital (Pb) showed that a linear relationship exists between the Pb-induced sleep time and the logarithm of the Pb dose in both control and AC treated mice. Half-lives of Pb in the two groups were estimated to be 8.1 and 0.9 h, respectively. A linear decline in Pb-induced sleep time with increasing dose of AC was observed up to a maximum effective dose of AC beyond which dose increments caused no further reduction in sleep time. A similar relationship was observed between sleep time and the concentration of sodium sulfate in which the AC was suspended. AC treatment resulted in an 82-88 per cent reduction in sleep time induced by administration of phenobarbital, methyprylon, glutethimide, ethchlorvynol, and methaqualone. AC had no significant effect on sleep time following amobarbital or pentobarbital administration.

Effect of purgatives on antidotal efficacy of oral activated charcoal

The effects of purgatives on the antidotal efficacy of oral activated charcoal were studied in seven volunteer subjects. The volunteer subjects were given 1000 mg of aspirin, 100 mg of atenolol and 50 mg of phenylpropanolamine with 100 ml of water on an empty stomach and were assigned randomly to the following treatment groups: after 5 min 150 ml of water, after 5 min 25 g of charcoal, after 5 min charcoal orally with 20 mg of metoclopramide rectally, followed by 10 mg of bisacodyl rectally 3 h afterwards, after 5 min charcoal with 250 ml of magnesium citrate USP and after 60 min charcoal with metoclopramide followed by bisacodyl 3 h thereafter. The plasma concentrations (0-24 h) and the cumulative urinary excretion (0-72 h) of salicylates, atenolol and phenylpropanolamine were measured. Both magnesium citrate and metoclopramide combined with bisacodyl hastened the gastrointestinal transit but magnesium citrate was more effective. Charcoal alone reduced the absorption of aspirin and phenylpropanolamine by about 50% and that of atenolol by about 95%. The purgatives did not modify significantly the efficacy of charcoal. When the antidotal treatment was delayed by 60 min its efficacy was reduced to some extent, possibly depending on the pharmaceutical formulation of the test drugs. The present results do not support the routine use of purgatives in combination with activated charcoal. In some instances, however, their use may promote the evacuation of, for example, depot formulations from the gastrointestinal tract and thus have a beneficial effect together with activated charcoal in reducing absorption.

Gastrointestinal decontamination for acute poisoning

Gastric decontamination remains an important element in the therapy of pediatric poisoning; however, several issues remain unresolved. Additional studies, particularly in the clinical setting, are necessary to establish optimal therapeutic recommendations. Based on the data presented in this review, the following general recommendations can be made for gastric decontamination in children: If it is necessary to remove an ingested toxin, ipecac syrup is the preferred method if contraindications to its use are not present. The dose should be 30 ml in children older than 1 year of age and 10 ml in children 6 to 12 months of age. Pending further studies, the use of emetics in children younger than 6 months of age cannot be generally recommended, particularly in the home setting. Gastric lavage should be considered to be of very limited use in pediatric patients. Lavage using small nasogastric tubes, except under special circumstances, is nonproductive and cannot be advocated. If it must be used, a large-bore orogastric hose should be used. Administration of activated charcoal prior to lavage should be considered. In situations in which prompt induction of emesis is not possible or contraindications to emesis exist, activated charcoal followed by, or mixed with, a cathartic (preferably sorbitol) should be used as an alternative to removal of gastric contents. Patients with significant symptoms from ingestion requiring hospitalization should receive repeat doses of charcoal and cathartic until symptoms resolve. Activated charcoal should be given in conjunction with other appropriate therapies. Although the data to substantiate this recommendation are limited, particularly in pediatric patients, it is a benign therapy that holds promise of increasing drug elimination.

