The influence of cold versus room temperature charcoal on reducing nausea of poisoned patients: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: Intoxication is among the most common causes of emergency department (ED) visits. Activated charcoal is one of the useful treatments preventing poison absorption. However, nausea caused by using charcoal has made this substance less acceptable among patients. This study aims at investigating the influence of using cold charcoal on reducing the nausea among poisoned patients. Methods: This clinical experimental trial study approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Regional School of Medicine of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with the code 930106. Randomization was provided by Sealed Envelope. Accordingly, the experimental group received cold charcoal (4ᵒC), while the control group received room temperature charcoal (23ᵒC). We used the coding method in order to double blind the study. After half and one hour, nausea was checked in patients by visual numeric scale (VNS). Data were described by using descriptive and analytic test indices including frequency, mean ± standard deviation and suitable charts and tables. Results: The average age of participants was 25.83±7.05. The severity of nausea half an hour after consuming charcoal in cold charcoal group and experimental group was 1.3 and 2.73, respectively (P<0.001). One hour after consuming charcoal, the severity of nausea in cold charcoal group and experimental group was 0.39 and 1.38 (P<0.001). As indicated by the results of the study and after investigating the changing trend of nausea severity, nausea severity decreased in both groups by passing time from half to one hour (P<0.001). Conclusion: Cold charcoal can reduce the rate of nausea and make it more acceptable among patients.