Carbón activado
Activated Charcoal
Active carbon
También conocido como: Toxiban · D-Tox-Besc · UAA Gel · CharcoAid · Actidose-Aqua · Charcodote · Liqui-Char · Active carbon · Activated carbon · Carbo activatus · Adsorbent charcoal · Decolorizing carbon · Medicinal charcoal
Revisado por el equipo veterinario de VetSheetActualizado 5 abr 2026Referencia veterinaria basada en la evidencia
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Dosis por especie
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Perros
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal absorbent | 10 mL of a 20% slurry (1 g of charcoal in 5 mL of water) per kg | PO/Orogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg | PO/Nasogastric tube | q4-6h | As needed for toxins that are recirculated | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg in 50-200 mL of water | PO | Single or repeated doses | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| After toxin ingestion | 0.5-4 g/kg | PO | Repeat dosing as required if emesis or massive toxin ingestion occurs, or for highly lipid-soluble toxins | As needed | 🌍 EU |
- Acute poisoning: After decontamination of the GI tract
- Acute poisoning: Concurrent with or within 30 minutes of giving charcoal, give an osmotic cathartic.
- Acute poisoning: Diluted in water at 1 g charcoal/5-10 mL water. Follow in 30 minutes with sodium sulfate oral cathartic.
- After toxin ingestion: Administer as a slurry in water. General rule: administer at a dose of at least 10 times the volume of intoxicant ingested.
Gatos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal absorbent | 10 mL of a 20% slurry (1 g of charcoal in 5 mL of water) per kg | PO/Orogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg | PO/Nasogastric tube | q4-6h | As needed for toxins that are recirculated | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-4 g/kg in 50-200 mL of water | PO | Single or repeated doses | — | 🌎 NA |
| Acute poisoning | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| After toxin ingestion | 0.5-4 g/kg | PO | Repeat dosing as required if emesis or massive toxin ingestion occurs, or for highly lipid-soluble toxins | As needed | 🌍 EU |
- Acute poisoning: After decontamination of the GI tract
- Acute poisoning: Concurrent with or within 30 minutes of giving charcoal, give an osmotic cathartic.
- Acute poisoning: Diluted in water at 1 g charcoal/5-10 mL water. Follow in 30 minutes with sodium sulfate oral cathartic.
- After toxin ingestion: Administer as a slurry in water. General rule: administer at a dose of at least 10 times the volume of intoxicant ingested.
Caballos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxicity | Foals: 250 grams (minimum). Adult horses: up to 750 grams. | Nasogastric tube | Single dose | — | 🌎 NA |
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Toxicity: Make a slurry by mixing with up to 4 L of warm water. Leave in stomach for 20-30 minutes and then give a laxative.
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic if no diarrhea is present.
Ganado
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Ovejas
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Cabras
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant intoxications | 1-5 g/kg | PO | Single or multiple doses | — | 🌎 NA |
- Plant intoxications: Mix with cathartic (e.g., sodium/magnesium sulfate 250-500 mg/kg or sorbitol 70% 3 ml/kg) if no diarrhea is present.
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Resumen
El carbón activado es un polvo negro fino altamente poroso utilizado como adsorbente gastrointestinal en el manejo de urgencias de ciertas toxicidades y sobredosis de fármacos.
- Perla clínica: Actúa como un adsorbente de amplio espectro para muchos compuestos orgánicos, aunque su eficacia depende en gran medida del momento de la administración (idealmente dentro de 1-2 horas tras la ingestión) y de las propiedades específicas de la toxina.
- No es eficaz para compuestos pequeños, altamente polares o hidrosolubles como ácidos minerales, álcalis cáusticos, alcoholes (ethanol, methanol), ferrous sulfate, lithium, nitrates, sodium chloride/chlorate o destilados de petróleo.
- Las mezclas o suspensiones son generalmente más eficaces que los comprimidos debido a una mayor superficie de contacto disponible.
Mecanismo de acción
Activated charcoal possesses an extremely large surface area. It binds to toxins in the upper GI tract via ion-ion interactions, hydrogen bonding, dipole forces, and Van der Waals forces.
- Mechanism: Toxin binds to charcoal in the gut lumen → forms a stable charcoal-toxin complex → prevents systemic absorption → complex is excreted safely in the feces.
