Replied by Heartrhythms from Santa Fe, Nm on 02/14/2010
Hi Rita, activated charcoal would probably reduce the absorption of your medicine if taken around the same time (to be safe, I'd leave at least 4-5 hours between the charcoal and meds).
Replied by Anon from Usa on 11/28/2017
I would also eat something in between the charcoal and meds, such as fresh fruit - cantaloup would be a decent choice I think, as it is bulky and has a lot of water. It should sweep away the charcoal before your meds get near it, or provide a barrier between the charcoal and meds if you take the meds first. I would not take the charcoal and meds together without doing this.
Raw potatoes are also bulky and have a lot of water. Both are low in sugar and fats. The amount you need would depend on how much charcoal you took if you took the charcoal first. If you take the meds first you would want to wait 30 minutes to an hour perhaps before eating the melon. That way the meds are not mixed into the melon in the stomach, but have exited into the small intestine and will not contact the charcoal at all. Taking psyllium fiber after taking the charcoal may help sweep it from the digestive tract in case it lingers and adsorbs the meds. Wait perhaps an hour after taking the charcoal to take the psyllium. Away from the meds, of course. Mixing psyllium and charcoal in water and taking them together seems to reduce the effectiveness of the charcoal in my experience as it is trapped in the psyllium.
Charcoal is wonderful stuff. Sulfur is also a good detoxifier, though it works differently. Probiotics like kefir may be helpful in case the charcoal removes the beneficial gut microbes. I have been getting hives recently after using store bought kombucha, though I enjoyed it for a few years before the hives started. You may want to stear away from it temporarily if you are ill.
Replied by Pam E. from SW Calif. on 06/29/2025
Is It Safe to Eat Raw Potatoes?
"Occasionally consuming a *small* portion of raw potato is safe, but the starchy and bitter taste is likely ... to steer you away. If you are adventurous enough to try eating raw potato, consuming too much at once can cause **gastrointestinal distress**, like : vomiting, bloating and diarrhea due to the indigestible resistant starch and other compounds like lectins and solanine."
"Can You Eat Raw Potatoes? Here's What a Dietitian Says"
https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8059853/can-you-eat-raw-potatoes/
By, Deborah Murphy, M.S., RDN ... A consulting dietitian & expert in plant-based nutrition having over 10 years of experience providing medical nutrition therapy for the geriatric population.
(My response is to the above contributor's recommendation of eating raw potatoes without any warning.)