Gastroenterologist at GMS Clinic Alexey Golovenko talks in his Telegram channel “GastroPub” about the effectiveness of activated carbon and other sorbents in the fight against hangover.
Drinking a lot, but not wanting to die in the morning is an unfulfilled dream of humanity. As with other dreams: to drink without damaging the liver, but protecting it with “hepatoprotectors”, or to lose weight without dieting or increasing physical activity, but taking weight loss drugs (laxatives with senna) - the Internet offers many simple solutions. The most popular is to drink activated carbon at night.
Effect of coal
Activated carbon is a natural sorbent that helps quickly cope with various intoxications. It is made from petroleum, coal or wood coke.
It is a porous substance that absorbs toxins and poisons well and removes them from the body. The principle of action of the tablets is based on the composition. Once in the stomach, they do not dissolve completely, but absorb harmful compounds and promote their excretion with feces.
The drug is not toxic and does not cause any special side effects. Correct use in an acceptable dosage allows the use of activated carbon in children and pregnant women.
It is necessary to understand that the dosage of the drug is selected individually for each patient, based on the degree of poisoning and the condition of the victim. It is not recommended to take the pills for a long period, as this may lead to adverse consequences. The drug is capable of removing beneficial substances and minerals from the body. Possible disruption of intestinal microflora and constipation.
Is it possible for pregnant women and children to take activated carbon?
Pregnant women can take this sorbent if necessary. For example, to eliminate heartburn, reduce flatulence, bloating.
The drug is safe for the unborn baby, since it is not absorbed into the blood from the woman’s intestines and does not have a negative effect on the development of the fetus.
The only limitation in its use is constipation, which is quite often observed in pregnant women. If stool accumulates in the large intestine, there is a danger of toxins being reabsorbed into the blood, since the large intestine is densely intertwined with the choroid plexus.
In the first half of pregnancy, constipation can occur as a result of hormonal changes and an increase in the role of progesterone, a hormone that promotes the normal course of pregnancy. But this hormone relaxes the muscles of the uterus and intestinal walls, which can lead to constipation.
Toward the end of pregnancy, there is also a risk of constipation returning due to the pressure of the pregnant uterus on the walls of the large intestine.
Thus, before taking activated charcoal, a pregnant woman must improve her bowel function, take herbal laxatives, and do a cleansing enema.
In childhood, activated carbon is widely used by pediatricians. The drug is harmless and does not cause allergies. It removes allergens and toxins from the intestines very well if the child often suffers from colds, is weakened and develops poorly.
For a child weighing up to 15 kg, the drug is prescribed 1 tablet per day, divided into 2 doses. If you weigh more than 15 kg, the sorbent should be taken in the same way as for adults, 1 tablet per 10 kg of weight, twice a day, half an hour before meals.
When to use activated carbon
In what cases is it permissible to use activated carbon in adults and children? There are several situations in which the use of the drug will benefit the body.
Situations:
- In case of alcohol poisoning,
- Overdose of medications,
- Consumption of toxic compounds, salts of heavy metals,
- Increased formation of gases,
- The presence of allergic reactions,
- Treatment of complex infectious diseases,
- Therapy of colitis, gastritis and other stomach diseases.
In pharmacies you can find the product in the form of tablets and powders. The second form of the medication is convenient to use for intoxication, when help is required quickly. In case of poisoning, activated carbon is consumed in a certain sequence.
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How to drink:
- Calculate the number of tablets - take one tablet per ten kilograms of weight.
- For the best effect, you can grind the dragee into powder and mix it with water. The resulting product is drunk quickly in a few sips. Helps well with food poisoning.
- To wash the stomach, you can dilute a spoonful of medicinal powder in a glass of water. The solution must be consumed in one go.
- In the following days, take a couple of tablets four times every 24 hours.
- Doctors do not advise continuing treatment for more than ten days - possible leaching of useful substances.
