Ipecac and Poisoning
Ask our expert if this medicine truly rids the body of ingested poisons
About Our Expert
Linda S. Loffredo, M.D. is a family practice physician at Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Practicing Medicine Since
1993
Education
B.S. in Premedicine, 1985, The Pennsylvania State University
M.D., 1989, University of Pittsburgh
Internship in General Surgery
West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh
Internship in Family Practice
Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown
Residency in Family Practice
United Health and Hospital Services, Wyoming Valley Family Practice, Kingston, PA
Board Certification
Board certified in Family Medicine
Q: I always thought that Ipecac was essential to have on hand in the case of poisoning. Now I hear that may not be the case. Can you help me figure this out?
A: It was a long held belief that the over-the-counter medicine, syrup of ipecac, be kept on hand to promote vomiting in the event that a child ingested something poisonous. Unfortunately, this belief was based more on intuition than on hard scientific data. Although ipecac does induce vomiting, there has been no substantial evidence showing it’s effectiveness in ridding the body of poison. In fact, it may cause severe and prolonged vomiting and drowsiness that can make diagnosis and treatment of a potential poisoning more difficult.
Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents discontinue the use of ipecac when children ingest toxic substances and now recommend that you
call the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. By contacting a trained professional immediately, you are ensuring that your child receives the proper care as soon as possible.
It is important to keep in mind that if your child is unconscious, not breathing, having convulsions or seizures, call 911 immediately!
Of course, when it comes to children and hazardous substances, prevention is the name of the game. Here are some tips to help prevent your child from being poisoned:
- Keep harmful products in a locked cabinet, and at the very least, out of view and reach of your child
- Call medicine by its proper name
- Don’t take medication in front of your child
- Always replace safety caps after use
- Keep alcohol outside of a child’s reach at all times
- Keep products in their original containers
- Read product labels to be sure that you are using them correctly
- Teach your children not to eat or drink things that haven’t been given to them by a grown-up
- Remove any peeling paint from your home or any environment where your child spends time
This page last updated 1/6/09 01:51 PM
