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Effect of delayed administration of activated charcoal on nortriptyline absorption

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Summary

Activated charcoal is known to reduce the absorption of therapeutic doses of nortriptyline in vivo when administered 30 min after drug ingestion. In a group of volunteers, one sachet (10 g) of a new activated charcoal preparation, ‘Medicoal’ was found to produce a highly significant reduction in nortriptyline absorption when given as long as four hours after nortriptyline dosing. Activated charchoal may therefore be useful in the treatment of tricyclic antide-pressant poisoning even if a delay of several hours ensues before medical help is sought.

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Dawling, S., Crome, P. & Braithwaite, R. Effect of delayed administration of activated charcoal on nortriptyline absorption. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 14, 445–447 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00716388

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00716388

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