Activated charcoal for nausea: how to take, is it possible to give a child

Among the drugs used to relieve an attack of nausea, activated charcoal is not the last. If we turn to historical chronicles, reliable sources will indicate: mankind has been using coal since ancient times. The first mentions fall on the time of Hippocrates. The story goes that he was a great connoisseur of young wine, alcohol has a negative side - "hangover", which manifests itself in young wine drinks much stronger than in aged ones. To get rid of the nausea caused by the immaturity of grape spirits, the great-grandfather of modern medicine chewed chips of coal.

It is impossible to indicate the exact date of approval of the carbonaceous drug as an official pharmacological preparation. In the ancient chronicles of Roman procurators, memories of ancient healers about attempts to cure poisoned people with pinches of soot were found. Some examples indicated recovery, others indicated a fatal outcome. In the following rebellious centuries, mankind did not abandon an attempt to find a remedy that could neutralize, partially weaken the effect of toxins on the body, and help get rid of poisons.

With the development of civilization, scientists have gained expanded opportunities to study the molecular composition of substances of the simplest, complex-component origin. Having studied the molecules of coal mined from furnace soot, the minds of mankind have identified an extraordinary ability attach a considerable amount of toxic chemicals - salts of arsenic, lead, mercury connections. The latter gave in poorly.

The turning point in the use of activated carbon was the middle of the 19th century. In an endless series of wars, field surgery developed by leaps and bounds. At this time, the first applications of anesthesia during the operation fell on, the doctors faced the question of alleviating the condition of patients in the postoperative period. Attempts to find an effective elimination of drugs from the blood, the expulsion of gases from the intestines that accumulate as a result of an immobile position of the body have become urgent problems.

At the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of the First World War, the chain of civil wars, activated carbon suddenly opened to man as an antibacterial drug. It is widely used in the treatment of febrile syndromes caused by developing sepsis after infected wounds. The drug was used in women who underwent surgical abortions - for treatment, prevention of septic endometrium, as a common complication.

Chemical-physical composition of activated carbon

According to its physicochemical characteristics, activated carbon is an adsorbent. An adsorbent is a chemical substance of natural or synthetic origin, capable of attaching a large number of molecules of other substances.

According to its composition, it is a product of combustion of plant substances with subsequent chemical additional processing. It is based on carbon components obtained after burning wood products. The preferred raw materials are birch, beech, poplar, less often alder. In some countries, maple is used for coal production.

The most primitive type of activated carbon is the simplest powder obtained by grinding whole fragments. In pharmacology, a drug is modernized with the addition of chemical components - aimed at an increase in the porosity of the product - filtration occurs, absorption of toxic substances, accumulation of useful moisture. The components are polymer gels, bioorganic groups, vegetable oils, flavorings. Coal is heterogeneous in composition - often by-products of combustion of others are added to the main powder plants: coconut flakes, fruit (plum, apricot) leaves and elements of trunks of other tree species.

White clay is added to the composition of coal powder. The drug is used in medicine, cosmetology - in combination with clay, activated carbon acquires stretching properties that play an important role in cleansing the skin ducts.

Release form and storage conditions

Pharmacy drug "activated carbon" is found in 3 forms of release. The traditional, frequently encountered form of release is small black tablets packed in opaque blisters (paper, foil - depending on the manufacturer). The composition of the tablets is approximately the same - 250 mg of active substance and auxiliary components (starch, gelatin), the average tablet diameter varies between 4 and 7 millimeters.

It is recommended to store activated carbon in a dark, dry place. Small pharmacy shelves are ideal. It is advisable to stay away from direct sunlight, heat or cold streams - temperature drops and exposure to light adversely affect the properties of coal.

The second form of release is crushed coal powder. It is rarely sold in its pure form - it is added to the composition of most drugs for the treatment of poisoning, alcoholic intoxication. Traditionally, the mixture contains an additive in the form of sodium salt - it prolongs the absorbing effect of the active substance, promotes the accelerated elimination of filtered toxins from the body.

Activated carbon granules are the third type of packaging. The composition is very similar to tablets. It is often found in the countries of the European Union.