- Enterohepatic Recirculation: For drugs that undergo enterohepatic recycling, repeated doses of activated charcoal can act as a "gut dialyzer," pulling systemic toxins back into the GI lumen to be trapped and excreted.
Seguridad y advertencias
Contraindicaciones
- Ingestion of mineral acids or caustic alkalis (ineffective and may obscure endoscopic evaluation)
- Patients lacking a gag reflex or actively vomiting (unless airway is protected via intubation)
- GI obstruction or perforation
Efectos adversos
- Emesis (especially with rapid administration)
- Aspiration pneumonia (if aspirated)
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Black feces
- Hypernatremia (especially in small dogs and cats)
- Loose stools and vomiting (associated with sorbitol-containing products)
Precauciones
WARNING: Extreme caution must be used to prevent aspiration, which can lead to severe, potentially fatal aspiration pneumonia. In symptomatic animals, administer via an orogastric tube with a cuffed endotracheal tube in place.
- Hypernatremia Risk: Small dogs and cats are at risk for hypernatremia due to osmotic fluid shifts into the GI tract. Monitor closely.
- Cathartic Use: To prevent severe diarrhea and dehydration, if multiple doses of activated charcoal are administered, only the first dose should contain an osmotic cathartic (e.g., sorbitol).
- Mess Hazard: Charcoal powder stains fabrics easily and dry powder tends to float and cover wide areas.
Interacciones farmacológicas
Charcoal will adsorb other drugs; separate administration by at least 3 hours.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
May reduce the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.
Reduces the absorption and therefore efficacy of orally administered drugs
Monitorización
- Toxin/drug serum levels (if applicable)
- Clinical signs of the specific toxicity
- Serum sodium levels (especially if patient develops neurologic signs like tremors, ataxia, or seizures)
Farmacocinética
Absorción
Activated charcoal is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Distribución
Remains entirely within the gastrointestinal lumen.
Metabolismo
Not metabolized.
Eliminación
Excreted unchanged in the feces as a charcoal-toxin complex.
Sobredosis
Overdosage or overly rapid administration can cause severe electrolyte abnormalities, specifically hypernatremia, due to an osmotic effect pulling water into the GI tract. Treat with reduced sodium fluids (e.g., D5W, 0.45% NaCl) and warm water enemas to alleviate the condition.
Productos disponibles
Formulaciones
- Granules
- Suspension with Sorbitol
- Gel/Paste
- Oral Powder
Veterinario
- Toxiban Granules (Activated charcoal 47.5%, Kaolin 10%)
- Toxiban Suspension (Activated charcoal 10.4%, Kaolin 6.25%)
- Toxiban Suspension with Sorbitol (Activated charcoal 10%, Kaolin 6.25%, sorbitol 10%)
- D-Tox-Besc Gel/Paste (Activated Charcoal 10%, Attapulgite 20%, electrolytes)
- UAA (Universal Animal Antidote) Gel
Etiquetado para humanos
- Activated Charcoal Oral Powder (15 g, 30 g, 40 g, 120 g, 240 g)
- CharcoAid / Actidose with Sorbitol Oral Liquid/Suspension
- CharcoAid 2000 / Actidose-Aqua Liquid/Suspension without sorbitol
- CharcoAid 2000 Oral Granules
Estado regulador
Widely available as a general antidote/adsorbent.
Pharmacy (P) classification for some human formulations.
Sin datos reguladores para: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Almacenamiento y estabilidad
Store activated charcoal in well-closed glass or metal containers or in the manufacturer's supplied container to prevent exposure to moisture and air.
Información para el cliente
IMPORTANTE: Este agente debe utilizarse generalmente bajo supervisión veterinaria profesional.
- Si se utiliza de forma ambulatoria, los pacientes deben ser observados durante al menos 4 horas tras la administración para detectar signos asociados con niveles elevados de sodio en sangre (debilidad, inestabilidad, temblores, convulsiones). Si aparecen, busque atención veterinaria inmediata.
- Espere que las heces de su mascota sean de color negro durante unos días.
- Advertencia: El polvo de carbón es extremadamente sucio y puede manchar fácil y permanentemente telas, alfombras y ropa.
La referencia de medicamentos de VetSheet está destinada a profesionales veterinarios autorizados como ayuda para la toma de decisiones clínicas, no como sustituto del criterio profesional ni del prospecto actual del fabricante.