What is the purpose of drinking charcoal after an overdose?

Question

What is the purpose of drinking charcoal after an overdose?

Answer 1

I'd like to say so that the person won't attempt it again but, it will absorb the overdose that has gotten into your blood stream and evacuate the poisons either through urine or stool. As a hospital pharmacist I have seen it too many times- some unsuccessful. Doctor's prescribe this depending on what was overdosed. There are two other manufactural made antidotes, both in IV form. The charcoal is oral.  

Answer 2

It is to absorb toxins but it depends on what you have overdosed on.  I don't think charcoal is the most advanced medical way to treat an overdose these days.  My friend took too many paracetamol tablets and had to be hooked up to some kind of antidote for 3 days and nearly died.  So if you are asking this question because you think you can OD on something then just drink some charcoal please don't.

Answer 3

To settle an upset stomach..

Answer 4

it absorbs toxins but mainly it makes you very sick therefore if the poison taken has not had time to ingest you throw up all the poisons from your stomach

Answer 5

Not sure of the exact science but activated charcoal (its a specific compound, burnt toast and the like is useless) prevents the absorption of whatever substance has been ingested by interacting with the stomach lining. It doesn't work with every substance.

Answer 6

it absorbs the medication that is in your stomach or you will die

Answer 7

charcoal absorbs some of the poisons and is an old fashioned remedy that works well for people who have bad indigestion problems.

Answer 8

To asorb the toxins.

Answer 9

Activated charcoal may be given to help bind drugs and keep them in the stomach and intestines. This reduces the amount absorbed into the blood. The drug, bound to the charcoal, is then expelled in the stool. Often, a cathartic is given with the charcoal so that the person more quickly evacuates stool from his or her bowels.