Indications and contraindications for the use of the drug

The main indications for the use of this drug include:

• Food poisoning: classic use for approaching nausea to quickly induce an emetic attack, then re-use is recommended for additional infiltration of toxins, then the remedy should be drunk from the assessment of the state of health: whether the nausea has stopped, whether the paroxysmal pain characteristic of vomit. If symptoms persist, self-medication should be discontinued by calling a doctor at home.
• On average, a single dose recommended for an adult is from 3 tablets before manifestation emetic attack, 2-4 tablets after vomiting, then 1 tablet every half hour until disappearance symptoms. For children, treatment is selected taking into account many factors. If the drug does not have the desired effect, the toxin molecules are small compared to the pores of carbon, easily penetrate through it without lingering. Another reason for the ineffectiveness of activated carbon treatment is the addition of infection, the antibacterial effect of carbon does not occur.
• Other types of intoxication. Poisoning by gases and other volatile compounds is included. The dosage of activated carbon is determined by the doctor - we are talking about interaction with additional drugs, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.
• Preventive cleansing of the digestive tract. The technique is used to cleanse the intestines before surgery, as an additional method or in conjunction with an enema.
• Alcohol poisoning. In modern pharmacology, there is a wide range of specialized products containing coal and components. It relieves pain of various pathogenesis, it is considered as more effective in restoring the body.
• Overeating intoxication. The medicine adsorbs molecules of undigested products, in combination with enzyme preparations, it successfully neutralizes and removes them from the body.

Contraindications to the use of activated carbon:

• Allergic reaction to the components of the drug (glycine, starch, gelatin, their components). With caution, if a person is allergic to components of tree species (birch, poplar, alder, maple) or the reaction manifests itself to additional combustion products (fruit resins, coconut flakes and etc.).
• If foreign objects are swallowed by children. The action of coal provokes the breakdown of absorbed elements, additional intoxication of the body will occur.

Use with caution

1. In urgent surgical conditions - "volvulus", "acute pancreatic necrosis", "acute appendicitis". In these cases, there is a significant difficulty in removing coal with absorbed products from the body, which seriously casts doubt on the success of the operation.
2. Pregnancy, lactation period. Despite the harmlessness of activated carbon, after taking the drug, unpredictable consequences are possible in the mother and child.
3. With infectious diseases. Activated carbon has absorbing properties, along with toxic components, it can remove useful substances. It does not fully help the body of an adult to cope with the disease.
4. With vomiting that does not pass for a long time. It is necessary to take into account the possible damage to the gastric mucosa and the use of the drug without a combination with others can cause the development of traumatic gastritis, lead to peptic ulcer disease. The effective benefits of activated carbon are being questioned.
5. With diarrhea, vomiting of a non-specific nature. Poisonous substances can cause serious damage to internal organs, up to and including bleeding. The allocated masses have a specific smell and color. When examining them, any deviation from the norm should be alerted: the coloring of the contents in pink-red tones, impurities of tar blotches, shades of coffee grounds. Directly indicates internal bleeding, requires an immediate emergency call.

The use of activated carbon in children

Activated carbon belongs to the group of simple drugs that do not have significant contraindications for use. When choosing a dosage, especially for children, the instructions should be studied at the proper level.

The dosage of any drug in an adult and a child is different. With an accurate selection, it is necessary to take into account:

• how old the child is at the moment;
• body weight of the child;
• how long ago the process of nausea began, the presence of vomiting, character.

Undoubtedly, activated charcoal is the most suitable remedy for nausea for children. It helps to eliminate the attack, to get rid of further consequences.

A small child, especially not yet speaking, is not able to fully explain the nature of pain. He is more worried about the feeling of anxiety than the development of the disease. Activated charcoal for nausea should be used as a placebo effect - a sedative. It is better to start with a quarter of a tablet, gradually increasing the dosage depending on the condition of the child. If the clinical picture lasts long enough, it is not worth delaying a visit to medical workers.

If the age of the child does not reach a year, he will not take the tablet form due to the underdevelopment of the chewing apparatus. The drug must be crushed into powder and given in small portions using a baby spoon, mixed with food, light sweeteners or breast milk. Older children should take the drug with liquid, water, light tea, berry fruit drinks or compote.

After taking activated charcoal, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the children and if it causes even the slightest concern, invite a pediatrician.