How much activated carbon should you drink if you are poisoned? You need to understand that calculating the correct dosage of the drug is very important. Despite the absence of any special side effects, the drug is a medicinal drug and can provoke adverse consequences.
Which enterosorbent is better?
So which is better, charcoal or Polysorb? It seems the outcome of the battle is obvious! Due to its ease of use, high sorption capacity and speed of action, Polysorb is clearly stronger than carbon and can rightfully be considered a more modern and effective means for cleansing the body and leaves activated carbon an outsider.
However, if you are a fan of the harsh old-fashioned methods, and indeed the SOS situation in general, you should not neglect outdated drugs. So that next time you definitely have Polysorb on hand.
If you still have questions about taking Polysorb or difficulties in calculating the individual dose of the drug, you can get a free consultation by phone: 8-800-100-19-89
, or in the
consultation
How to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract after food poisoning
After an overdose, it is recommended to cleanse the stomach to get rid of unwanted toxic substances. What to do in such a situation at home?
Treatment regimen:
- Calculate how many tablets you need to take,
- A selected amount of tablets is drunk three times a day with a large volume of water.
- You need to take the medicine one and a half hours before meals.
- How long should I take the medicine? The duration of treatment is up to two weeks.
- Afterwards they take a break for fourteen days.
- Treatment includes three full cycles.
Before carrying out such therapy in children, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
Charcoal for children and pregnancy
The children's body suffers from intoxication more severely than adults. The use of medication in this situation is acceptable, but caution must be exercised. It is not recommended to use the drug in children under one year of age.
Rules:
- The medicine is diluted with water and given to the baby in the form of a solution,
- The duration of treatment should not exceed three days,
- The dosage is selected by a medical professional; you cannot do this yourself.
- He also prescribes the frequency of use of the medicine.
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Activated carbon must be stored in places inaccessible to children. If the treatment does not give a positive result, then you need to contact a medical institution and choose other methods.
Activated carbon during pregnancy
During pregnancy, women are not recommended to take medications. However, activated carbon is not one of them. If necessary, the use of such a medicine is allowed. But after consultation with a specialist and subject to the prescribed dosage.
Coal for alcohol overdose
Intoxication with alcoholic beverages adversely affects the condition of the entire body.
The use of medication for such poisoning helps to reduce the absorption of the toxic substance and will reduce the load on other organs. How to take activated carbon in such a situation? Usage:
- The poisoned person undergoes gastric lavage to remove the remaining alcohol and food.
- Ten tablets of the drug are mixed in a glass of water.
- The victim is given the prepared solution to drink.
- For several days, it is recommended to give the poisoned person a couple of tablets up to three times a day.
- Relief occurs an hour after taking the medicinal drink.
Activated carbon will help prevent poisoning. How to take the medicine correctly in this situation? To do this, it is taken according to a certain scheme.
Use:
- An hour and a half before the start of the holiday, drink five pills of the medicine,
- During the period of fun, it is recommended to drink more liquid - water, juices, compotes,
- At the end of the holiday, they drink the medicine at the rate of one tablet per ten kilograms of body weight.
The next morning, take two capsules on an empty stomach. Compliance with these rules will help alleviate the patient's condition.
Treatment of alcohol intoxication
An adult is sometimes poisoned by adulterated alcohol. Intoxication can be caused by excessive use of these drinks. The reason is the conversion of ethanol in liver cells to acetaldehyde. The substance is a strong toxin.
The symptoms are similar to food poisoning - attacks of nausea with vomiting, severe headache with dizziness. In this case, taking activated carbon helps quickly. But you need to take it with a correctly calculated dosage and the following measures:
- First, you need to perform a gastric lavage - this will prevent further absorption of the poison into the blood.
- It is recommended to take it in the form of a suspension - crush 10 tablets to a powder form and mix with water (0.5 l), drink in small sips and often.
- Signs of improvement should appear within an hour.
- After this, you can take headache medicine.
Doctors advise taking charcoal before a feast - this will prevent acute intoxication and rapid intoxication. It is recommended to take 6 tablets with plenty of water. After drinking alcohol, charcoal taken in advance will remove harmful toxins.
