BUCKHORN CLIFFS

Medical · Formula · Book recipe 7.1

Activated charcoal for poison ingestion or digestive illness

Activated charcoal works by trapping toxins in millions of microscopic pores before your body can absorb them.

Handle with careWorks without power

How it works

Call Poison Control1-800-222-1222 first
Measure dose50 g adult · 1 g/kg child
Stir into water8-12 oz, drink right away
Within 1 hourof swallowing the toxin
Act within about an hoursooner adsorbs more toxin
Never give to a drowsy personaspiration risk if airway is at risk

Quick facts

Call first
1-800-222-1222
Adult 12+
50 g / 8-12 oz
Child 1-12
1 g / kg
Timing
within 1 hour
Shelf life
indefinite sealed

Hazard

Call Poison Control first. Never give to a drowsy or unconscious person (aspiration risk). Does not work on acids, bases, alcohols, petroleum, or metals.

Activated charcoal adsorbs harmful substances in the digestive tract, which may help reduce absorption into the body if taken soon after ingestion, often within about an hour. Commonly referenced for acetaminophen, aspirin, some antidepressants, antihistamines, seizure medications, opioids, selected mushroom toxins, and various plant-based alkaloids. Adsorption in the gut may also help with some other unwanted ingestions.

What you'll need

  • Activated Charcoal Powder (pure, food-grade, no additives or binders)
  • Clean water (boiled, filtered, or disinfected)
  • Clean container (glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or thick plastic cup)
  • Measuring spoons
  • Mixing tool (any clean spoon or stirrer)

Steps

  1. Call Poison Control (US: 1-800-222-1222) or emergency services first. Do not give to anyone unconscious, drowsy, or unable to protect their airway.
  2. Adults and adolescents 12+: 50 g (about 5 tablespoons) stirred into 8 to 12 oz of water; the extra water makes the thick slurry easier to swallow. Use up to 100 g only for known massive ingestions or under medical direction.
  3. Children 1-12: about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight (roughly 1 gram for every 2.2 pounds), up to 50 g, in 4 to 8 oz water. For infants under 1 year, give only if Poison Control or a clinician directs it, since the aspiration risk is high. Do not use sorbitol-containing formulas in children of any age, or for repeat doses at any age.
  4. Stir thoroughly and drink right away. Most effective within 1 hour of swallowing the substance, regardless of whether nausea or vomiting has started.
  5. Does not work for acids, bases, alcohols, petroleum, cyanide, or heavy metals (iron, lithium, lead). Single dose typical; multi-dose only under medical direction.

Warnings

Side effects: vomiting, constipation, and dark stools (harmless). Aspiration risk if airway compromised. Charcoal also binds medicines swallowed in the past hour or two, so tell Poison Control about any regular prescriptions. Do not induce vomiting unless Poison Control directs. For stomach illness from spoiled food, focus on rehydration; charcoal is not a substitute for medical care.

Storage and shelf life

Store in airtight glass jars or sealed Mylar bags in cool, dry places away from odors, fuel, and solvents. Properly sealed activated charcoal remains effective indefinitely. Avoid storing in thin plastic bags or open containers, as charcoal absorbs moisture and odors from the air, which reduces its adsorption capacity. Best container: sealed glass jar in cool, dry, odor-free area. See the Containers section.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How much activated charcoal do I take for poisoning?

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 first. Adults and adolescents 12+ take 50 g, about 5 tablespoons, stirred into 8 to 12 oz of water. Children 1-12 get about 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, up to 50 g, in 4 to 8 oz of water.

How do I use activated charcoal for food poisoning?

For stomach illness from spoiled food, focus on rehydration, since charcoal does not replace medical care. When charcoal is used, the adult amount is 50 g stirred thoroughly into 8 to 12 oz of clean water and drunk right away, ideally within 1 hour of swallowing the substance.

What poisons does activated charcoal not work on?

Activated charcoal does not work on acids, bases, alcohols, petroleum, cyanide, or heavy metals such as iron, lithium and lead. It is commonly referenced for acetaminophen, aspirin, some antidepressants, antihistamines, seizure medications, opioids, selected mushroom toxins and plant-based alkaloids.

How soon after ingestion does activated charcoal need to be taken?

It works best within 1 hour of swallowing the substance, whether or not nausea or vomiting has started. Stir it thoroughly into water and drink it right away. A single dose is typical, and repeat doses are only for medical direction.

Can I take activated charcoal with medications?

Charcoal binds medicines swallowed in the past hour or two, so it can pull your regular prescriptions out along with the toxin. Tell Poison Control about any regular medications when you call, before taking it.

How long does activated charcoal last in storage?

Properly sealed activated charcoal stays effective indefinitely. Keep it in airtight glass jars or sealed Mylar bags in a cool, dry place away from odors, fuel and solvents. Thin plastic bags and open containers let it absorb moisture and odors from the air, which reduces its adsorption capacity.

Keep going

Read nextMedical Preparedness: First Aid Kits, Supplies, and 15 EmergenciesWhat to stock in a house, mobile, and vehicle medical kit, what to do first in 15 common emergencies, and how to store medicines and records so they work when care is far away.Medical · Guide

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Medical · FormulaSource: Prepper's Chemical Survival Guide, Recipe 7.1, p. 31 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

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