The Effects of Charcoal and Sorbitol (Alone and in Combination) on Plasma Theophylline Concentrations after a Sustained-Release Formulation

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.