Activated carbon is a simple and cheap adsorbent for the body. It is present in almost any first aid kit. But many people use this drug quite rarely and therefore, sooner or later, they may find that the expiration date of activated charcoal has expired when it became necessary to use this drug. What to do in this case?
Expiration date
The most common form of activated charcoal release is 250 mg tablets placed in individual cells. One pack contains 10 tablets. Activated charcoal, produced in such a pack, usually has a shelf life of two years. This period is indicated on the package itself with the drug. But in fact, this term is conditional. With proper storage conditions, the shelf life of activated carbon is not limited.
In case of violation of the integrity of the package (in the place where the individual cell with the tablet is located), activated carbongradually loses its properties, as it immediately begins to absorb substances from the environment. But even in this case, a charcoal tablet will not harm the body, it simply cannot absorb toxins and any other substances from the body.
How to store?
To ensure that the shelf life of activated carbon does not expire, and the properties of the drug are preserved for many years, the following rules must be observed:
- store activated charcoal in a cool, dry place without freezing and high humidity (freezer and bathroom will not work);
- should not be exposed to the sun;
- when stored in the refrigerator, place the package of activated charcoal in a container or hermetically sealed bag (the drug may absorb some substances from the refrigerator and lose its properties);
- in the refrigerator, the drug should not be stored in places with strong cooling;
- next to the drug should not be substances that evaporate easily;
- The medicine storage area should not be accessible to children or rodents.
The shelf life of activated carbon, subject to the above conditions, will be literally eternal.
Application
Adsorption - a property of activated carbon, which means the absorption of vapors, gases, substances or solutions. To remove harmful substances from the body, you need to drink activated charcoal. Many do not know under what conditions this drug can be useful. Termactivated charcoal could be far from expired if everyone took these pills as needed.
Activated charcoal, which is sold in a pharmacy, has the following indications:
- flatulence (gas in the intestines);
- indigestion;
- excessive secretion of mucus and gastric juice;
- fermentation and putrefaction in the digestive tract;
- various poisonings (glycosides, food, alkaloids, chemicals, drugs);
- dysentery;
- salmonellosis;
- hepatitis (chronic or acute);
- atopic dermatitis;
- gastritis;
- bronchial asthma;
- enterocolitis;
- cholecystopancreatitis.
The medication has a lot of indications, besides it is practically harmless. If, however, a drug such as activated charcoal has expired, and there are concerns about its use, then it is easier to buy fresh packaging at the pharmacy, especially since it costs a penny. There are many recipes for face and hair masks that use activated charcoal. If they are used in practice, then the package with the drug may end much earlier than its expiration date.
