When diarrhea begins, people tend to use the most effective medications to relieve the condition. The reasons for the phenomenon may be different. Is it worth using activated carbon for diarrhea or is it better to use other means? Can this drug cause harm to the body? It is important to know several arguments.
What causes the disorder
Whether activated charcoal will help with intestinal upset depends on the factors that caused the diarrhea. There are several of them.
Most often, diarrhea develops due to intestinal infection. Pathogenic bacteria enter the digestive tract and cause inflammatory processes inside. Microorganisms can be different, hence the different intensity of symptoms and type of diarrhea.
Foodborne infections enter the intestines along with food. Eating with poorly washed hands, improper processing of meat products, storing dishes in a warm room - all this provokes intestinal upset and improves the living conditions for pathogenic flora.
In addition to diarrhea, poisoning is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- nausea and vomiting;
- weakness and dizziness;
- decreased appetite;
- temperature increase.
Diarrhea leads to dehydration, so the use of suitable medications is mandatory. In adults, the condition occurs less frequently, but the consequences of diarrhea without quality treatment are unpleasant.
Does activated charcoal help with diarrhea? The answer will become obvious if we consider how the drug acts once it enters the digestive tract.
Prevention
Sorbents not only have a therapeutic effect, they can also be used for preventive purposes. So, if you suspect that you have eaten low-quality products, it is enough to take 3-4 tablets of the drug before symptoms appear in order to avoid subsequent poisoning and intoxication.
The drugs must be used with caution, despite their positive properties and general safety. Uncontrolled self-medication can cause side effects - nausea, vomiting, metabolic disorders, metabolic disorders in the body.
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Mechanism of action
Initially, this remedy was not used in medicine. Its main purpose was water filtration. Activated carbon is famous for its sorbing properties and ability to attract harmful substances and toxins.
Only over time the drug began to be used in medicine. Taking activated carbon is effective specifically for food poisoning and intoxication, when it is necessary to remove harmful compounds from the body. Today, the medicine is prescribed not only for diarrhea, but also for increased gas formation, dyspepsia and various poisonings.
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How does a charcoal tablet work in the stomach?
Once in the stomach, the tablet gradually dissolves, and microparticles of coal are deposited on the walls of the stomach, preventing the absorption of toxins. At the same time, the drug does not have an irritating effect on the mucous membranes. On the other hand, crystals, enveloping, absorb harmful compounds that enter the stomach, thereby neutralizing their effect. Activated carbon absorbs poisons and toxins from the gastrointestinal tract before they are absorbed:
- alkaloids, glycosides, barbiturates,
- sleeping pills, drugs for general anesthesia,
- heavy metal salts,
- toxic substances of animal, plant, bacterial origin,
- derivatives of hydrocyanic acid, phenol,
- sulfonamides, gases.
Active as a sorbent for hemoperfusion (purification of blood from poisons). Weakly adsorbs such potent chemicals as:
- acids and alkalis,
- iron salts,
- cyanides,
- ethylene glycol,
- methanol,
- malathion
Usually, in case of mild poisoning from stale foods, a person needs one tablet taken once, but in case of acute chemical poisoning, the amount of the drug should be increased to 3 tablets per dose. And be sure to give the patient more water to drink.
In case of acute poisoning, black tablets are a first aid remedy. You should not self-medicate. In case of other poisonings, wasted time can lead to death, so call a doctor immediately.
The nuances of making coal
When diarrhea begins, many people take activated charcoal. But what does this drug actually consist of? The medicine is made from coconuts, peat and tree wood. This type of drug is used in medicine.
Activated charcoal helps with diarrhea because it prevents the absorption of toxic compounds. The dosage of each dose is calculated based on body weight.
Contraindications
Activated carbon is contraindicated in the following cases:
- hypersensitivity to the drug;
- ulcerative processes in the stomach and duodenum;
- ulcerative nonspecific inflammation of the large intestine;
- hemorrhages in the gastrointestinal tract;
- intestinal atony;
- prescription of antitoxic drugs.
It should be remembered that the drug in question deactivates the effect of all medications taken orally.
