ACTIDOSE-AQUA ADVANCE

The container should be shaken thoroughly prior to administration. If the dose of poison that has been ingested is known, a ratio of 10:1 (activated charcoal:toxin) may be used to determine the optimal dose of activated charcoal, subject to the limits of practicality.

In the absence of any information regarding the amount of poison ingested, the following doses are recommended: Adults (including the elderly) and children over 12 years of age: For single dose therapy, 50-100 grams of activated charcoal (240-480 ml) taken as soon as possible after ingestion of the poison.

For multiple dose therapy, 25-50 grams of activated charcoal (120-240 ml) every 4-6 hours. Children aged 1-12 years For single dose therapy, 25-50 grams of activated charcoal (120-240 ml) taken as soon as possible after ingestion of the poison.

For multiple dose therapy, the dose may be repeated every 4-6 hours.

Children under one year of age:

For single dose therapy, 1 g or 5 ml per kg bodyweight taken as soon as possible after ingestion of the poison. For multiple dose therapy, the dose may be repeated every 4- 6 hours. Induction of emesis is not recommended because there is no evidence that it affects absorption and it may increase the risk of aspiration.

If gastric lavage is being used to facilitate stomach evacuation a single dose of Actidose-Aqua Advance may be administered early in the procedure. This has the advantage of prompt administration of activated charcoal, but the gastric lavage returns will be black which may make it difficult to evaluate what the patient ingested by visual examination.

Actidose-Aqua Advance may be effective even when several hours have elapsed after ingestion of the poison if gastrointestinal motility is reduced by the toxin or if the drug is subject to enterohepatic or enteroenteric recycling.

Undesirable effects are listed by MedDRA System Organ Classes. 4 ‘Special warnings and precautions for use’). 2 Associated with the use of multiple dose activated charcoal therapy. Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important.

It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme.

Tel:

Freephone 0808 100 3352. uk/yellowcard.

Actidose-Aqua Advance is not recommended for patients who have ingested corrosive agents such as strong acids or alkalis since the activated charcoal may obscure endoscopic visualisation of oesophageal and gastric lesions produced by the toxin.

Actidose-Aqua Advance is of little or no value in the treatment of poisoning with cyanides, alcohols, iron salts, malathion and DDT. Actidose-Aqua Advance is an adjunct in the management of poisoning emergencies. Prior to its use, proper basic life support measures must be implemented where required as well as the appropriate gastric emptying technique if indicated.

g. anticholinergics, opioids). Bowel sounds should be monitored frequently to assess peristaltic action, especially in patients undergoing multiple dose activated charcoal therapy. 8 ‘Undesirable effects’). A laxative may be given concurrently to accelerate the removal of the activated charcoal-toxin complex, but should be used with caution and only intermittently during multiple dose activated charcoal therapy since profuse and protracted diarrhoea may lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalance.

8 ‘Undesirable effects’).

Use of Actidose-Aqua Advance is contra-indicated in persons who are not fully conscious.