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Methamphetamine toxicity prevented by activated charcoal in a mouse model
P E McKinney1, C Tomaszewski, S Phillips
1Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver General Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Study Objective:
To determine the effectiveness of activated charcoal in preventing toxicity from oral methamphetamine HCI.
Design:
Randomized, 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 received either 1 g/kg activated charcoal or an equivalent volume of water as control.
Measurements And Main Results:
Mice were observed for time to onset of symptoms (piloerection, agitation, and tremor) and mortality at 1, 24, and 48 hours. Activated charcoal delayed onset of symptoms (5.53 +/- 1.25 minutes versus 4.27 +/- 1.22 minutes, P < .002) and decreased 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 single dose of activated charcoal given after oral methamphetamine delayed onset of toxicity and decreased early mortality in mice. There was no effect on overall mortality.