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Cathartic

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Cathartic

  • Indications
  1. No definite indications
  2. Used with Activated Charcoal only for Gastrointestinal Decontamination
  3. Consider for potentially toxic amounts of sustained-release, enteric-coated, or poorly-bound drugs to actovated charcoal
  • Contraindications
  1. Examination findings
    1. Absent bowel sounds
    2. Recent abdominal surgery or Trauma
    3. Bowel perforation
    4. Intestinal Obstruction
    5. Dehydration
    6. Hypotension
  2. Poison ingestion of corrosive substance
  3. Poison ingestion with Diarrheal adverse effects
    1. Organophosphate Poisoning
    2. Carbamate Poisoning
    3. Heavy Metal Poisoning
  4. Poison ingestion with ileus as adverse effect
    1. Paraquat Poisoning
    2. Diquat
  • Precautions
  1. Use only in combination with Activated Charcoal
  2. Avoid Oil Cathartics
    1. Risk of Lipoid Aspiration Pneumonia
    2. Risk outweighs any potential benefit
  • Protocol
  • Single dose only
  1. Sorbitol
    1. Adult: 1 to 2 ml/kg of 70% Sorbitol solution
    2. Child: 4.3 ml/kg of 35% Sorbitol solution
  2. Magnesium Citrate
    1. Adult: 250 ml Magnesium Citrate 10% solution
    2. Child: 4 ml/kg Magnesium Citrate 10% solution (up to 250 ml)
  • Complications
  1. Electrolyte imbalance
  2. Dehydration
  3. Hypermagnesemia
  • Contraindications
  1. Renal Failure
  2. Congestive Heart Failure
  3. Diarrhea
  4. Ileus
  5. Recent bowel surgery
  6. Electrolyte imbalance
  7. Extremes of age (under age 1 or over age 65 years)