Ultracarbon

Composition

One tablet contains 250 mg of medicinal charcoal

Excipients

Bentonite, corn starch.

Pharmacotherapeutic group

Medicinal charcoal/adsorbent

Indications

Acute diarrhoea, prevention of absorption in oral intoxications and acceleration of elimination in intoxication with substances subject to enterohepatic circulation (eg. Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenylbutazone, theophylline).

Contraindications

Febrile diarrhoea. Medicinal charcoal should not be taken in the case of intoxication with corrosive substances (strong acids and alkalis) as this would hinder diagnostic measures like oesophagoscopy and gastroscopy.

Precautions for use

Several poisons and drugs require different or additional measures.

Medicinal charcoal is not effective in intoxications with organic and inorganic salts as well as solvents like, for instance, lithium, thallium, cyanide, iron salts, methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol. Different measures are in these cases indicated to eliminate the poison (e.g. gastric lavage). The following table lists important poisons in which medicinal charcoal is ineffective and for which a suitable oral therapy is known:

In many intoxications, a specific antidote must be administered additionally to medicinal charcoal (e.g. acetylcysteine in paracetamol poisoning).

Interactions

Ultracarbon should not be administered together with other drugs as the efficacy of the latter may be reduced.

Dosage, mode of administration and duration of treatment

Diarrhoea:

Depending on the severity of the case, 2-4 Ultracarbon tablets are administered 3-4 times daily.

Half this dose is recommended for children. Ultracarbon tablets should be taken on an empty stomach with plenty of liquid. Allow Ultracarbon tablets to disintegrate in water with stirring, or take whole with liquid. It is advisable to administer Ultracarbon tablets together with a glucose electrolyte solution in order to replace any loss of water and salt.

Ultracarbon tablets should be used until the stools have returned to normal. If the patient has not responded to treatment after about 3 days, other therapeutic or diagnostic measures must be taken.

Intoxications:

In acute intoxications, depending on the individual case, medicinal charcoal must be administered in higher doses (0.5-1 g/kg body weight). Adults receive 2-4 Ultracarbon tablets per kg body weight, children 3-4 Ultracarbon tablets per kg body weight. This corresponds to the following regimen:

Stir Ultracarbon tablets in water to make a paste and administer in small quantities. In unconscious patients a doctor, or a nurse under medical supervision, should administer the suspension of Ultracarbon tablets in water by gastric tube.

Administration may be repeated at intervals of 2-4 hours. Due to the risk of hypochloraemia the

suspension should be given in isotonic saline or full electrolyte solution where multiple doses are administered.

It is recommended to additionally administer 1 tablespoonful (adults) or 1/2- 1 tablespoonful (children) of sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt) in 1 glass of water 30-60 minutes later. This saline laxative induces rapid intestinal passage. By this measure the poison, which is bound to the charcoal, is removed from the intestinal tract before part of the poisonous substances can be liberated.

To accelerate elimination in intoxications with substances subject to enterohepatic circulation one Ultracarbon tablets per 1-2 kg body weight should be given. This measure can be repeated every 2 to 4 hours.

Side effects

No adverse reactions to Ultracarbon tablets are known to occur if the product is taken in the recommended dosage to treat the diarrhoea. After very high doses as those taken in intoxications, constipation and mechanical ileus may occur in individual cases; this can be prevented by administering saline laxatives (e.g. sodium sulfate). As medicinal charcoal is excreted in unchanged form, the stools turn black after intake of Ultracarbon tablets.

Expiry date

Please note the expiry date on the package. The drug should not be used once the expiry date has elapsed.

Storage conditions

Do not store above 30° Celsius. Keep medicament out of reach of children.

Presentation and package size

Ultracarbon tablets

Pack containing 20 and 50 tablets