An older medicine once used to cause vomiting in poisoning
Ipecacuanha
An older plant-derived medicine once used to cause vomiting in poisoning, now no longer recommended for that, and occasionally used as a cough expectorant.
What is Ipecacuanha?
Ipecacuanha is an older, plant-derived medicine that was once used to make people sick (vomit) after swallowing a poison, and is also found in some traditional cough preparations as an expectorant to help bring up phlegm. The most important point is that it is no longer recommended for making people sick after poisoning, because it can cause harm and delay better treatments. If you are worried about a poisoning, do not try to make someone vomit; instead call poisons advice or the emergency services for guidance. It is now a largely historical remedy.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Ipecacuanha — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Ipecacuanha is a medicine made from the root of a South American plant. Historically, its best-known use was as an emetic, meaning a medicine that makes people vomit, which was once given to try to remove a swallowed poison from the stomach. It is also used, in very small amounts, in some traditional cough mixtures as an expectorant to help loosen and bring up phlegm. Its role as a way of treating poisoning is now considered outdated, and it is largely of historical importance rather than a modern treatment.
How it works
Ipecacuanha irritates the lining of the stomach and also acts on the part of the brain that triggers vomiting, which is how, in larger amounts, it brought on vomiting. In the very small amounts used in some cough mixtures, this same irritant action is thought to encourage the airways to produce more, thinner secretions, helping a person cough up phlegm. The understanding of why it is no longer used for poisoning is partly that making someone vomit can cause harm in itself and is generally less helpful than other approaches.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Various manufacturers.
A long-established plant-derived medicine, historically used to make people sick in poisoning and occasionally as a cough expectorant.
Practical use
How to take Ipecacuanha
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- Do not use it to make someone sick after a suspected poisoning; this is no longer recommended.
- If you suspect poisoning, call poisons advice or the emergency services straight away and follow their guidance.
- Keep any packaging or information about what was swallowed to show or describe to the emergency team.
- If it is part of a cough preparation, take it only as directed on the label or by your pharmacist.
- Never use it repeatedly or in large amounts to cause vomiting, as this can be dangerous.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Ipecacuanha
Advantages
- Has a long history of use and is still found in some traditional cough preparations as an expectorant.
- Acts on the stomach and the brain's vomiting centre, which was the basis of its older use.
- Widely known, which helps explain why its outdated use needs to be corrected.
Disadvantages
- No longer recommended to make people sick after poisoning, as it can cause harm and delay better treatment.
- Repeated or excessive use can be dangerous, including effects on the heart and muscles.
- Its cough-medicine use is traditional, with limited evidence behind it.
Practical use
Good to know
The single most important thing to know about ipecacuanha is that it is no longer recommended to make people sick after poisoning. Making someone vomit can cause harm, such as damage if a corrosive substance is brought back up or fluid going into the lungs, and it can delay better, safer treatments. So if you are worried that someone has swallowed something harmful, do not try to make them vomit; instead, call poisons advice or the emergency services straight away and follow their guidance, keeping any packaging to hand. The other use of ipecacuanha, in tiny amounts in some cough mixtures, is a traditional one with limited evidence. Repeated or excessive use of ipecacuanha can be dangerous, including effects on the heart and muscles, so it should never be used to cause vomiting deliberately.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It should not be used to make people sick after poisoning; call poisons advice or the emergency services instead.
- It must not be used after swallowing a corrosive substance or petroleum-type product, as vomiting can cause serious harm.
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to it, and those it is otherwise unsuitable for, should not use it.
Monitoring
- In any suspected poisoning, professional assessment is what matters, not trying to cause vomiting.
- Watching for signs of harm if it has been taken repeatedly or in large amounts.
- Reviewing whether any cough preparation containing it is appropriate.
Side effects
- Nausea and vomiting, which was its older intended effect.
- Drowsiness, diarrhoea or stomach upset.
- With repeated or excessive use, dangerous effects on the heart and muscles.
Key interactions
- Activated charcoal, sometimes used in poisoning, can bind to it and reduce its effect.
- It should not be combined with attempts to make someone vomit, which are no longer advised.
- Tell your pharmacist about all your medicines if it is part of a cough preparation you are using.
Available as: Liquid preparations, including some traditional cough mixtures.
Answers
Ipecacuanha: frequently asked questions
What is ipecacuanha used for?
It was historically used to make people sick after poisoning and is still found in some traditional cough mixtures as an expectorant, but its poisoning use is no longer recommended.
Should I use it if someone swallows a poison?
No. It is no longer recommended to make people sick after poisoning because it can cause harm and delay better treatment; call poisons advice or the emergency services instead.
Why is making someone vomit not advised?
Vomiting can cause harm, such as damage from corrosive substances coming back up or fluid entering the lungs, and it generally delays safer, more effective treatments.
Is it still used for coughs?
It is found in tiny amounts in some traditional cough preparations as an expectorant, but this use has limited evidence; use such products only as directed.
Can it be dangerous?
Yes, repeated or excessive use can be dangerous, including effects on the heart and muscles, so it should never be used to cause vomiting deliberately.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
Building a medicines information resource?
We create evidence-led, dose-free drug and formulary references for teams.