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Send the kids outside for hide and seek
If you are a parent, you will not be surprised to hear that children are curious creatures. They seem to have a knack for going straight to the places you've made off-limits, whether it's the cookie jar or the cleaning supplies under the sink. Learn which products contain potential poisons, and be careful to keep caustic or toxic substances out of reach of little fingers.
If your child does ingest something harmful, find out which substance it is and call the poison-control hotline immediately. Hotline staff will likely advise you to administer an over-the-counter poison remedy such as activated charcoal or ipecac syrup.
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Plan for Emergency
Always keep drugs and hazardous substances out of reach of children.
Prepare for the event of poisoning. Have on-hand the poison control center phone number, family doctor's phone number, ipecac, and activated charcoal. Also, prevent poisoning by putting hazardous materials, medications, perfumes, and paint products out of children's reach.
Know how to treat accidental poisoning. Have two things on hand at your house: ipecac syrup and activated charcoal. These are the two most useful antidotes to accidental poisoning.
- Ipecac syrup: this effective syrup is used when poison is ingested and needs to be vomited.
- Activated charcoal: this neutralizing substance is the first line of defense when a victim has swallowed a caustic poison. It should not be brought back up through his or her mouth or throat.
If you suspect the victim has ingested poison, follow these directions:
- Stay calm.
- Call the poison control center, 911, and your doctor immediately.
- Loosen clothing around the person's neck and make sure their airway is clear.
- Administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if the victim is not breathing.
- Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink unless instructed by physician.
- Find out what poisons the victim may have eaten or drank; take it with you if you are going to the hospital. If you do not have the container, take a sample of vomit if the victim has thrown up.
Call for Assistance
Do not give emetics or induce vomiting if the victim is:
- Unconscious
- Lethargic
- Hallucinating
- Convulsing
- In shock
- Highly intoxicated
If the victim says he or she has pain and a burning feeling in the mouth or throat, corrosive acid or corrosive base may have been swallowed.
- Call a health professional.
- DO NOT induce vomiting.
- Give one to three cups of water or milk if advised by a health professional.
If the victim did NOT swallow corrosive material:
- Call a health professional.
- Induce vomiting if directed by health professional or if you cannot contact a medical authority.
- Keep patient active.
- Vomiting should occur within 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat dosage once if it doesn't.
- Administer activated charcoal AFTER vomiting to bind and absorb remaining poisons if directed to do so.
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Absorbents
Used orally to bind and trap toxins. The only approved over-the-counter absorbent is activated charcoal. Activated charcoal has an extremely large surface area with many microscopic crevices that can absorb toxins. It is an effective and safe aid to treat poisoning. Available as a mixable powder or as a liquid suspension.
Emetics
Works to induce vomiting, which helps expel potential toxins from the digestive system and reduces the chance the toxins will be absorbed. The only approved over-the-counter emetic is ipecac syrup.
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FDA-Approved Uses
Activated charcoal
- For emergency use to absorb swallowed poisons.
Ipecac syrup
- For emergency use to cause vomiting of swallowed poisons.
Call the Poison Control Center or 911- Immediately contact the poison control center or call 911 if any poisoning is suspected.
- Get instructions on how to handle poisoning from the emergency responder.
Have Information Ready for the Emergency Responder- The victim's name
- The victim's location
- The telephone number to call back in case the line is accidentally disconnected
- The name of the product ingested. Look for empty containers or collect vomited matter. Bring these if victim is taken to the emergency room.
- The amount of the product ingested. Do not underestimate.
- The length of time since the product has been ingested
- What symptoms (if any) the victim is displaying
- What emergency poisoning treatment (if any) has previously been attempted
- What medications (if any) the victim is using or what pre-existing conditions the victim has
- The victim's age and weight
Ipecac Syrup- Ipecac syrup may not induce vomiting on an empty stomach.
- Always take ipecac syrup with an appropriate amount of water or clear fluid.
- Do not use milk with ipecac syrup because it has no advantage over water.
- Moving and activity seem to speed up the vomiting process after ipecac syrup is given.