When to use
Many people take activated charcoal for diarrhea. However, the medicine is effective not only for diarrhea. Doctors recommend using this remedy for the following conditions:
- flatulence;
- difficult digestion;
- stagnant and putrefactive processes in the intestines;
- kidney and liver diseases;
- to eliminate allergic reactions;
- to relieve intoxication after chemotherapy.
Drinking activated charcoal during diarrhea is effective, because the drug removes the very cause of the phenomenon and prevents the condition from worsening. Even if the poisoning was severe, the substance absorbs all toxins and removes them, preventing the substances from causing harm to the body.
Diarrhea can cause the body to become dehydrated. Stopping diarrhea prevents this serious condition. Penetrating into the digestive tract, charcoal acts gently. It does not irritate the already inflamed mucous membrane, absorbing harmful compounds.
Taking the medicine does not block the digestion process. Fecal masses do not stop moving through the intestines. As a result, the bacteria and viruses that caused diarrhea can leave the human body. When medications that simply stop diarrhea are taken, it becomes impossible to remove pathogenic flora.
What is white coal?
This is a complex mineral food supplement declared as a fourth generation sorbent. Not coal, but it adsorbs and removes pathogenic bacteria.
Unlike natural-based black tablets, the active ingredient in white coal is silicon dioxide. Also contains microcrystalline cellulose fibers, powdered sugar and starch. The action is similar to black coal, it is recommended by pharmacists for weight loss. Used to detoxify the stomach and stop diarrhea.
Contraindicated for children under 14 years of age and for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In Moscow, 10 tablets cost about 165 rubles.
In most cases, activated carbon copes well with the problem of diarrhea, removing harmful elements from the gastrointestinal tract. It is useful to keep this inexpensive and effective drug on hand at home and at work, where it will help out at the right time. The medicine is not harmless; if abused, it causes constipation. It is not combined with other drugs due to the neutralization of their effects.
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When the drug is ineffective
To understand how effective a remedy will be for diarrhea, you will need to determine its cause. Coal can reduce symptoms, but it will not get rid of the problem if the cause of diarrhea is:
- infectious and parasitic disease;
- dysbacteriosis;
- antibiotics.
Knowing how to use the drug correctly, you can get rid of diarrhea. The remedy is most effective for poisoning and diarrhea caused by errors in diet.
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Overdose
Drug overdose can be acute or chronic. Acute intoxication occurs if a person drinks too much of the drug. This happens if weight is not specified when treating diarrhea.
Chronic overdose occurs in cases where a person takes activated charcoal uncontrollably for a long time.
During an overdose, the following symptoms are observed.
- Intestinal dysbiosis. It develops as a result of the removal of beneficial enzymes and bacteria from the body. Pathological phenomena of fermentation and putrefaction develop in the intestines. This worsens the diarrhea and, instead of getting rid of it, the patient suffers even more from severe diarrhea.
- Flatulence resulting from digestive dysfunction. Problems with passing gas are often felt.
- Decreased general immunity.
- Cardiovascular pathologies. Tachycardia and pain in the heart occur. These symptoms appear due to the excretion of large amounts of potassium from the body.
Who is the drug suitable for and how to take it
Even small children are recommended to take activated charcoal for diarrhea. Of course, if diarrhea occurs more than 10 times a day and the stool is watery, you should immediately consult a doctor. If there is no acute course of the disease, taking activated carbon for diarrhea is highly desirable.
Even pregnant women can take activated charcoal for diarrhea. The drug consists of natural ingredients and most often does not cause harm or side effects.
As a rule, women who are breastfeeding also take the drug. The drug is not absorbed in the stomach. This means that it does not penetrate into the blood and does not pass into breast milk.
How many tablets do you need to take to stop diarrhea? Knowing the body weight of a person or child will help determine the amount of the drug. For every 10 kg of weight you need to take 1 tablet of the product.
It is always important to take activated charcoal with plenty of liquid. Clean water is best. Tablets are usually crushed into a homogeneous mass and diluted in a small amount of liquid. This method is especially relevant for young children who find it difficult to swallow a rough tablet. We also recommend looking at other effective anti-diarrhea tablets.
Can it cause harm?
It is generally accepted that if you know how to take activated carbon, it is impossible to cause harm. However, when the drug is used for a long period, the intestinal microflora is disrupted.
