Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Activated Charcoal 600 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Purest Vantage

Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Activated Charcoal 600 mg is a dietary supplement by Purest Vantage with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for poisoning and drug overdose (in emergency care), gas and bloating, upset stomach.Based on those ingredients, 2,027 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are Activated Charcoal. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: activated charcoal at 600 mg per capsule. Activated charcoal is a highly porous form of carbon that works by binding (adsorbing) substances in your digestive system.

The capsule itself is made from methylcellulose, an inactive ingredient.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded Activated Charcoal's overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Activated Charcoal for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Poisoning — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

Activated charcoal is possibly effective for poisoning (typically acute poisoning events where it's used under medical supervision). For other uses listed — hyperphosphatemia, wound healing, dyspepsia, hangover, and high cholesterol — the evidence we hold is insufficient to say whether it works.

If you're considering this for a specific condition, your pharmacist or doctor can give you better guidance on whether the research supports it for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Activated Charcoal

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Activated charcoal is generally well tolerated for short-term use but comes with some caveats. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: constipation (the most frequent), black stools, belly pain, bloating, and gas.

These are usually temporary. Rarely, it can cause intestinal blockage.

Because activated charcoal reduces how your body absorbs many things, be aware it may interfere with nutrient uptake and other oral substances. For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the safety data hasn't been well studied for routine use — it's rated possibly safe — so talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're pregnant or nursing.

If you have any ongoing health conditions, check with your pharmacist first.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Activated Charcoal

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Activated Charcoal.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • For scale: 2,028 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before you start, double-check any oral medications you take regularly — activated charcoal can reduce how much of them your body absorbs, making them less effective. If you use oral contraceptives (birth control pills), you'll want to discuss this with your pharmacist, as charcoal may lower their effectiveness.

Avoid taking this close to alcohol, as alcohol weakens charcoal's binding ability.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Activated charcoal may be worth considering if you've taken a poison under medical guidance, though a pharmacist or poison control should direct that use. Because it interacts with so many medications — including birth control — and you take prescription drugs, check them against the tool on this page first.

If you use contraceptives, talk with your pharmacist about the risk. For other uses, the evidence isn't clear enough yet to say it'll help.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Oct 24, 2022.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Activated Charcoal 600 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Purest Vantage
Barcode (UPC) X0017DVY91
Net contents 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 24, 2022
DSLD ID 276275
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
X0017DVY91
IngredientAmount% DV
Activated Charcoal600 mg--

Other ingredients: Methylcellulose Capsule

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Precautions

Caution: Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a healthcare professional before using this or any dietary supplement.

Caution: Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a healthcare professional before using this or any dietary supplement.

Keep out of reach of children.

Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing.

Formulation

Does not contain: GMOs, fillers, binders, preservatives, stearates, artificial ingredients, silicone dioxide, or titanium dioxide. This formula does not contain: soy, gluten, milk, lactose, egg, shellfish, corn, wheat, yeast, tree nuts, or sugars.

Made in USA with global ingredients

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Seals/Symbols

GMP Good Manufacturing Practice

Formula

Activated Charcoal 600 mg per capsule Steam activated charcoal derived from coconut shells

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule up to three times daily, 3-4 hours before/after meals, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.

See for yourself

Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container90 Amounts shown are per serving.

Activated Charcoal

Interacts with
2,027 drugs
600 mg per serving Form: organic Coconut

Activated charcoal is a highly porous form of carbon that can bind certain substances in the gut, and it is used in hospitals to treat some poisonings...

Activated Charcoal monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Methylcellulose Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Activated Charcoal 600 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
2,027Drugs
2,022 Major 5 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Activated Charcoal 600 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Activated Charcoal3 drug types · 2,027 drugs

Oral Drugs

Activated charcoal reduces systemic exposure to many drugs, including those that undergo enterohepatic recirculation, regardless of the route of administration.
Activated charcoal adsorbs various drugs and may reduce their absorption and/or half-life. Examples of affected drugs include acetaminophen, aminophylline, amiodarone, atenolol, carbamazepine, dapsone, digoxin, disopyramide, fluoxetine, indomethacin, moxifloxacin, nadolol, phenytoin, phenobarbital, piroxicam, quinine, sotalol, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, valproate, and verapamil. Avoid co-administration, except after drug overdose.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Alcohol (Ethanol)

The binding action of activated charcoal may be reduced by alcohol.
Alcohol may lower the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Contraceptive Drugs

Activated charcoal may reduce the clinical effects of oral contraceptives.
Activated charcoal, taken in a dose of 5 grams four times daily for 3 days, may bind to, and reduce the absorption of, oral contraceptives, thereby limiting their effectiveness and increasing the risk of contraceptive failure. However, some clinical research shows that the risk for this interaction is minimal when activated charcoal is taken either 3 hours after or at least 12 hours before oral contraceptives.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Activated Charcoal 600 mg, from the product label.

