Abstract
1 The effects of charcoal and sorbitol, alone and in combination, were investigated in eight healthy female volunteers who received 600 mg slow-release theophylline (two 300 mg capsules) .
2 The area under the plasma concentration time curve to 24 h (AUC
0-24
) after theophylline alone was significantly greater than after both the charcoal and charcoal plus sorbitol phase.
3 Charcoal and charcoal with sorbitol also significantly reduced the maximum plasma theophylline concentration ( T
max
) and time to maximum concentration ( C
max
).
4 Sorbitol significantly increased C
max
and shortened T
max
.
5 Although sorbitol did not reduce the adsorptive efficacy of charcoal, its use alone may be deleterious in poisoning with sustained-release theophylline products.