Summary
The treatment of salicylate poisoning is ased on the prevention of further absorption, and enhancement of excretion of already absorbed drug. A variety of methods based on this rationale have been used over the years. One of the more popular and successful treatments has been forced alkaline diuresis to encourage excretion. This technique, however, is not without risk and has now been replaced with alkalinisation alone, which has been shown to be safer and equally successful. The use of activated charcoal as an acute adsorbing agent for drug still in the upper gastrointestinal tract is beneficial in minimising further absorption. A recent development in the use of activated charcoal is the administration of multiple doses which are believed to enhance elimination of absorbed drug. The charcoal adsorbs salicylate diffusing back into the gut from the coeliac and mesenteric blood vessels thereby effectively eliminating it — a form of ‘internal peritoneal dialysis’. Multiple-dose activated charcoal and alkalinisation are currently the most popular methods of treatment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ali B, Kaur S. Mammalian tissue acetylsalicylic acid esterases. Identification, distribution and discrimination from other esterases. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 226: 589–594, 1983
Alvan G, Bergman U, Gustafsson LL. High unbound fraction of salicylate in plasma during intoxication. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 11: 625–626, 1981
Anderson RJ, Potts DE, Gabow PA, Rumack BH, Schrier RW. Unrecognised adult salicylate intoxication. Annals of Internal Medicine 85: 745–748, 1976
Atwood SJ. The laboratory in the diagnosis and management of acetaminophen and salicylate intoxications. Pediatric Clinics of North America 27: 871–879, 1980
Barone JA, Raia JJ, Huang YC. Evaluation of the effects of multiple-dose activated charcoal on the absorption of orally administered salicylate in a simulated ingestion model. Annals of Emergency Medicine 17: 34–37, 1988
Berg KJ. Acute acetylsalicylic acid poisoning: treatment with forced alkaline diuresis and diuretics. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 12: 111–116, 1977
Bochner F, Graham GG, Cham E, Imhoff DM, Haavisto, TM. Salicylate metabolite kinetics after several salicylates. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 30: 266–275, 1981
Borga O, Odar-Cederlof I, Ringberger V, Norlin A. Protein binding of salicylate in uremic and normal plasma. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 20: 464–475, 1976
Boldy D, Vale JA. Treatment of salicylate poisoning with repeated activated charcoal. British Medical Journal 292: 136, 1986
Burton BT, Bayer MJ, Barron L, Aitchison JP. Comparison of activated charcoal and gastric lavage in the prevention of aspirin absorption. Journal of Emergency Medicine 1: 411–416, 1984
Christensen LA, Schmidt EB. Perforated ulcer — a complication in acute salicylate intoxication. Acta Medica Scandanavica 222: 191–192, 1987
Chung DC, Murphy JE, Taylor TW. In-vivo comparison of the adsorption of ‘superactivated charcoal’ and fructose with activated charcoal. Journal of Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology 19: 219–224, 1982
Coppack SW, Higgens CS. Algorithm for modified alkaline diuresis in salicylate poisoning. British Medical Journal 289: 1452, 1984
Comstock EG, Boisaubin EV, Comstock BS, Faulkner TP. Assessment of the efficacy of activated charcoal following gastric lavage in acute drug emergencies. Journal of Toxicology and Clinical Toxicology 19: 149–165, 1982
Costello PB, Caruana, JA, Green, FA. The relative roles of hydrolases of the erythrocyte and other tissues in controlling aspirin survival in vivo. Arthritis and Rheumatism 27: 422–426, 1984