We use white coal
White coal can be found on sale. It differs from activated carbon in composition and effect on the body. The first product contains silicon dioxide and fine-crystalline cellulose. The medication not only removes toxic substances from the digestive tract, but also helps cleanse the blood of poisons.
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It is allowed to use three to four tablets from the age of seven years. Unlike activated carbon, it has a better effect on the body and has a restorative effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Properties of activated carbon
Activated carbon is obtained from natural materials. Both black and white coal are popular in use.
Comparative analysis of activated carbon types:
| Black | White | |
| Compound | Derived from burning wood, stone and coconut. | Added to the main composition: silicon dioxide and microcrystalline cellulose. Silicon dioxide allows active sorption of alcohol residues and chemical breakdowns. Binding of processed products prevents absorption into the systemic circulation. Microcrystalline cellulose, a processed version of natural fiber from plants, collects radicals, toxins and other pathogenic elements that freely spread throughout the body. Cellulose makes it possible to improve the near-wall breakdown of food, preventing the formation of lumps. Cellulose fibers also swell in the intestinal lumen, thereby reducing appetite. |
| Appearance | The tablets are black in color, with a porous outer surface. | White tablets, slightly glossy in appearance. Approximately 1.5 times the size of black tablets. |
| Action | Enterosorbent, relief of intoxication, elimination of diarrhea. | Absorbing, improving digestive processes and overall metabolism in the body. |
| Calculation of dosages | Can be used from 2 months. life. Dosage calculation: - up to 1 year: 1-2 tablets/day; — 1-3 years: up to 4 tablets; — 3-6 years: up to 6 tablets; — > 6 years: from 10 to 12 tablets, depending on the age, weight and condition of the child; - for adults, the calculation is made: 1 table. Per 10 kg body weight. | Starting from 14 years old, 3-4 tablets up to 4 times a day, 1-2 hours before meals. Drink with water. |
| Price | In a dosage of 0.25 g, 20 tablets from 26 to 31 rubles. for the drug ordering service. | Dosage 0.7 g, 164 rub. per pack of 10 tablets. |
Due to the special chemical structure and porosity, the medicine has high cleansing activity specifically from the surface of the mucous membrane. All this allows for the adsorption of poisons and toxins (medicinal and food origin) from the lumen of the digestive tract before their absorption in the wall of the small intestine.
In addition, activated carbon is capable of removing excess products of hepatic-renal metabolism, as well as acids and alkalis, from the body. All this, along with the lack of irritation on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, makes this remedy truly universal.
White charcoal does not stain the tongue or mucous membranes when taken. Its effectiveness is an order of magnitude higher compared to black.
Contraindications
Activated carbon is a medication that has certain contraindications that should be taken into account during treatment.
When not:
- Malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract,
- Open gastric ulcers,
- Certain types of gastritis
- Intolerance to the components of the substance.
When using activated carbon, it is recommended to be careful not to exceed the prescribed treatment time and indicated dosage.
Activated carbon for poisoning is the first remedy used by humans. Proper use will help you quickly get rid of toxic substances and unpleasant symptoms.
Side effects
Activated carbon is still considered the best sorbent known. It is difficult to provoke an overdose of the drug, but it can cause side effects. The reason is the large amount of substance taken orally.
Possible side effects:
- Intestinal disorder - diarrhea or, conversely, diarrhea;
- Feces are black in color with a characteristic oily structure;
- Uncontrolled process of removing beneficial microelements;
- Sodium and potassium deficiency affects the functioning of the heart muscle;
- Lack of calcium leads to fragility of skeletal bones.
Doctors do not recommend using the product for pregnant women or during lactation. You need to consult a gynecologist and therapist before using the pills. People with pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys and liver should not drink.
In case of poisoning with chemical compounds - gasoline and acid, the medicine will not help. Toxic substances do not react with activated carbon.
