Are there any hazards to using activated charcoal?
The only hazards associated with activated charcoal are those connected with its use in hospitals. Only three hazards are listed – aspiration, bowel obstruction, or constipation. In each of the reported cases activated charcoal was implicated by association with either the accidental perforation of the windpipe during intubation, the use of some drug resulting in bowel obstruction, or dehydration of the patient resulting in severe constipation. It should be noted that the complications attributed to charcoal were secondary to medical error on the part of the hospital staff.
