PEDIATRICS Vol. 78 No. 6 December 1986, pp. 1085-1089
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Expired Ipecac Syrup Efficacy

Patricia A. Grbcich Pharm BS, JD1, Peter G. Lacouture PhD1, James J. Kresel PhD1, Margaret T. Russell BS, MBA1, and Frederick H. Lovejoy Jr MD1

1 From the Massachusetts Poison Control System, the Division of Pharmacology/Toxicology, The Children's Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston; and the New Hampshire Poison Center, the Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover

A controlled prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of expired ipecac syrup was conducted at two regional poison control centers in New England. During a 6-month period, 200 study patients treated with expired ipecac syrup and 200 control patients treated with unexpired ipecac syrup were evaluated. There were no statistical differences between the control and study groups in patient characteristics (age and sex) and product characteristics (general class, emetic potential, pretreatment, previously opened bottles, and manufacturer). In both control and study groups, emesis occurred in 100% of cases with 90% of patients vomiting with the first dose. The mean time to emesis was 24.7 minutes and 24.8 minutes in the study and control groups, respectively. Expired preparations ranged from 1 month to greater than 4 years postexpiration, with the duration of expiration not altering the mean time to emesis. Mean time to emesis between the two groups was also not affected by manufacturer, pretreatment with milk, or whether the ipecac syrup bottle was previously opened. We conclude that expired ipecac syrup (up to 4 years postexpiration date) is an effective emetic.

Key Words: ipecac syrup

Submitted on December 6, 1985
Accepted on February 11, 1986