Diarrhea

Todah i having diarrhea, went to seek doctor. But doctor keep giving me Charcoal...Why charcoal....

following is the info about the Charcoal

Charcoal activated is used for:

Treating gas, diarrhea, or stomach upset. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Charcoal activated is an adsorbent. How charcoal activated works is unknown.

Do NOT use charcoal activated if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in charcoal activated

Before using charcoal activated:

Some medical conditions may interact with charcoal activated. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with charcoal activated. However, no specific interactions with charcoal activated are known at this time.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if charcoal activated may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use charcoal activated:

Use charcoal activated as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take charcoal activated after meals or at the first sign of discomfort.
• Charcoal activated may interfere with the absorption of many other medicines. Talk to your doctor about taking charcoal activated 2 hours before or after taking any other medicine.
• If you miss a dose of charcoal activated, take it as soon as you remember. Continue to take it as directed by your doctor or on the package label.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use charcoal activated.

Important safety information:

• If diarrhea continues for more than 2 days or you develop a fever, contact your doctor.
• Charcoal activated may cause your stools to turn black.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant while taking charcoal activated, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using charcoal activated during pregnancy. It is unknown if charcoal activated is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using charcoal activated, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of charcoal activated:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Constipation; diarrhea; temporary darkening of the stool; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue).

Read more at http://www.drugs.com/cdi/charcoal-activated.html#0Fw2IXrLTlb1Be8e.99