Gastric emptying. Risk versus benefit in the treatment of acute poisoning

This review examines the various clinical options used to elicit gastric emptying, viz. drug-induced emesis, mechanical pharyngeal stimulation, gastric lavage, and catharsis. Apomorphine and syrup of ipecac are the 2 drugs most frequently used for induction of emesis. Both agents act centrally and, in addition, syrup of ipecac has a peripheral action. Toxins ingested or foods previously eaten may inhibit or enhance emetic action by interfering with mediating and conducting mechanisms. Studies indicate that both syrup of ipecac and apomorphine are similarly effective in inducing emesis; however, apomorphine has a shorter reaction time compared with syrup of ipecac. There are more risks involved with the use of apomorphine, since it causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. Syrup of ipecac has been shown to be relatively safe when used in its recommended dosage for emesis. However, several toxicities have been reported with the use of the fluid extract of ipecac. Emesis is contraindicated in patients who are obtunded or comatose, and in patients who have ingested stimulants, some hydrocarbons, or corrosives. Mechanical pharyngeal stimulation is a simple method of inducing emesis; however, it is often unsuccessful and rarely recovers a significant portion of the gastric contents. Gastric lavage is a procedure which has been relied upon for over a century. Its effectiveness is dependent on the nature, form, and dosage of the poison, latency between time of ingestion and lavage, and technique. In clinical experiments studying gastric lavage, it has been noted that the procedure is most beneficial 1 to 2 hours postingestion for the majority of poison ingestions. Lavage also provides an excellent route for activated charcoal and selected antidotes. Gastric lavage may pose several risks to the patient, including obstruction and contamination of the airways and oesophageal damage. Contraindications for gastric lavage are similar to those for emesis except that it may be safer to use in obtunded, comatose, or uncooperative patients. Cathartics used during initial poisoning therapy are usually the saline cathartics. They elicit an osmotic reaction in the small intestine which results in increased intraluminal fluid bulk, hyperperistalsis, and subsequent propulsion of contents. Cathartics have also been shown to stimulate the secretion of cholecystokinin, which is thought to have similar effects on the intestine. Cathartics have not been shown to significantly enhance drug elimination from the gastrointestinal tract.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

In vitro adsorption of tilidine HCl by activated charcoal

In vitro studies were carried out in order to determine the adsorption of tilidine HCl, a narcotic analgesic, by activated charcoal (max. adsorption capacity 185.5 mg/g of charcoal). The path of the adsorption isotherms at pH 1.2 and 7.5 suggests that the in vivo adsorption of tilidine HCl may be increased when the drug passes from the stomach to the intestine, unless the intestinal content exerts a displacing effect. Nevertheless, the adsorption was dependent on the quantity of activated charcoal used, becoming more complete when the quantity of activated charcoal was increased. The effects of additives on the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal were also investigated in vitro. Ethanol, sorbitol and sucrose significantly reduced drug adsorption, while cacao powder, milk and starch had no effect on tilidine adsorption. At an acid pH, Federa Activated Charcoal significantly adsorbed more drug than either Norit A or Activated Charcoal Merck.

Advances in clinical toxicology

New data are reviewed in two areas in the management of the acute overdose: gastrointestinal decontamination and systemic antidotes. The mechanism and effectiveness of Ipecac syrup, gastric aspiration and lavage, activated charcoal, gastrointestinal dialysis, and saline cathartics are discussed. Special problems posed by disc batteries and packet ingestion of cocaine (in transporting contraband) are highlighted. The pharmacology and uses of pyridoxine and naloxone as antidotes are detailed.

