COMPARATIVE ANTIDOTAL EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL, ARIZONA MONTMORILLONITE, AND EVAPORATED MILK

Activated charcoal, Arizona montmorillonite, and evaporated milk were compared for their ability to reduce gastrointestinal absorption of three potential poisons. Time‐course drug‐concentration studies were performed on kerosene‐ and aspirin‐treated animals. Activated charcoal and Arizona montmorillonite reduced blood kerosene level at all time periods studied, whereas evaporated milk was effective only during the early time periods. Activated charcoal reduced plasma aspirin level at all time periods studied, whereas Arizona montmorillonite was slightly effective only during the late time periods and evaporated milk was effective only during the initial few hours. Activated charcoal, Arizona montmorillonite, and evaporated milk reduced liver concentration of strychnine, which was analyzed only at the 5‐min. time period, by approximately 80–90%. These antidotes also significantly elevated the median lethal dose (LD50) of strychnine. Although activated charcoal appears to have the greatest adsorptive spectrum, Arizona montmorillonite and evaporated milk should be investigated further as possible antidotes. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company