Activated Charcoal for Poisoning
(CHARPP-Pilot Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byMaude St-Onge, MD PhD FRCPC

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 4

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Laval University

No Placebo Group

Prior Safety Data

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The goal of this clinical pilot trial is to determine the feasibility of the clinical trial. Then the large-scale CHARPP will be conducted in order to determine the efficacity of activated charcoal as a treatment for acute poisoning in a diverse population of both adults and children suspected of ingesting toxic substances that activated charcoal can adsorb. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can activated charcoal administered within a specific time frame prevent the progression of toxicity? * How does activated charcoal affect the length of stay in the hospital and the intensive care unit? Researchers will compare the intervention arm (receiving activated charcoal) to the control arm (receiving standard supportive care) to see if activated charcoal reduces hospital stay duration, ICU stay and improves overall patient outcomes. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either receive activated charcoal or standard supportive care. * Undergo assessments using standardized clinical scales such as the Poison Severity Score and, for children, the PELODS score. * Have their functional outcomes evaluated, such as the ability to return to their original residence without help and manage personal hygiene tasks independently. This structured approach will help clarify the role of activated charcoal in clinical toxicology and inform future treatment protocols.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults and children who arrived at the hospital within 8 hours after ingesting a potentially toxic dose of a substance that can be absorbed by activated charcoal. It's not specified who cannot participate, but typically there would be criteria excluding certain individuals.

Inclusion Criteria

I arrived at the hospital within 8 hours after ingesting a potentially harmful substance.

Participant Groups

Researchers are testing if giving activated charcoal to patients with acute poisoning is better than standard supportive care alone. They want to know if it prevents worsening of toxicity, shortens hospital or ICU stays, and improves patient outcomes like independence in daily activities.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: AC administrationExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Participants will receive 1g/kg up to a maximum of 50g of activated charcoal by mouth or by naso-gastric tube. The intervention is giving over 15 minutes, as recommended. Activated charcoal can be mixed in a black soft drink to improve palatability and treatment adherence which is often done in usual practice.

Group II: No ACActive Control1 Intervention

Participants will not receive any activated charcoal