Activated charcoal is used by hospitals to counteract certain substances that when ingested in large quantities are lethal. You can buy a milder version of the one used in hospitals from most pharmacies, as parents sometimes keep it in the medicine cabinet just in case their kids get into something they shouldn't and some adults use it in small doses to manage various gut issues.
It doesn't work on every poison but works on most - including SN, aspirin, paracetamol, phenobarbital and opioids (the last two need a bit more treatment than just swilling this but it will slow down the absorption whilst you get help).
It can be used up to an hour after ingesting the substance (depending on how fast acting the substance is). It works by binding to most of the poison and making it too large for the body to absorb, so it passes through. There's a chance it won't work, either because you're too late or have other things wrong with you but for most people it shoiuld. It can also be taken beforehand to stop the absorption of other drugs that may counteract the substance you want to take.
It won't work on:
As with everything YMMV. I wouldn't rely on this 100% because everyone is different and only a treating doctor would know exactly what to do. If you do want to keep this as a possible treatment, then research how an overdose of your substance of choice is treated. A quick search on the internet using 'how to treat a xxx overdose' should give you some useful information.
Don't think activated charcoal gives you a free pass to try to suicide and come back from it without risk. This information is for people who have made their minds up to CTB. If you don't think you're ready or not sure about ending your life then don't attempt it.
more info here: https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/activated-charcoal#basics
edited to add the disclaimer. I shouldn't have to add a disclaimer since ending your life is a decision that if you succeed there's no coming back from and even people who didn't want to succeed end up dead but there you go.
It doesn't work on every poison but works on most - including SN, aspirin, paracetamol, phenobarbital and opioids (the last two need a bit more treatment than just swilling this but it will slow down the absorption whilst you get help).
It can be used up to an hour after ingesting the substance (depending on how fast acting the substance is). It works by binding to most of the poison and making it too large for the body to absorb, so it passes through. There's a chance it won't work, either because you're too late or have other things wrong with you but for most people it shoiuld. It can also be taken beforehand to stop the absorption of other drugs that may counteract the substance you want to take.
It won't work on:
- Cyanide
- Lithium
- Ethanol (drinking alcohol) or methanol
- Mineral acids like boric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid
- Organic solvents formaldehyde, benzene, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and chloroform
- Alkali metals like potassium, magnesium, and sodium
As with everything YMMV. I wouldn't rely on this 100% because everyone is different and only a treating doctor would know exactly what to do. If you do want to keep this as a possible treatment, then research how an overdose of your substance of choice is treated. A quick search on the internet using 'how to treat a xxx overdose' should give you some useful information.
Don't think activated charcoal gives you a free pass to try to suicide and come back from it without risk. This information is for people who have made their minds up to CTB. If you don't think you're ready or not sure about ending your life then don't attempt it.
more info here: https://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/activated-charcoal#basics
edited to add the disclaimer. I shouldn't have to add a disclaimer since ending your life is a decision that if you succeed there's no coming back from and even people who didn't want to succeed end up dead but there you go.
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