The drug taken several times for diarrhea will not cause harm to the body. It is important to control the dose of the product and not use it unnecessarily. Long-term use leads to the fact that the natural intestinal microflora is sorbed. Beneficial bacteria and vitamins are removed. The gastrointestinal tract and the entire body suffers.
Mandatory monitoring is necessary when other medications are used simultaneously with activated carbon. The medication may reduce their effectiveness. It is not advisable to combine antibiotics and some other drugs with charcoal.
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Contraindications
Although this is a practically harmless drug, for certain diseases it should not be taken. The use of adsorbent medication is contraindicated in the following cases:
- with internal bleeding;
- stomach ulcer;
- duodenal ulcer;
- for inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Diarrhea after activated charcoal will gradually disappear, although the stool will turn black. This is the norm. After a few days, digestion and the color of the discharge will normalize.
Proper use of the drug will help cope with diarrhea and normalize the condition. After making sure that there are no contraindications and the dosage is correctly calculated, you can confidently use this remedy for diarrhea.
Is activated carbon always beneficial?
The product has virtually no contraindications. It does not cause negative effects and is well tolerated. But despite the apparent harmlessness of the drug, the presence of certain pathologies makes it impossible to use.
The following situations prevent its use:
- ongoing course of chemotherapy, radiation;
- ulcer recurrence;
- internal bleeding;
- obstruction, intestinal atony;
- recent surgery;
- intolerance of the adsorbent by the body.
When several medications are taken orally at the same time, charcoal blocks their action.
For example, contraceptive medications taken by women reduce their effectiveness under the influence of coal. When prescribing complex pharmacotherapy, the adsorbent is taken before or after taking other medications. The time difference is at least 1 hour.
A side effect in the form of constipation occurs with an overdose; after reducing the dose, it disappears. It is noted that with prolonged use, beneficial microorganisms are lost, metabolism is disrupted, immunity is reduced, and there may be a lack of vitamins, hormones, and proteins.
Analogues for the treatment of diarrhea
Modern pharmaceutical companies offer newer drugs, analogues of activated carbon. It is worth noting that the sorption activity of the products significantly exceeds the capabilities of black tablets. These include:
- "Enterosgel";
- "Lactofiltrum";
- "Polysorb".
The effect of the drugs, thanks to the applied nanotechnology, is more powerful and exceeds the ability to sorb by 200 times. There are also significant differences in price, since they are justifiably more expensive than their analogues. The structure of the products contains lactofiltrum, which restores the balance of microorganisms under the influence of a prebiotic.
If diarrhea after activated carbon does not go away, you should change the treatment tactics, since the cause of loose stools can be quite serious - an intestinal infection of viral etiology, dysbacteriosis, or a banal cleansing of the body.
It is in such cases that doctors recommend replacing the drug with Smecta or Lopedium.
Today, doctors often prescribe white coal for diarrhea, but it should be noted that the composition of the drugs differs. It is worth knowing what differences exist between the two popular means.
What is the difference between black and white coal?
White charcoal for diarrhea has some advantages over black activated carbon tablets:
- has no negative effect on the mucous tissue of the digestive system;
- inhibits the development of an allergic reaction;
- stimulates contraction of intestinal sections;
- quickly cleanses of toxins and metabolites;
- improves the functioning of the digestive system;
- does not cause constipation.
| Black coal | White coal | |
| Compound | Peat, charcoal | Silicon dioxide, powdered sugar, microcrystalline cellulose, potato starch |
| Price | ≈ 50 rubles | ≈ 150 – 170 rubles |
| Number of tablets for one-time use | 10 – 15 pcs. | 1 – 2 pcs. |
| Contraindications | Hypersensitivity, ulcers, bleeding | Children under 14 years of age, peptic ulcers, erosions, bleeding in the stomach, intestines, obstruction, individual immunity |
| Efficiency | Longer process of symptom resolution | Removes more toxic compounds, relieves symptoms of intoxication after just 1 tablet |
How many tablets to take for diarrhea is clearly stated in the instructions for the drug, and in this matter white coal is more convenient. The therapeutic dose of the sorbent is only 4 g, which is significantly lower than that of activated carbon.