Danel V, Henry JA, Glucksman E. Activated charcoal, emesis, and gastric lavage in aspirin overdose. British Medical Journal, 296: 1507, 1988
Done AK. Salicylate intoxication: significance of measurements of salicylate in blood and cases of acute ingestion. Pediatrics 26: 800–807, 1960
Eisen TF, Grbcich PA, Lacouture PG, Shannon MW, Woolf A. The adsorption of salicylates by a milk-charcoal mixture. Annals of Emergency Medicine 20: 143–146, 1991
Filippone GA, Fish SS, Lacouture PG, Scavone JM, Lovejoy FH, et al. Reversible absorption (desorption) of aspirin from activated charcoal. Archives of Internal Medicine 147: 1390–1392, 1987
Ferguson RK, Boutros AR. Death following self-poisoning with aspirin. Journal of the American Medical Association 213: 1186–1187, 1970
Gordon IJ, Bowler CS, Coakley J, Smith P. Algorithm for modified alkaline diuresis in salicylate poisoning. British Medical Journal 289: 1039–1040, 1984
Grbcich P, Lacouture P, Woolfe A. The feasibility of the administration of activated charcoal in the home. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 28: 471, 1987
Harsch HH. Aspiration of activated charcoal. New England Journal of Medicine 314: 318, 1986
Hillman RJ, Prescott LF. Treatment of salicylate poisoning with repeated oral charcoal. British Medical Journal 291: 1472, 1985
Kaufman FL, Dubansky AS. Darvon poisoning with delayed salicylism: a case report. Pediatrics 49: 610–611, 1972
Keller RE, Schwab RA, Krenzelok EP. Contribution of sorbitol combined with activated charcoal in prevention of salicylate absorption. Annals of Emergency Medicine 19: 654–656, 1990
Kershaw RA, Mays DC, Bianchine JR, Gerber N. Disposition of aspirin and metabolites in the semen of man. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 27: 304–309, 1987
Kirshenbaum LA, Mathews SC, Sitar DS, Tenebein M. Does multiple-dose charcoal therapy enhance salicylate excretion. Archives of Internal Medicine 150: 1281–1283, 1990
Krenzelok EP, Heller MB. Effectiveness of commercially available aqueous activated charcoal products. Annals of Emergency Medicine 16: 1340–1343, 1987
Krenzelok EP, Keller RE, Stewart RD. Gastrointestinal transit time of cathartics combined with activated charcoal. Annals of Emergency Medicine 14: 1152–1155, 1985
Kwong TC, Laczin J, Baum J. Self-poisoning with enteric-coated aspirin. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 80: 888–890, 1983
Lawson AAH, Proudfoot AT, Brown SS, MacDonald RH, Fraser AG, et al. Forced diuresis in the treatment of acute salicylate poisoning in adults. British Medical Journal 38: 31–48, 1969
Levy G. Clinical pharmacokinetics of aspirin. Pediatrics 62 (Suppl.): 867–871, 1978
Levy G. Pharmacokinetics of salicylate in man. Drug Metabolism Reviews 9: 3–19, 1979
Levy G. Gastrointestinal clearance of drugs with activated charcoal. New England Journal of Medicine 307: 676–678, 1982
Levy G, Sumner JY. Relationship between dose and apparent volume of distribution of salicylate in children. Pediatrics 54: 713–717, 1974
Levy G, Vogel AW, Amsel LP. Capacity-limited salicylurate formation during prolonged administration of aspirin to healthy human subjects. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 58: 503–504, 1969
Merck Index, 11th edition. Merck and Co., Rahway, New Jersey, 1989
Mitchell I. ‘Therapeutic’ salicylate poisoning in children. British Medical Journal 1: 1081, 1979
Montagnac R, Schillinger F, Milcent T, Turret MM, Dinh A, et al. Extrarenal purification in severe salicylate poisoning in adults. Nephrologie 8: 55–57, 1987
National Poisons Information Service Monitoring Group. Analgesic poisoning: a multi-centre, prospective survey. Human Toxicology 1: 7–23, 1981
Needs CJ, Brooks PM. Clinical pharmacokinetics of the salicylates. Clinical Pharmacokinetics 10: 164–167, 1985
