Activated Charcoal: Uses, Benefits, and Myths

In recent years, activated charcoal has attracted a lot of media attention. It’s a substance commonly used to treat and reverse poisonings in ERs.

Some have promoted activated charcoal as an ingredient in health and wellness products. It often appears in products such as teeth whiteners, face masks, and detox drinks. But is there evidence that activated charcoal can do more than treat poisonings or overdoses?

Here, we’ll talk about what you need to know about activated charcoal: what it is, its potential benefits, and side effects to watch out for.

What is activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal — also known as activated carbon — is a black powder made from carbon sources, such as wood or coconut shells. It’s activated after these materials are exposed to high temperatures and certain gasses. This process adds holes and cracks within the charcoal, making it ideal for attaching to certain chemicals.

Activated charcoal may be able to help if you swallowed certain poisons or too much of a medication. It can attach to some poisons or medications in your digestive tract. In doing so, it helps the substance leave your body through your stool.

Activated charcoal and overdose

Activated charcoal has been used for centuries to remove toxic substances from the body. And it’s still used in the ER to counteract the effects of some accidental poisonings or medication overdoses. It may be used if a poison or medication is sitting in the stomach and hasn’t entered the bloodstream. The sooner activated charcoal is taken, the better it works — generally within 30 to 60 minutes.

But activated charcoal isn’t recommended for the treatment of certain overdoses, involving substances such as:

• Alcohol

• Products containing metal (e.g., iron, lithium)

• Caustic substances, or substances that cause burns when touched or swallowed (e.g., household cleaners, gasoline, paint thinner)

• Any substance that has been injected into the bloodstream or under the skin

Does activated charcoal have benefits beyond the ER?

Activated charcoal is commonly found in health and wellness products and supplements. (We’ll cover these in more detail later.) But there’s not much evidence that activated charcoal is effective for uses outside the ER. There are, however, a few situations in which activated charcoal might be beneficial.

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Gas and bloating

Some people find that activated charcoal might help with gas and bloating symptoms. But there isn’t a lot of recent research to support this. A few small studies conducted in the 1980s suggested it may help reduce the amount of gas produced by the gut. But later studies didn’t find any benefit.

A more recent study showed that a supplement containing activated charcoal significantly reduced constipation and bloating. But the supplement also contained herbs and substances that may have digestive benefits. So it’s difficult to say whether activated charcoal on its own helped in this case.

It’s unclear if oral activated charcoal helps with gas and bloating, but it might help when it’s incorporated into cushions and underwear. Briefs, underwear pads, and cushions containing activated charcoal didn’t decrease the amount of gas. But they were effective at reducing smells caused by gas in a clinical study.

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Kidney disease

Some studies suggest that activated charcoal may help eliminate high levels of waste products, such as urea and phosphate, in people living with advanced kidney disease. It does this by binding to them in the gut and getting rid of them through your stool.

Activated charcoal may also be helpful for less severe kidney disease by slowing down the progression of kidney issues. It does this by reducing phosphate.

Keep in mind: It’s not common for healthcare professionals to use activated charcoal for this purpose. If you have kidney disease, it’s important that you don’t start taking new supplements — including activated charcoal — without talking to a kidney specialist or your primary care team.

Water filtration

Activated charcoal is occasionally used for water filtration. A water filter that has activated carbon (charcoal) can help remove certain chemicals from water before you drink or use it.

Activated carbon water filters can help improve water taste and quality, but they don’t get rid of all possible chemicals and germs.

Which activated charcoal products are mostly just media hype?

Health trends and marketing have made activated charcoal products more popular. Personal care products containing activated charcoal (such as toothpaste, soaps, and deodorants) focus on the idea that activated charcoal can draw out impurities. But there isn’t much research to back that up, especially for skin care products.

Here’s what we know about some popular activated charcoal products.

Hangover prevention

Many online resources claim that activated charcoal can prevent hangovers if taken before drinking. Activated charcoal can attach to many chemicals, but alcohol isn’t one of them.

The best way to prevent hangovers is to limit the amount of alcohol you drink. If you’re going to have more than 1 drink, make sure to drink water between drinks and have some food before you start.

