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Dietary supplement

Charcoal Activated Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by KAL

Charcoal Activated label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Charcoal Activated against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Charcoal Activated is a dietary supplement by KAL 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.

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Check Your Meds Against Charcoal Activated by KAL

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Charcoal Activated by KAL — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Charcoal Activated by KAL

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 12, 2026

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. It works by binding to substances in your digestive system — that's how it was traditionally used in poisoning cases, where it traps toxins and prevents your body from absorbing them.

The capsule also contains cellulose as 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
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: Cleansing support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Poisoning, Detoxification, Gas and bloating, Upset stomach.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Activated Charcoal is rated "Possibly Effective" for Poisoning (Natural Medicines).

Activated charcoal is rated possibly effective for poisoning. For other uses — hyperphosphatemia (a mineral imbalance), wound healing, indigestion, hangover relief, and high cholesterol — the evidence in our data is insufficient to rate it.

That doesn't mean it doesn't work for those purposes; it means reliable clinical evidence isn't established enough to say one way or the other.

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 constipation is the most common side effect you'll encounter. Other gastrointestinal complaints include abdominal pain, black stools, bloating, and gas.

In rare cases, it can cause gastrointestinal obstruction. For pregnancy and breastfeeding, the safety data rates it as possibly safe, but it's not well studied for routine use — talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's appropriate for you if you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.

Little safety data exists overall, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

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.

Check any oral medications you take — activated charcoal can reduce how well they're absorbed and work. Pay special attention to birth control pills, which charcoal may make less effective.

Avoid taking charcoal at the same time as other drugs; space them several hours apart if you can. Also, alcohol can reduce charcoal's binding action, so be mindful of that.

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 may be worth considering if you're dealing with a poisoning case under medical supervision, but outside that, evidence for other common uses is weak. The big issue here is that it can interfere with many medications and birth control — if you take any prescriptions or regularly use over-the-counter drugs, run them through the checker on this page first.

Talk to your pharmacist before you start.

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 Feb 23, 2025.

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 Charcoal Activated, straight from the product label.

Brand KAL
Barcode (UPC) 021245586050
Net contents 50 VegCap(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 23, 2025
DSLD ID 322901
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Dairy 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 Charcoal Activated by KAL, 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:
2 VegCap(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 VegCap(s)
Servings per container
25
UPC/BARCODE
021245586050
IngredientAmount% DV
Activated Charcoal500 mg--

Other ingredients: Cellulose, 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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

2 Daily

Directions: Take two VegCaps daily with meals. Use only as directed.

Brand IP Statement(s)

KAL Trust Quality Since 1932

General Statements

PCR Bottle

Formulation

Cleansing Support

Vegan

Discussion: KAL Activated Charcoal is the preferred form and is derived from non-GMO, food-grade coconut shells.

Charcoal has a long history of use throughout the world and is still used to help purify water. Activated Charcoal is regarded as an ideal detoxifier because of its absorbent properties. KAL Activated Charcoal VegCaps are used internally for total body cleansing.

Vegan.

Seals/Symbols

Vegan

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Precautions

Warning: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing. Keep your licensed health care practitioner informed when using this product. A darken of the stool may result from this product.

Keep out of reach of children.

This product is highly absorbent and may reduce the effectiveness of some medications or nutritional supplements.

California Residents Only Warning: Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Formula

Discussion: KAL Activated Charcoal is the preferred form and is derived from non-GMO, food-grade coconut shells.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Charcoal Activated by KAL label

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

Charcoal Activated label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Charcoal Activated by KAL

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

Serving size2 VegCap(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container25 Amounts shown are per serving.

Activated Charcoal

Interacts with
2,027 drugs
500 mg per serving Form: 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: Cellulose, Cellulose. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Charcoal Activated by KAL Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Charcoal Activated?

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

Activated Charcoal 2,027

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Charcoal Activated interact with 2,027 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Charcoal Activated interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Activated Charcoal

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Charcoal Activated 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
Activated Charcoal full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

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

KAL

See all KAL products
Name
Nutraceutical Corp.
Web Address
www.nutraceutical.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Charcoal Activated by KAL: Common Questions

Does Charcoal Activated by KAL interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Charcoal Activated 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?
Charcoal Activated 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 charcoal reduce how well my medications work?
Yes, activated charcoal can bind to many oral drugs and reduce how much your body absorbs them, making those medications less effective. That's why it's critical to check each of your prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs with the tool on this page before you start. Timing helps — take charcoal several hours apart from your other medications if possible.
What are the most common side effects?
Constipation is the most frequent complaint, though it's usually temporary. You may also experience abdominal pain, black stools, bloating, or gas. These are gastrointestinal effects and generally mild, but if you have severe or ongoing digestive symptoms, talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Can I use this if I'm on birth control?
Activated charcoal may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, increasing the risk that birth control fails. If you're on the pill or another oral contraceptive, check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking charcoal, and consider using backup contraception if you do use both.
Is it safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
The data rates activated charcoal as possibly safe during pregnancy and lactation, but it's not well studied for routine use in those situations. There isn't enough information to know for sure either way — talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized advice if you're pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.
What is activated charcoal actually used for?
It's rated possibly effective for poisoning, where it works by binding to toxins in your digestive tract and preventing your body from absorbing them. For other common uses like indigestion, hangovers, or high cholesterol, the evidence in our data isn't strong enough to say whether it works.
Does it matter if I drink alcohol while taking this?
Alcohol can reduce activated charcoal's ability to bind to substances, making the charcoal less effective. If you're taking this product, it's best to limit or avoid alcohol while you're using it.

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

Not sure if Charcoal Activated 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.

Charcoal Activated label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Charcoal Activated’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Activated Charcoal

Interacts with 2,027 drugs

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 and overdoses. For everyday uses like g...

Read the full Activated Charcoal monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Charcoal Activated'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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