METHAMPHETAMINE TOXICITY PREVENTED BY ACTIVATED-CHARCOAL IN A MOUSE MODEL

Study objective: To determine the effectiveness of activated charcoal in preventing toxicity from oral methamphetamine HCI. Design: Randomiz ed, prospective, nonblinded, controlled animal study. Setting: Animal care facility. Participants: CD-1 male mice. Interventions: Mice were given 100 mg/kg methamphetamine HCI (lethal dose 60) in water by oral gavage. Within 1 minute of methamphetamine administration, mice receiv ed either 1 g/kg activated charcoal or an equivalent volume of water a s control. Measurements and main results: Mice were observed for time to onset of symptoms (piloerection, agitation, and tremor) and mortali ty at 1, 24, and 48 hours. Activated charcoal delayed onset of symptom s (5.53+/-1.25 minutes versus 4.27+/-1.22 minutes, P<.002) and decreas ed mortality compared to controls at 1 hour (1 of 20 versus 10 of 20, P<.003) and 24 hours (five of 20 versus 12 of 20, P<.05). There was no difference between groups in mortality at 48 hours. Conclusion: A sin gle dose of activated charcoal given after oral methamphetamine delaye d onset of toxicity and decreased early mortality in mice. There was n o effect on overall mortality.