Which is the standard dose of activated charcoal for adults?

• A. 0.5 g/kg
• B. 1 g/kg up to 50 g
• C. 2 g/kg
• D. 3 g/kg

Answer: (B)

Activated charcoal works by adsorbing many ingested toxins in the gut, lowering how much poison gets absorbed into the bloodstream. The standard dose for adults is 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, with a maximum single dose of 50 grams. This means a person who weighs 40 kg would get 40 g, while someone weighing 60 kg would still receive 50 g because of the cap. Doses like 0.5 g/kg are generally under the typical adult amount, whereas 2 g/kg or 3 g/kg would push past the safe single-dose limit and aren’t used. In practice, charcoal is given as soon as possible after ingestion and only for toxins known to be adsorbed by charcoal, not for caustics, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, or alcohols.