Simulated acetaminophen overdose: pharmacokinetics and effectiveness of activated charcoal
- PMID: 1928875
- DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81353-8
Simulated acetaminophen overdose: pharmacokinetics and effectiveness of activated charcoal
Abstract
Study objective: To determine the absorption rate of a supratherapeutic dose of acetaminophen elixir and compare the effect of activated charcoal (AC) given at different time intervals on preventing acetaminophen absorption.
Design: Randomized, nonblinded, crossover controlled study.
Setting: A certified regional poison control center.
Participants: Ten healthy, adult male volunteers from 21 to 39 years old.
Interventions: Each subject received 5 g acetaminophen (elixir) on four occasions: a control phase plus 30 g of AC administered 15, 30, or 120 minutes after acetaminophen. Serum acetaminophen levels were obtained during the control phase only, and 24-hour urine collections were obtained during all four phases.
Measurements and main results: The highest serum acetaminophen levels were measured 1.4 +/- 0.52 hours after ingestion, and absorption was 97% complete by a mean of 2.05 hours. The administration of AC at 15, 30, and 120 minutes after acetaminophen reduced urinary recovery of acetaminophen and metabolites by 48%, 44%, and 33%, respectively.
Conclusion: AC significantly reduces urinary recovery but not absorption of acetaminophen when administered two hours after acetaminophen elixir.
Comment in
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Is activated charcoal useful for acetaminophen overdose beyond two hours after ingestion?Ann Emerg Med. 1992 Jul;21(7):894. doi: 10.1016/s0196-0644(05)81058-3. Ann Emerg Med. 1992. PMID: 1610052 No abstract available.