This should only be done under the direct guidance of the physician or poison control center. The doctor also determines when and if additional doses are given by monitoring blood levels of the poison. Other symptoms the doctor monitors are nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and severe heart problems. Multiple doses of activated charcoal can often be given if someone swallowed large doses of long-acting, sustained release medications. If blood levels of the poison remain too high, the physician may recommend kidney dialysis.
Dialysis is the best way to remove the toxin from the bloodstream.
Physicians will need to look at the lining with an endoscope a special instrument designed to look inside the stomach. Activated charcoal is not to be used with this type of poison because it is difficult to see the lining of the GI tract with the scope after charcoal is given. Activated charcoal can cause intestinal problems such as constipation, or it can create clumps of foreign material. This situation can be prevented by giving a laxative such as sorbitol. But repeated doses with sorbitol may cause excessive diarrhea, dehydration, and chemical imbalance.