Evaluation of activated charcoal-sodium sulfate combination for inhibition of acetaminophen absorption and repletion of inorganic sulfate

Activated charcoal is an effective inhibitor of acetaminophen absorption while sodium sulfate can prevent the depletion of endogenous inorganic sulfate associated with the formation of acetaminophen sulfate. Administration of activated charcoal plus sodium sulfate soon after acetaminophen overdose may reduce acetaminophen absorption and facilitate the elimination of absorbed acetaminophen by providing sufficient sulfate ion for rapid sulfation of the drug. This investigation was designed to determine if sodium sulfate modifies the inhibitory effect of activated charcoal on acetaminophen absorption or if activated charcoal affects the absorption of sodium sulfate. Eight normal adults received, on separate occasions, 1 g acetaminophen, 1 g acetaminophen and 18 g sodium sulfate (decahydrate), 1 g acetaminophen with 10 g activated charcoal and 1 g acetaminophen, with 10 g activated charcoal and 18 g sodium sulfate, in random order. Urine was collected for 48 hours and assayed for acetaminophen and its major metabolites and for inorganic sulfate. The results confirm that activated charcoal can reduce acetaminophen absorption and show that oral administration of activated charcoal with sodium sulfate does not alter the inhibitory effect of activated charcoal on acetaminophen absorption or the bioavailability of the sulfate. A combination of activated charcoal and sodium sulfate may therefore be useful for the initial management of acetaminophen overdose.

Effects of emetic and cathartic agents on the gastrointestinal tract and the treatment of toxic ingestion

Emetic drugs and saline cathartics produce direct or reflex changes in gastrointestinal motility. The changes in gastrointestinal smooth muscle function may be important in the rapid oral or rectal expulsion of gastrointestinal contents, effects which serve as a basis for emetic and cathartic drug use in the treatment of toxic ingestion. Because of difficulties in recording gastrointestinal smooth muscle contractile activity from the intact, unanesthetized animal or man, relatively few studies have attempted to characterize the changes in gastrointestinal motility preceding vomiting. Limited results from past studies and the results of more recent studies employing improved technology suggest that pharmacological activation of the emetic reflex is accompanied by characteristic movements of the stomach and small intestine. The gastric response consists of initial muscle relaxation and an expansion of gastric volume. The intestine responds with a contraction, which begins in the distal ileum and migrates orad over the entire small intestine immediately before active retching. The changes in gastric and intestinal motility may be initiated by structures in the central nervous system and may be an important component of the emetic reflex. This article urges more active research to characterize the gastrointestinal emetic response and to investigate more generally the therapeutic value of emesis in the treatment of toxic ingestion. Emphasis should be placed on the clinically important emetic drugs apomorphine and syrup of ipecac. Studies comparing the efficiency of removal of gastrointestinal contents, resultant blood levels of orally administered drugs with and without emesis, differences in the gastrointestinal emetic response between agents and the pharmacology of the gastrointestinal emetic response should be performed. Studies should also be conducted to determine the pharmacology of the emetic sensory receptors in the gastrointestinal tract and the intraluminal physical-chemical or gastrointestinal physiological factors influencing gastrointestinal emetic sensory receptor activation. The results would demonstrate the value of emesis in various poison cases and help establish criteria for use and selection of emetic drugs. No less experimental attention should be devoted to the cathartic drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effect of gut lavage on phenobarbital elimination in rats

In the management of intoxications, the major goals are enhanced elimination of the toxin from the organism and prevention of further absorption. Absorption of an orally administered substance from the gastrointestinal tract can be decreased by adequate washing of the stomach. Delayed absorption of the substance from the small intestine cannot be avoided by this procedure and after the gastric lavage, a nonspecific absorbent must be administered and diarrhea induced (1). This study demonstrates that iatrogenic diarrhea via gut lavage can also eliminate toxins already absorbed by the body.

Evaluation of activated charcoal-sorbitol suspension as an antidote

Studies in rats were performed to evaluate the effect of sorbitol on the antidotal efficacy of activated charcoal against four test drugs and to investigate the influence of storage upon the antidotal effect of activated charcoal-sorbitol suspension. The antidotal potency of activated charcoal was not diminished by sorbitol solution 70% w/v. In fact, it was enhanced by the sorbitol solution, as indicated by greater decrease in peak tissue drug concentration, compared to the effect produced by activated charcoal in aqueous suspension. Furthermore, storage of activated charcoal in sorbitol for as long as 1 year did not reduce the antidotal-efficiency of the absorbent.