Effect of activated charcoal on absorption of nortriptyline.
The ability of 'Medicoal', a new effervescent, activated charcoal preparation, to adsorb nortriptyline, has been investigated both in vitro and in vivo. A single dose of the effervescent charcoal 30 min after a dose of 75 mg nortriptyline produced a 60% mean reduction in both peak plasma levels and nortriptyline availability in healthy volunteers. Multiple doses of the effervescent charcoal produced 70% mean reduction in peak nortriptyline levels and availabiltiy. Activated charcoal is recommended for the treatment of tricyclic antidepressant poisoning. In in-vitro tests, a 10 g packet of the effervescent preparation containing 5 g activated charcoal) had an adsorptive capacity of approximately 3000 mg nortriptyline, a dose not usually exceeded in most cases of trycyclic antidepressant overdose.
D000042:Absorption; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000506:poisoning; D001682:Biological Availability; D002606:Charcoal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D002606:Charcoal; D009661:Nortriptyline