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Dietary supplement

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Highland Laboratories

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

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg is a dietary supplement by Highland Laboratories 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 Charcoal USP. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories

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 USP at 260 mg per capsule. Activated charcoal is a processed form of carbon that's been treated to make it highly porous, which lets it bind to other substances in your stomach and digestive tract.

The capsule itself is made of vegetable cellulose.

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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Activated charcoal dietary supplement.
  • We looked for evidence on: Flatulence, Poisoning, Gas and bloating, Upset stomach.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Activated Charcoal is rated "Possibly Effective" for Poisoning (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Activated Charcoal is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Flatulence.

Activated charcoal is considered possibly effective for poisoning when given soon after ingestion. For other uses — high phosphate levels (hyperphosphatemia), wound healing, indigestion, hangover, or cholesterol — the evidence we hold is insufficient to rate it.

If you're considering this product for anything other than poisoning under medical supervision, talk with your pharmacist about whether the science supports that use.

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.

For short-term use, activated charcoal is generally well tolerated, but it commonly causes constipation, black stools, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. Rarely, it can cause gastrointestinal blockage.

Because it reduces how well other things are absorbed — not just medications — it may affect nutrient intake. Activated charcoal hasn't been well studied for regular use in pregnancy.

The data shows it's possibly safe, but there isn't enough information to be certain either way. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.

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 take this product, double-check any regular medications you're on — especially oral drugs (which charcoal may reduce), birth control pills (where failure risk rises), and any alcohol use (which interferes with how the charcoal works). With over 2,000 affected medications in the data, a quick check with your pharmacist is smart.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Activated charcoal makes sense if you've been poisoned and a medical team tells you to take it — and fast, since it works best soon after ingestion. If you take any regular medications or birth control, check them against the drug interaction tool on this page before you start; charcoal can render a lot of drugs less effective.

Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about whether it's right for you.

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 21, 2017.

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 Caps 260 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Highland Laboratories
Barcode (UPC) 768305518902
Net contents 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Oct 21, 2017
DSLD ID 79538
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
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 Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories, 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 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
UPC/BARCODE
768305518902
IngredientAmount% DV
Charcoal USP260 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Cellulose

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Seals/Symbols

GMP Quality Assured Earth Friendly

General Statements

% Daily Value

Formulation

No corn, soy, salt, yeast, gluten, milk & egg products, sugar, starch, or preservatives.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Two capsules with meals, as a dietary supplement. May take capsules every two hours, up to 8 capsules per day.

Precautions

Caution: Charcoal interferes with absorption of some medications including birth control tablets. Consult your physician before using charcoal and medication.

Charcoal may turn the stool dark.

General

PR 518

See for yourself

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories

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

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

Charcoal USP

Interacts with
2,027 drugs
260 mg per serving

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...

Charcoal USP monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Activated Charcoal Caps 260 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

Charcoal USP 2,027

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Activated Charcoal Caps 260 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.

Charcoal USP3 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 Caps 260 mg, from the product label.

Highland Laboratories

See all Highland Laboratories products
Name
Highland Laboratories
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories: Common Questions

Does Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg by Highland Laboratories interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Activated Charcoal Caps 260 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 Caps 260 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 activated charcoal make my birth control less effective?
Yes, it can. Activated charcoal may bind to oral contraceptive hormones and reduce how well your body absorbs them, raising the risk of contraceptive failure. If you take birth control and want to use activated charcoal, talk with your pharmacist first — you may need backup contraception or a different approach.
What's the most common side effect?
Constipation. Black stools, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas are also common. These are usually temporary and happen because charcoal moves through your gut binding to things along the way. Rare but serious side effects include bowel obstruction.
Is it safe to take if I'm pregnant?
The data rates it as possibly safe, but there isn't enough research to be certain. Don't take it without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first — they can help you weigh whether it's right for your situation.
Why does activated charcoal interact with so many drugs?
Charcoal is incredibly porous, which lets it bind nonselectively to many substances in your stomach — not just poisons, but also medications and nutrients. That's why it can reduce how much of your regular drugs your body absorbs.
How soon after a poison should I take this?
As soon as possible. Activated charcoal works best if you take it soon after ingestion, so if poisoning is suspected, get medical help right away and follow their instructions.
Does this product have any fillers?
The capsule is made of vegetable cellulose, which is an inactive ingredient. The active ingredient is the charcoal itself.

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

Not sure if Activated Charcoal Caps 260 mg is safe with your meds?

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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 Caps 260 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Activated Charcoal Caps 260 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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