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Carbon Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of carbon include air embolism, subcutaneous emphysema, and off label use, based on 144 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025.

Carbon side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for carbon.

1
Air Embolism28.5%41
2
Subcutaneous Emphysema16.0%23
3
Off Label Use11.1%16
4
Hypotension6.3%9
5
Pneumoperitoneum6.3%9
6
Post Procedural Complication5.6%8
7
Cardiac Arrest5.6%8
8
Pneumomediastinum4.2%6
9
Drug Administration Error4.2%6
10
Hypercapnia3.5%5
11
Nausea3.5%5
12
Tachycardia3.5%5
13
Paradoxical Embolism3.5%5
14
Pco2 Increased3.5%5
15
Respiratory Acidosis2.8%4

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that carbon caused these reactions.

Report severity

93.1%Serious134 reports
24.3%Hospitalizations35 reports
11.1%Fatal16 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Carbon drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside carbon. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Nitrous-oxide3.5%5
2
Sevoflurane2.8%4
3
Apomorphine-hydrochloride1.4%2
4
Remifentanil-hydrochloride1.4%2
5
Rocuronium-bromide1.4%2
6
Fentanyl1.4%2
7
Ondansetron1.4%2
8
Acetaminophen1.4%2
9
Imiquimod1.4%2
10
Fluorouracil1.4%2
11
Prednisolone1.4%2
12
Propofol1.4%2
13
Desflurane0.7%1
14
Lamotrigine0.7%1
15
Triazolam0.7%1

Taken alongside

1
Propofol15.3%22
2
Oxygen14.6%21
3
Fentanyl10.4%15
4
Rocuronium-bromide9.0%13
5
Sevoflurane7.6%11
6
Nitrous-oxide4.9%7
7
Midazolam4.2%6
8
Levothyroxine-sodium4.2%6
9
Vecuronium-bromide3.5%5
10
Isoflurane3.5%5
11
Desflurane3.5%5
12
Sufentanil-citrate3.5%5
13
Remifentanil-hydrochloride3.5%5
14
Nitroglycerin2.8%4
15
Aspirin2.8%4

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports carbon side effects

63.2% of carbon adverse event reports involve female patients and 27.8% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 61%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female63.2%
Male27.8%
Unknown9.0%

Age group

< 21.7%
2–110.8%
12–170.0%
18–6461.3%
65+36.1%

What is carbon used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking carbon when the adverse event was reported.

AnaesthesiaAnal Lesion ExcisionAngiogramAppendicectomyAngiogramBowenoid PapulosisCatheter PlacementColon OperationColonoscopyComputerised Tomogram IntestineCardiopulmonary BypassCholecystectomyDrug Use For Unknown IndicationEndoscopic Vessel HarvestingEndoscopy

Showing 15 of 44 indications

Carbon brand names and reporting trend

Carbon is sold under the brand name Carbon Dioxide, Usp.

Brand names

Carbon Dioxide, Usp149

Quarterly reports (20042025)

2005201520202025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking carbon with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.