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Northern New England Poison Center

 

Syrup of Ipecac is no longer recommended for home use.

Throw Out Your Syrup of Ipecac

The Northern New England Poison Center no longer recommends ipecac for home treatment of poisonings.  It is not clear whether using ipecac is helpful when treating poisonings.  Ipecac can cause harm if not used properly.  Consider storing a special type of activated charcoal at home if the closest emergency department or ambulance service is more than one hour away.

What is Ipecac?

Ipecac syrup is medicine made from a plant that grows in Brazil .  It causes patients to vomit.  Ipecac has been available without a prescription since 1965.

Why did poison centers recommend ipecac for poisoning?

Experts thought that vomiting removed poison from the stomach before it was absorbed into the bloodstream.  Studies show that vomiting brings up less than half of the substance swallowed.  Using ipecac 30 minutes or more after exposure removes little poison.

Why not recommend ipecac now?

  • Ipecac may not help.
  • Ipecac may delay other more effective treatments for poisoning.
  • Ipecac can worsen poisoning in some cases (acids, gasoline, lamp oil, others).
  • Ipecac is unsafe if given often (for weight loss, misuse by parents).

How to prepare for a poisoning at home:

Keep the Poison Center hotline number (1-800-222-1222) by the phone.  Also call this number for poison prevention information.  If you live more than one hour from emergency services, contact the Poison Center to ask if you should store activated charcoal at home.  Be aware that weather conditions may add to travel time.  Never use activated charcoal before calling the Poison Center or your physician.

What is activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a nonprescription medicine used to treat poisonings.  It is available at some pharmacies.  Activated charcoal binds to poison in the stomach and intestines.  The poison is no longer active once it binds to activated charcoal.  The patient then passes the charcoal (with poison attached) in the stool.  It is important to buy the right kind of activated charcoal.  The kind used to treat poisoning is a gritty powder or powder mixed with fluid.  Charcoal tablets and capsules do not bind poisons well enough for use as an antidote.

 

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