For which patient would activated charcoal be indicated?

Activated charcoal is indicated for patients who have ingested certain substances and are within a specific time frame since ingestion, typically within one hour. Its primary role is to absorb toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing the amount of substance that enters the systemic circulation.

In this scenario, a 27-year-old who intentionally took a large amount of Tylenol (acetaminophen) 45 minutes ago is a suitable candidate for activated charcoal. The ingestion of a significant dose of Tylenol poses a risk of severe hepatotoxicity, and administering activated charcoal can help prevent or minimize the toxicity by limiting absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Given the time frame of 45 minutes post-ingestion, activated charcoal would still be effective in this case.

The other scenarios do not meet the criteria for activated charcoal administration. For example, sniffing glue typically involves inhalation rather than ingestion, making activated charcoal inappropriate. Ingesting bleach can cause corrosive damage and activated charcoal might worsen the situation by delaying more urgent treatments, such as dilution or neutralization. Lastly, an overdose of antidepressants might warrant charcoal administration, but the decision would depend on the type of antidepressant, the time of ingestion, and patient status, which would render it less straightforward compared to the