Neuvonen PJ. Clinical pharmacokinetics of oral activated charcoal in acute intoxications. Clinical Pharmacokinetics 7: 465–489, 1982
Neuvonen PJ, Elfving SM, Elonen E. Reduction of absorption of digoxin, phenytoin and aspirin by activated charcoal in man. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 13: 213–218, 1978
Neuvonen PJ, Olkkola K. Oral activated charcoal in the treatment of intoxications: role of single and repeated doses. Medical Toxicology 3: 33–58, 1988
Niyogi SK, Rieders F. Salicylate poisoning: differences in tissue levels and distribution between children and adults. European Journal of Toxicology 2: 234–238, 1969
Notarianni LJ, Ogunbona A, Oldham HG, Patel DK, Bennett PN, et al. Glycine conjugation of salicylic acid after aspirin overdose. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 15: 587P, 1983
Park G, Spector R, Goldberg M, Johnson GF. Expanded role of charcoal therapy in the poisoned and overdosed patient. Archives of Internal Medicine 146: 969–973, 1986
Patel DK. Metabolism of aspirin after therapeutic and toxic doses. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Bath, England, 1985
Patel DK, Hesse A, Ogunbona A, Notarianni LJ, Bennett PN. Metabolism of aspirin after therapeutic and toxic doses. Human and Experimental Toxicology 9: 131–136, 1990a
Patel DK, Ogunbona A, Notarianni LJ, Bennett PN. Depletion of plasma glycine and effect of glycine by mouth on salicylate metabolism during aspirin overdose. Human and Experimental Toxicology 9: 389–395, 1990b
Pond SM. Role of repeated oral doses of activated charcoal in clinical toxicology. Medical Toxicology 1: 3–11, 1986
Prescott LF, Balali-Mood M, Critchley JAJH, Johnstone AF, Proudfoot AT. Diuresis or urinary alkalinisation for salicylate poisoning? British Medical Journal 285: 1383–1386, 1982
Riggs BS, Kulig K, Rumack BH. Current status of aspirin and acetaminophen intoxication. Pediatric Annals 16: 886–898, 1987
Robins JB, Turnbull JA, Robertson C. Gastric perforation after acute aspirin overdose. Human Toxicology 4: 527–528, 1985
Rowland M, Riegelman S. Pharmacokinetics of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid after intravenous administration in man. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 57: 1313–1319, 1968
Rowland M, Riegelman S, Harris PA, Sholkoff SD. Absorption kinetics of aspirin in man following oral administration of an aqueous solution. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 61: 379, 1972
Snodgrass W, Rumack BH. Salicylate toxicity following therapeutic doses in young children. Clinical Toxicology 18: 247–259, 1981
Spenney, JG. Acetylsalicylic acid hydrolase of gastric mucosa. American Journal of Physiology 234: E606–E610, 1978
Temple AR, George DJ, Done AK, Thompson AJ. Salicylate poisoning complicated by fluid retention. Clinical Toxicology 9: 61–68, 1976
Todd PJ, Sills JA, Harris F, Cowen JM. Problems associated with overdoses of sustained-release aspirin. Lancet 2: 777, 1981
Tweedale MG. Salicylate and pulmonary edema. Annals of Internal Medicine 81: 710–711, 1974
Vertrees JE, McWilliams BC, Kelly HW. Repeated oral administration of activated charcoal for treating aspirin overdose in young children. Pediatrics 85: 594–597, 1990
Watson WA, Cremer KF, Chapman JA. Gastrointestinal obstruction associated with multiple-dose charcoal. Journal of Emergency Medicine 4: 401–407, 1986
Wortzman DJ, Grunfield A. Delayed absorption following enteric-coated aspirin overdose. Annals of Emergency Medicine 16: 434–436, 1987
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Notarianni, L. A Reassessment of the Treatment of Salicylate Poisoning. Drug-Safety 7, 292–303 (1992). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199207040-00005
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199207040-00005