Ice cream makes charcoal administration a treat
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Administering oral activated charcoal (ToxiBan—Vet-A-Mix) to a 120-lb dog that doesn't want it can be difficult. So I mix
a quart of vanilla ice cream with each bottle of charcoal. Dogs are usually happy to eat this mixture, and I don't end up
looking like a chimney sweep.
Dr. Shirley S. Koshi
New York City, N.Y.
Reviewer's comments:
Palatability of activated charcoal preparations can make administration difficult. One in vitro study evaluated the effect
of ice cream and a food mixture on the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal, as measured by acetaminophen adsorption.
1
Ice cream increased the palatability of the activated charcoal but also reduced the adsorption capacity. However, the reduction
of adsorption capacity was overcome by giving a greater dose of charcoal. Activated charcoal with a higher surface area had
less reduction in adsorption capacity than charcoal with a lower surface area.
1
Activated charcoal can be mixed with ice cream, and I recommend that the charcoal dose be increased if ice cream is mixed
with it. Also, I advise using a charcoal slurry preparation with a high surface area (≥1,000 m
2
/g).
REFERENCE
1. Hoegberg LC, Angelo HR, Christophersen AB, et al. The effect of food and ice cream on the adsorption capacity of paracetamol
to high surface activated charcoal: in vitro studies. Pharmacol Toxicol 2003;93:233-237.
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