Purest Vantage

See all Purest Vantage products
Name
Purest Vantage
Street Address
390 North Orange Avenue, Suite 2300-C
City
Orlando
State
FL
ZipCode
32801
Web Address
www.purestvantage.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage: Common Questions

Does Activated Charcoal 600 mg by Purest Vantage interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Activated Charcoal 600 mg has a known interaction with 2,027 medications, including 2022 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Activated Charcoal 600 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will this interfere with my other medications?
Very likely, yes. Activated charcoal binds to many oral drugs and reduces how much your body absorbs. You need to check each medication you take using the tool on this page before you start — we have 2,008 documented interactions to screen against.
Can I take this if I'm on birth control?
Activated charcoal may reduce how well oral contraceptives work and raise the risk of contraceptive failure. Talk with your pharmacist about whether you should use backup contraception or choose a different timing for this product.
What are the side effects?
The most common ones are gastrointestinal: constipation, black stools, bloating, belly pain, and gas. These usually pass. Rarely, it can cause intestinal blockage, so if you have severe abdominal pain or no bowel movements, contact your doctor.
Is activated charcoal really effective for what it claims to do?
It's possibly effective for acute poisoning (that's typically given under medical supervision). For hangover, high cholesterol, indigestion, wound healing, and high phosphate levels, the evidence we have is insufficient to say it works.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data for routine use in pregnancy and lactation hasn't been well studied — it's rated possibly safe. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice before using it if you're pregnant or nursing.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Activated Charcoal 600 mg is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Activated Charcoal 600 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Activated Charcoal 600 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 14 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Activated Charcoal 14 references
  1. Kaaja RJ, Kontula KK, Raiha A, Laatikainen T. Treatment of cholestasis of pregnancy with peroral activated charcoal. A preliminary study. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:178-81.
  2. Anon. Position statement and practice guidelines on the use of multi-dose activated charcoal in the treatment of acute poisoning. American Academy of Clinical Toxicology; European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists. J Toxicol Clin T
  3. Park GD, Spector R, Kitt TM. Superactivated charcoal versus cholestyramine for cholesterol lowering: a randomized cross-over trial. J Clin Pharmacol 1988;28:416-9. PubMed
  4. Hoegberg LC, Angelo HR, Christophersen AB, Christensen HR. Effect of ethanol and pH on the adsorption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) to high surface activated charcoal, in vitro studies. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2002;40:59-67. PubMed
  5. Brahmi N, Kouraichi N, Thabet H, Amamou M. Influence of activated charcoal on the pharmacokinetics and the clinical features of carbamazepine poisoning. Am J Emerg Med 2006;24(4):440-3. PubMed
  6. Gude AB, Hoegberg LC, Angelo HR, Christensen HR. Dose-dependent adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal for gastrointestinal decontamination of a simulated paracetamol overdose in human volunteers. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2010;106(5)406-10. PubMed
  7. Wananukul W, Klaikleun S, Sriapha C, Tongpoo A. Effect of activated charcoal in reducing paracetamol absorption at supra-therapeutic dose. J Med Assoc Thai 2010;93(10):1145-9.
  8. Wang Z, Cui M, Tang L, et al. Oral activated charcoal suppresses hyperphosphataemia in haemodialysis patients. Nephrology (Carlton) 2012;17(7):616-20. PubMed
  9. Wang X, Mondal S, Wang J, et al. Effect of activated charcoal on apixaban pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2014;14(2):147-54. PubMed
  10. Chyka PA, Seger D, Krenzelok EP, et al. Position paper: single-dose activated charcoal. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2005;43(2):61-87. PubMed
  11. Chiew AL, Gluud C, Brok J, Buckley NA. Interventions for paracetamol (acetaminophen) overdose. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;2:CD003328. PubMed
  12. Elomaa K, Ranta S, Tuominen J, Lähteenmäki P. Charcoal treatment and risk of escape ovulation in oral contraceptive users. Hum Reprod. 2001;16(1):76-81. PubMed
  13. Gao Y, Wang G, Li Y, Lv C, Wang Z. Effects of oral activated charcoal on hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification in Chinese patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease. J Nephrol. 2019;32(2):265-72. PubMed
  14. Skov K, Graudal NA, Jürgens G. The effect of activated charcoal on drug exposure following intravenous administration: A meta-analysis. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2021;128(4):568-578. PubMed

See these in context on the Activated Charcoal monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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