Activated charcoal pregnancy category is listed as which of the following?

• A. Category B
• B. Category C
• C. Category A
• D. Category D

Answer: (B)

Understanding how pregnancy safety labeling works helps here. The categories reflect available data in humans and animals and weigh potential fetal risk against maternal benefit. Activated charcoal is designated Category C. That means there aren’t adequate well-controlled human studies to prove safety in pregnancy, and animal studies have shown some risk at doses that could be relevant. Yet in poisoning situations, the benefit to the mother from rapidly reducing toxin absorption can be substantial, and activated charcoal acts locally in the gut with minimal systemic absorption, so fetal exposure is unlikely to be a major concern. This balance—unclear or potential fetal risk with demonstrable maternal benefit—fits Category C.

It isn’t Category A, which would require clear, well-controlled human data showing no fetal risk. It isn’t Category B, which would imply animal studies show no risk and human data are lacking but generally more reassuring. It isn’t Category D, which would indicate proven fetal risk with risks outweighing benefits in most cases.