ABSTRACT
A position statement was produced by the American Academy of Clinical Toxicologists and the European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists.
Single-dose activated charcoal should not be administered routinely in the management of poisoned patients. The effectiveness of activated charcoal decreases with time; the greatest benefit is within one hour of ingestion. The administration of activated charcoal may therefore be considered if a patient has ingested a potentially toxic amount of a poison (which is known to be absorbed by charcoal) up to one hour previously; there are insufficient data to support or exclude its use after one hour of ingestion. There is no evidence that the administration of activated charcoal improves clinical outcome. Unless a patient has an intact or protected airway the administration of charcoal is contraindicated.
