Activated carbon is an available sorbent aimed at cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and toxic substances. This drug is made from minerals, which is why it is considered a completely natural and safe tool.
This drug helps with poisoning, diarrhea, and is also used as a prophylactic designed to cleanse the body, but you need to know how to take it correctly and how much activated charcoal works. In addition, with its help you can whiten your teeth.
What are the benefits of activated carbon
Activated carbon is a high-quality natural product that is used in case of:
- alcohol poisoning;
- ingestion of a large dosage of drugs and toxins into the body;
- food poisoning;
- liver and biliary diseases;
- prolonged use of antibiotics;
- bloating.
Many are interested in how long activated carbon begins to act and how best to use it. In order for the beneficial qualities of the drug to fully manifest and as quickly as possible, you need to grind it into powder and take it with water. If the correct dosage is observed, a very good result can be achieved during cleansing and prevent serious poisoning and deterioration of well-being. Such a tool helps to neutralize hazardous substances.
How to take
In order not to harm the body when taking medications, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications. It is worth remembering that this substance helps to cleanse the body of useful and harmful substances. That is why, if the cause is not poisoning, then before taking the drug, you must definitely determine what exactly provoked a disruption in the body. For example, with viral diseases, as well as with dysbiosis, activated charcoal can cause great harm to the body, as it will remove beneficial microflora.
When taking the drug, it must be washed down with clean water in large quantities, since in order to provide the desired effect, the active substance must spread throughout the intestine. After taking the drug, you need to introduce proteins and vitamins into the diet, since otherwise hypovitaminosis may occur. After the course of therapy, you also need to drink probiotics that contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora.
How long does activated carbon work?
Activated carbon is considered a fairly high-quality and effective tool that helps get rid of many problems. It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of how long activated carbon is active. It all depends on in what form this drug enters the stomach. If this occurs in the form of whole tablets, then a longer time is required for them to decompose and begin to filter the contents of the stomach. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
How long does activated carbon act after ingestion if it enters the body in powder form? In this case, the action begins much earlier - in about 2-3 minutes - and the intensity of its action largely depends on the dosage taken. This tool almost immediately neutralizes the toxic substances in the stomach, especially if you drink it in dissolved form.
Features of the use of the drug
Activated carbon is completely non-toxic, which is why it can be used in significant dosages, without fear of overdose. However, there are certain features that must be considered when taking this sorbent. Long-term use of this drug can cause constipation.
Activated carbon is poorly compatible with antibiotics, vitamins and hormonal drugs and contraceptives, as often it simply worsens or completely neutralizes their effect. In addition, this remedy can lead to a decrease in immunity.
How to drink activated carbon in case of poisoning
Activated carbon does not help with all poisonings, and it acts only if the poison has entered the stomach. This remedy is used for food or alcohol poisoning, as it helps to eliminate toxins trapped in the esophagus.
How long does activated carbon act in case of poisoning, and the effectiveness of the drug depends largely on the fullness of the stomach and the severity of the condition. If a person is feeling very poor, then you need to take more tablets than indicated in the instructions.
In addition, it is worth remembering that this tool is capable of releasing toxic substances when the concentration in the body decreases. That is why it is important to take it regularly, up to a full recovery. In case of poisoning, so that the drug does not provoke nausea, you need to crush activated charcoal into a powder and drink it with clean water.
The drug should be taken 4-5 times a day for at least 3 days, depending on the well-being of the patient. It is worth remembering that this sorbent absorbs and removes not only poisons, but also medications, which is why another medicine can be taken only 1-2 hours after coal.
Taking activated charcoal with diarrhea
Diarrhea can occur for very many reasons, but one of them can be an intestinal infection that occurs against the background of damage by pathogens. Prolonged diarrhea can be fraught with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which negatively affects the condition of the heart and kidneys. Especially dangerous diarrhea can be in young children, since this condition threatens not only the health but also the life of the child.
Activated charcoal with diarrhea is considered one of the most effective means to help eliminate the effects of intoxication. It is important to know how long activated charcoal acts in case of diarrhea, since timely assistance should be provided to the injured person. You need to take this remedy 2 hours after or before eating. The tool begins to act literally 5-10 minutes after its administration. Before giving this remedy to a child, you must first crush the tablets. You need to take the medicine until the symptoms disappear completely.
Features of dosage and course of treatment
When taking this remedy, you need to know not only how long activated carbon acts, but also in which dosage the administration of this agent is indicated. When calculating the number of tablets, you need to consider that 1 tablet should go per 10 kg of body weight. If longer treatment is required, then according to the doctor’s testimony, the dosage can be reduced.
In case of serious violations, activated carbon is taken up to 4 times a day. Many doctors believe that you can take 3-4 tablets every 2 hours to ensure continuous cleansing of the body. How much activated carbon acts depends largely on the amount of drug drunk, as well as the complexity of the patient's condition. The course of taking the drug is generally 3 days, since during this time all the symptoms pass.
Features of taking children
Many are interested in how many minutes activated carbon acts when taken by a child. Children are much more difficult to survive poisoning than adults, but it is worth remembering that the drugs in the children's body begin to act much faster, since their stomach and intestines are not yet fully formed. After taking the drug, it begins to act literally in 2 minutes.
Very young children need to dilute the tablet in water and give them a drink from a spoon. Dosage is calculated on a quarter of the tablet for every kilogram of weight. After taking this drug, it is not recommended to consume food for 2 hours. Before taking the medicine, it is recommended that you first consult with your doctor.
Contraindications to the use of activated carbon
Many are interested in how much activated carbon acts, what indications and contraindications there are for taking this drug. There are no direct contraindications to taking this drug, but in some cases this medicine can worsen the patient's condition. In particular, it is not recommended for use with:
- exacerbation of peptic ulcer;
- acute stage of gastritis;
- internal bleeding;
- individual intolerance.
That is why, before taking the drug, it is advisable to consult with your doctor first.