Effect of activated charcoal on aspirin absorption in man. Part I.

Abstract

The effect of activated charcoal (AC) on the gastrointestinal absorption of aspirin teas determined quantitatively in adult volunteers from the amount of total salicylates excreted in the urine. If administered promptly and in sufficient quantity, AC has a significant inhibitory effect on the absorption of aspirin from solution, conventional tablets, enteric coated tablets, and sustained‐release tablets. This effect is increased with an increaiing dose of AC, decreased as the time interval between aspirin and AC administration increases, and decreased by the presence of food in the gastrointestinal tract. There is appreciable desorption of aspirin from AC in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore, it is necessary to use relatively large doses of the adsorbent in the initial treatment of accidental aspirin poisoning. The efficacy of AC increases with increasing dose at a constant aspirin‐AC dose ratio of 1:10. AC will reduce aspirin absorption even if administered three hours after mpirin ingestion, provided that the drug is still in the gastrointestinal tract at that time.