Effect of activated charcoal on the absorption of amiodarone.
1 The ability of activated charcoal to prevent the absorption of amiodarone was studied in 18 healthy volunteers, divided into three groups of six subjects. 2 All subjects were administered a single dose of 400 mg amiodarone; one group ingested the drug with water only (control) and the second with 25 g of activated charcoal as a water suspension. The subjects in the third group were given 25 g of charcoal immediately after the 1.5 h blood sample. 3 The extent of amiodarone absorption was reduced by about 98% by simultaneously administered charcoal (P less than 0.001); taking charcoal 1.5 h after amiodarone still resulted in a 50% reduction in amiodarone bioavailability (P less than 0.05). 4 These results indicate that activated charcoal should be effective in preventing amiodarone absorption in acute poisoning.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Turku, Finland.
K T
KT
Kivistö
P J
PJ
Neuvonen
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D001682:Biological Availability; D002606:Charcoal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D011041:Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control
D002606:Charcoal; D000638:Amiodarone