One small, older study gave people with TMAU 1.5 grams of charcoal for 10 days. Studies show that activated charcoal’s porous surface may bind to small, odorous compounds like TMA, increasing their excretion. This causes TMA to accumulate and enter urine, sweat, and breath, causing a foul, fishy odor ( 14). Your body usually converts TMA into an odorless compound before excreting it through urine, but people with TMAU lack the enzyme needed to perform this conversion. TMAU is a genetic condition in which trimethylamine (TMA), a compound that smells like rotting fish, accumulates in your body. May reduce symptoms of fish odor syndromeĪctivated charcoal may help reduce unpleasant odors in individuals suffering from trimethylaminuria (TMAU), also known as fish odor syndrome. One small study found similar results, but more research is needed ( 13). Older human studies suggest that activated charcoal may help lower blood levels of urea and other waste products, as well as improve kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease ( 5, 11, 12). In your gut, they bind to activated charcoal and get excreted in stool ( 7). Urea and other waste products can pass from the bloodstream into your gut through a process known as diffusion. Healthy kidneys are normally very well equipped to filter your blood, but this condition inhibits your kidneys’ ability to remove urea and other toxins.Īctivated charcoal may bind to urea and other toxins, helping your body eliminate them ( 10). This may be particularly beneficial for people with chronic kidney disease. May promote kidney functionĪctivated charcoal may promote kidney function by reducing the number of waste products that your kidneys have to filter ( 10). ![]() Rather, its use should be considered on a case-by-case basis by qualified healthcare professionals ( 1, 3, 9). For instance, it appears to have little effect on alcohol, heavy metal, iron, lithium, potassium, acid, or alkali poisonings ( 2, 4, 8).īoth old and new studies warn that activated charcoal shouldn’t be routinely administered in all cases of poisoning. It’s important to note that activated charcoal is not effective in all cases of poisoning. This multiple-dose activated charcoal (MDAC) protocol may aid intoxications from slowly absorbed drugs ( 3, 8).Īlthough more research is needed, MDAC may be especially beneficial in cases of life threatening ingestion of dapsone, phenobarbital, quinine, carbamazepine, and theophylline ( 3, 8). In medical settings, the initial dose of 50–100 grams is sometimes followed by several smaller doses of 10–25 grams, taken every 2–4 hours for up to 6 hours ( 3). Moreover, research suggests that activated charcoal may be beneficial if taken up to 4 hours after ingestion of delayed-release drugs, those which slow digestion, and large drug doses ( 3). ![]() This may be because activated charcoal not only stops a drug from being absorbed but also helps your body eliminate already absorbed drugs more quickly ( 6, 7). However, newer research reports several cases in which it was effective even when taken past this first hour. Older studies suggest that taking it after this initial hour is unlikely to help ( 3). Studies show that ingesting 50–100 grams of activated charcoal within 5 minutes of taking a drug may reduce an adult’s ability to absorb that drug by up to 74% ( 2, 3).Īctivated charcoal is said to be most beneficial when taken within the first hour after an overdose or poisoning. This substance may be used to treat overdoses from both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, and sedatives ( 3). ![]() That’s because it can bind to a wide variety of drugs, reducing their effects ( 2, 5). Emergency poison treatmentĪctivated charcoal has been used as an emergency anti-poison treatment since the early 1800s. If you suspect poisoning or overdose, it’s best to seek emergency medical assistance immediately. However, some of these benefits rely on research that is decades old, so their validity should be taken with a grain of salt.įurthermore, you should not self-administer activated charcoal as a poison or overdose treatment. Activated charcoal has several potential health benefits.
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