Toothpaste and teeth whitening

Many toothpastes and other oral-care products contain activated charcoal. It’s marketed as a way to help whiten and clean your teeth.

But there aren’t studies to back up the claim that charcoal-based toothpastes detoxify your mouth or teeth. They also don’t whiten teeth or remove stains better than regular toothpaste. In fact, they might wear down tooth enamel. This can make teeth rougher, making them more likely to absorb stains. Also, many charcoal-based toothpastes don’t contain fluoride, an important cavity fighter.

If you want whiter teeth, you’re better off choosing a whitening toothpaste with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. This will ensure your toothpaste is safe and effective.

Face masks and skin cleansers

Skin care products, such as face masks and skin cleansers, may also be enhanced with activated charcoal. They likely won’t cause problems. But they probably won’t work any better than skin care products that don’t have activated charcoal. Many of these products have additional ingredients with proven benefits for acne treatment or inflammation. It’s more likely these components are driving the benefit rather than charcoal.

It’s important to remember that charcoal-based skin products are not regulated by the FDA. If you’re looking for a solution for your skin condition, speak to a dermatologist. They can advise you on evidence-based treatment options that are safe for your skin.

Shampoo

Some shampoos and other hair-care products contain activated charcoal. The claim is that these products help remove oil and dirt from hair.

So, can it? Until research can back up these claims, we won’t know for sure.

Is activated charcoal safe?

Activated charcoal is generally safe to use. But that doesn’t mean it’s free of any risks. Its safety depends on how it’s used, with oral use increasing the likelihood of issues.

Example risks include:

• Lung problems: People with trouble swallowing and those who are vomiting or lose consciousness can accidentally inhale activated charcoal, causing severe inflammation in the lungs (aspiration pneumonitis).

• Gut problems: Activated charcoal can rarely block the gut, especially if it’s given alongside medications that slow gut function, such as opioids or anticholinergic medications.

• Drug interactions: Activated charcoal can attach to many medications and supplements and make them less effective.

What are potential side effects of activated charcoal?

Like all medications and supplements, activated charcoal may cause side effects. These are mostly gut related and include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Stomach pain

• Diarrhea

• Abnormal electrolytes

• Constipation

• Bowel obstruction

• Dark-colored stool

The above side effects are a concern only if you take activated charcoal by mouth. Topical forms are less likely to cause these issues.

Does activated charcoal have any drug interactions?

Yes, certain medications and supplements can interact with activated charcoal. Examples include:

• Birth control pills (oral contraceptives)

• Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and imipramine (Tofranil)

• Anti-seizure medications, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), and carbamazepine (Tegretol)

• Leflunomide

• Theophylline

• Digoxin (Lanoxin)

• Anticoagulants, such as apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto)

On the flip side, alcohol can make activated charcoal less effective. In a study looking at activated charcoal’s effectiveness for acetaminophen overdose, the presence of alcohol made it harder for activated charcoal to attach to acetaminophen.

Activated charcoal has the potential to interfere with the absorption of many oral medications. If you take activated charcoal (as a supplement or medication), speak to your primary care provider or pharmacist. They can help you decide if the combination is safe.

Activated charcoal food interactions

Activated charcoal isn’t appetizing. Its gritty texture and dark color can make it difficult to swallow. It’s often mixed with cola, chocolate, or other sweeteners to make it easier to take. But chocolate, mineral oil, marmalade, sherbet, and certain dairy products (milk, ice cream) may make activated charcoal less effective.

Certain foods and drinks may also be infused with activated charcoal. There isn’t research showing that these foods detoxify the body or have other health benefits.

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Written by:

Rachel Feaster, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS

Rachel Feaster has over 10 years of professional experience in ambulatory, inpatient, pharmacogenomics, and oncology care. She is board certified in oncology and pharmacotherapy.

Reviewed by:

Ella Bolin, PharmD Candidate

Ella Bolin is a PharmD candidate at Butler University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. She holds a current position as a CVS pharmacy intern and volunteers with Butler University's Community Outreach Clinic (BUCOP) as a medication therapy consultant for the underserved community of Indianapolis.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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