- Do not use ipecac syrup if central nervous system depressants (e.g., antidepressants) or drugs that may rapidly lead to seizures (e.g., camphor or amphetamines) have been taken or the patient displays seizures, lethargy, or coma.
- Do not use ipecac syrup if a caustic or corrosive substance has been swallowed. Vomiting may further damage the lining of the esophagus. Corrosive or caustic substances include strong acids, strong bases, laundry bleach, lye, drain cleanser, and ammonia.
- Never give activated charcoal and ipecac syrup at the same time.
Activated Charcoal- Activated charcoal should only be used after vomiting has stopped and never with ipecac syrup.
- Charcoal has great aborbing powers and is most effective when given immediately after poison ingestion.
Recommended Dosage
| Emetics (Ipecac) | | Drug | Adults and Children Over Age 12 | Max. Daily | Children Ages 6 to 12 | Max. Daily | Children Under Age 6 | Max. Daily |
|---|
| Ipecac syrup | 30 ml, followed by one to two glasses of water.
Repeat in 20 minutes if vomiting does not occur. | Consult a physician | 15 ml, followed by one to two glasses of water.
Repeat in 20 minutes if vomiting does not occur. | Consult a physician. | Consult a physician. | | Absorbents (Activated Charcoal) | | Drug | Adults and Children Over Age 12 | Max. Daily | Children Ages 6 to 12 | Max. Daily | Children Under Age 6 | Max. Daily |
|---|
| Activated charcoal | Use only when directed by a health professional.
Mix 60 to 100 grams (12 to 20 tablespoons) in a minimum of eight ounces of water.
Repeat every two to six hours.
Use 25 to 100 grams of charcoal in premixed solution every two to six hours as directed. | Consult a physician. | Use only after ipecac syrup has been given and vomiting has occurred.
Mix 15 to 30 grams (three to six tablespoons) in a minimum of eight ounces of water. Repeat every two to six hours. | Consult a physician. | Consult a physician. |
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Warnings
Activated charcoal
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you:
- Are administering to a child or infant
- Are administering to a lethargic or comatose patient
- Are administering to a patient having a seizure
- Are administering to a patient who has ingested a caustic substance (acid or base)
Or if you are taking:
- Ipecac -- it will be absorbed by the activated charcoal, thus decreasing ipecac's effectiveness. Do not take ipecac syrup and activated charcoal together.
Ipecac syrup
Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:
Or if you:
- Are administering to a child or infant
- Are administering to a lethargic or comatose patient
- Are administering to a patient having a seizure
- Are administering to a patient who has ingested a caustic substance (acid or base)
Or if you are taking:
- Activated charcoal -- it will absorb ipecac, thus decreasing ipecac's effectiveness. Do not take activated charcoal and ipecac together.
Common Side Effects
Activated charcoal
Ipecac syrup
Infrequent to Rare Side Effects
Activated charcoal
- Black stools
- Constipation
- Diarrhea (if product contains sorbitol
- Vomiting
Ipecac syrup
- Diarrhea
- Extreme tiredness
- Vomiting (this is also the desired effect)
Effects of Overdose
Activated charcoal
Ipecac syrup
- Diarrhea
- Low blood pressure
- Persistent vomiting
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
What to Do in Case of Overdose
Activated charcoal
- It is unlikely that an overdose of this medication will cause life-threatening symptoms. If you are still concerned, please seek the advice of your health professional.
Ipecac syrup
- If you suspect that you or someone you know has taken an overdose of this medication, immediately STOP USING THE MEDICATION and SEEK MEDICAL HELP.
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Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Government Sources
- 1. Food & Drug Administration. Federal Register 9/5/78.
- 2. Food & Drug Administration. Federal Register 1/15/85.
Books
- 1. Covington, TR et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, Eleventh Ed. American Pharmaceutical Assoc. Washington, DC 1996.
- 2. Kastrup EK et al. Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts and Comparisons.
- 3. Inlander, CB and Slamans, S. The Over-the-Counter Doctor. Cader Books. New York, NY 1997.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
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