Activated charcoal in pregnancy

No matter how safe and effective this drug is in the fight against various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, women should be especially careful when using activated carbon during pregnancy. During this period, a woman's body becomes more susceptible and unstable, and various disorders in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are often encountered. Due to constant bloating, diarrhea, flatulence and other disorders, doctors often prescribe activated carbon to women during pregnancy.

The average person's medicine cabinet certainly includes activated carbon of various types. This drug is prescribed to almost everyone and for many diseases.

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Properties of activated carbon

Activated carbon helps to cope with problems of the gastrointestinal tract, has an enterosorbent effect, and also helps to remove toxins and relieve symptoms of diarrhea. This drug absorbs various substances that enter the human body: alkaloids, barbiturates, glycosides and other sleeping pills; substances administered during general anesthesia; particles of heavy metals; toxins of various origins; phenolic, as well as hydrocyanic acid compounds; gases, etc. Activated carbon is also used in blood transfusions. It copes somewhat worse with acids and alkalis, as well as iron salts, cyanide, methanol, malathion and ethylene glycol.

To treat intoxication, an increased dose of coal is taken, since if the dose is small, insufficient, it can contribute to the absorption of harmful substances into the body and damage it. Coal, even in large quantities, does not affect the mucous membrane in any way, however, it can reduce the effectiveness of drugs aimed at treating the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.

With a fairly wide spectrum of action, the list of contraindications is insignificant. So, in no case take activated carbon if you have ulcerative lesions of the organs and parts of the gastrointestinal tract, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in parallel with drugs that remove toxins after their absorption.

Activated carbon during pregnancy: dosage

Taking activated charcoal, especially for the first time, can be a little scary because the drug is black and has a peculiar effect of turning hard stools dark.

The dosage of the drug may seem no less strange. The average dose is 300-600 mg of the drug per kilogram of body weight per day (there should be 3 doses). That is, if your approximate weight is 50-59 kg, then you need to drink 6-7 tablets of charcoal at a time.

The calculated amount of the drug should be taken 1-2 hours before or after meals, and not earlier than 2 hours after taking other medications.

Also, coal can be taken in the form of an aqueous suspension, at the rate of 20-30 g of suspension per 100-150 ml of boiled water (in 1 teaspoon - 1 gram of powder). Also, before taking the sorbent solution, it is possible to cleanse the body by washing - with a 10-20 percent suspension, and then take 20-30 grams per day.

For flatulence and dyspepsia, 1-2 grams are prescribed three to four times a day.

The minimum course of treatment is 3-5 days, the average duration of treatment of gastrointestinal diseases with activated carbon during pregnancy is 5-7 days.

Use of activated carbon during pregnancy

The sorbent properties of activated carbon have a positive effect on the well-being of pregnant women. In addition, this drug absorbs, like a sponge, all sorts of unnecessary elements and substances, cleanses the body of harmful substances. In addition, activated carbon during pregnancy helps to get rid of excess gases, and helps to absorb excess acid or bile in case of heartburn.

It is probably very difficult to find a person who has never come face to face with some kind of poisoning. And activated carbon has always come to the rescue, which promotes the fastest removal of toxins and improvement of the condition.

Using activated charcoal during pregnancy can save you and your baby from poisoning. The sooner a pregnant woman takes several tablets of charcoal, the better, since the poison is quickly absorbed into the body and not only the woman but also her future child is at risk. In this case, you should not wait for the doctor to arrive and advise you to take charcoal as soon as possible, since waiting will only worsen the poisoning process.

In general, activated carbon is a fairly harmless drug during pregnancy and, what is important, it is not absorbed into the blood and does not pass through the placenta to the baby.

It is important to know that activated carbon does not remain in the body for a long time, is not absorbed, does not irritate the surfaces of the gastrointestinal tract and is excreted naturally within seven hours after taking the drug.

Activated carbon during pregnancy: instructions

Activated carbon is indeed a powerful tool in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases. However, activated carbon should still be used wisely during pregnancy, without overdoing it with the dosage. It is important to remember that this drug has an adsorbent effect and is able to absorb not only harmful substances, but also useful elements necessary for the expectant mother.

Therefore, even for taking activated carbon during pregnancy there are certain rules. Doctors recommend taking this drug no less than two hours after taking vitamin cocktails, since the latter will not have any effect.

A pregnant woman often listens to and, in most cases, hears her body, so there are often cases when expectant mothers get carried away by eating seemingly completely tasteless substances - activated carbon and chalk, for example. As has already been repeated many times in this article, activated carbon is quite safe during pregnancy, but you cannot constantly drink it and rely on it to solve all physical problems. Use this medicine only in cases of urgent need.

If your body still insists on taking activated charcoal tablets, you should definitely contact your gynecologist and consult with him about replacing the charcoal with something more useful.

The best way to take activated carbon during pregnancy is to crush the tablets in 100 ml of water and drink the mixture. This will significantly speed up the process of sorption and elimination of the drug, together with contaminants in the gastrointestinal tract.

Poisoning during pregnancy and activated charcoal

So how can a pregnant woman determine whether she really has poisoning or if it is just toxicosis?

During pregnancy, food poisoning occurs quite often, since the woman tries to eat more healthy food of plant origin, and new or infrequently consumed fruits and vegetables get into the diet.

Poisoning during pregnancy is characterized by discomfort, unpleasant sensations in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, delayed diarrhea, and sometimes an increase in body temperature up to 38 degrees.

Such poisoning can be dangerous for both the mother and the child when harmful elements enter the pregnant woman's blood. Dehydration is observed, which affects blood flow. With the incorrect functioning of the circulatory system, the hormone oxytocin is released in the pregnant woman's body, which can provoke premature birth or even miscarriage.

Poisoning during pregnancy is treated in the same way as for all other people, but measures should be taken as early as possible so as not to negatively affect the development of the child.

If a pregnant woman has been poisoned, call an ambulance. If you decide to survive this at home, the first thing a person does is cleanse their body of the pathogen. However, you should not do this if there is bleeding. However, this method can harm the child. Therefore, it is better to wait until the food residues come out naturally, and then it will be necessary to take sorbents - polysorb, enterosgel, activated carbon.

To restore the amount of moisture in the body, try to replenish it by drinking boiled or mineral water.

Dear future mothers, you are going through the most unusual and exciting period of your life, every day you watch the growth and development, transformation of your body. However, think only about the good, positive, kind, in order to put only the brightest emotions and feelings into your child. Try not to get sick and do not get upset over trifles.

Remember, activated charcoal during pregnancy can become a close friend in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases, but it can also make you more vulnerable and unprotected.

We recommend that you seek help from specialists in a timely manner, since even taking ordinary activated carbon during pregnancy can cause irreparable harm to your health.

Activated carbon: contraindications during pregnancy

Activated carbon has its own history and has been used for many decades. The main disadvantage of this drug is that it washes out not only negative elements, but also useful substances. And the dosage of the drug is frightening.

Today, there are many drugs that are great for dealing with gastrointestinal problems - "Entoresgel", "Smecta", "Polysorb", "Laktofiltrum" and others. These drugs have a slightly higher price, but they are able to fight problems in the abdominal area faster and more effectively.

Pharmacists say that the most important contraindications for taking activated carbon during pregnancy are ulcerative formations, as well as possible bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. It is also not advisable to use this drug for treatment during pregnancy, when there is frequent constipation - activated carbon can lead to worsening of patency.

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