| Underhill TJ et al, 1990, UK | 60 patients taken 5 g or more within 4 hours of attendance. Gastric lavage (14) v ipecacuanha(21) v activated charcoal(20) or nothing(5) | RCT | Plasma concentrations at 0, 1.0, 1.5. and 2.5 hours after treatment | 39.3% reduction in concentration compared with 52.2% charcoal | Small Study |
| Buckley NA et al, 1999, Australia | 981 consecutive paracetamol overdose. Gastric lavage and charcoal v charcoal alone v nothing | Observational study | Patients developing high risk concentrations | No statistically significant improvement with lavage + charcoal than charcoal alone. | |
| Grierson R et al 2000, Canada | 10 volunteers given 4.0 g paracetamol. Gastric lavage at 1 hour compared with no treatment as crossover. | Crossover study | 8 plasma concentrations over 8 hours | Reduction of 20% (95% CI 3% to 37%) | Small study. Low dose. Liquid paracetamol only |
| Christophersen AB et al, 2002, Denmark | 12 volunteers given 50 mg/kg paracetamol. Lavage + charcoal v charcoal | Crossover study | 12 plasma concentrations over 7 hours | Charcoal 66% reduction in concentration, lavage + charcoal 48.2% | Small numbers Low dose |