INDICES> ipecac with acid? (2)

[Joel Lexchin <joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca>]

INDICES> ipecac with acid? (2)
------------------------------

Speaking as an emergency doctor the evidence and the practice for at
least the past decade is NOT to use ipecac at all.  There are a number
of reasons not to use ipecac:

It can be toxic to young children.
It does not always induce vomiting.
The recovery of ingested pills even if ipecac is given within one hour
of ingestion is very low.
In some people it induces prolonged vomiting and delays the
administration of activated charcoal which has been clearly shown to be
beneficial.
If the person?s level of consciousness changes rapidly, e.g., from an
ingestion of tricyclic antidepressants, then they may not be able to
protect their airway when they are vomiting and may aspirate.

Joel Lexchin

--
Joel Lexchin MD
Townhouse #2--40 Cedar Crescent
Glenside, S.A. 5065
Australia
Tel:  +61 8 8338 0151
e mail:  joel.lexchin@utoronto.ca

[thanks, Joel! WB]
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