How to induce vomiting?

Reasons to Induce Vomiting

There is some controversial information on major medical websites about when is appropriate to induce vomiting.

When you think you have ingested something poisonous, DO NOT induce vomiting unless a doctor or personnel from a Poison Control Center on the phone tell you to do so.

Before inducing vomiting, please check the text below the gray box to know when you should not try to vomit because it can be dangerous.

When NOT to Induce Vomiting

1. NEVER induce vomiting in a person with impaired consciousness, seizures or in a severely drunk person because of the danger of choking or aspiration. An affected person should not lie on the back but on the side to avoid aspiration after spontaneous vomiting.

2. DO NOT induce vomiting after ingesting:

• Corrosive liquids (acids, alkalies, bleach)
• Petroleum products (gasoline, kerosene, coal oil, lighter fluid, paint thinner or other solvents, liquid pesticide concentrates), benzene, toluene or other highly volatile liquids or products that can froth (shampoo, dishwashing soap and other cleaning fluids)
• Strychnine ⁽¹⁴⁾
• Iron tablets ⁽³⁾
• Any chemical, unless a doctor tells you to do so
• Hard or sharp objects, such as toys, buttons, coins, rings, batteries, etc.
• Other references: ^(1,2)

In above cases, inducing vomiting can do more harm than good.

3. Some health professionals advise against inducing vomiting after excessive alcohol drinking, food poisoning and drug overdose ⁽⁴⁾.

4. DO NOT try to induce vomiting if you–from experience–are expecting to have severe and painful stomach cramps to avoid tearing your esophagus.

5. DO NOT induce vomiting during pregnancy, for example, to relieve morning sickness.

6. There can also be more harm than benefit from inducing vomiting in conditions with upset stomach or nausea, such as stomach flu and other childhood diseases, acid reflux with heartburn, gastroenteritis, hepatitis or kidney disease.

7. Inducing vomiting is NOT an appropriate method for weight loss.

8. Some doctors may recommend inducing vomiting after ingesting poisonous mushrooms or other plants, methanol, ethylene glycol (antifreeze), diluted liquid pesticides, mercury or, sometimes, after a drug overdose (analgesics, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, opiates) or allergic reaction to food.

DO NOT use OTC emetics and home remedies to induce vomiting.

OTC emetics are over-the-counter (non-prescription) substances that induce vomiting. Do not take anything by mouth to induce vomiting.

Ipecac Syrup

Ipecac syrup was once widely recommended for inducing vomiting, but American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Poison Control Centers and some other poison centers now advise against using it because of its unproven efficacy in removing toxic substances from the body and several possible side effects, such as lethargy, especially in children ^(2,3,12,13).

Salt Water

Drinking salt water may speed the movement of toxic substances from the stomach into the small intestine and thus stimulate its absorption, so it is usually not recommended for inducing vomiting ⁽²⁾. Large amounts of salt water can cause hypernatremia, seizures or even death, especially in children ^(8,13).

Other Substances to Avoid

• Activated charcoal is not reliable and safe substance for inducing vomiting at home; if aspirated, it may cause lung damage ^(11,13,15).
• Atropine, biperiden, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, scopolamine and other cholinergic antagonists in usual doses are not effective in inducing vomiting and, in larger doses, can have severe side effects, such as confusion, loss of coordination, inability to sweat ⁽¹⁶⁾.
• Copper sulfate is toxic ⁽⁶⁾.
• Bloodroot may be toxic ⁽⁷⁾.
• Lobelia tincture is potentially toxic ⁽¹⁷⁾.
• Hydrogen peroxide is intended to induce vomiting in animals, not humans.
• Marijuana is illegal in most countries, and it can cause severe and prolonged vomiting that may require hospitalization ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Home Remedies

There is a lack of reliable information about the effectiveness and safety of drinking mustard in water, vinegar, milk of magnesia, detergents, tannic acid, a solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or eating burnt toast, raw eggs or butter as emetics ⁽¹³⁾.

Eating a large amount of food may speed the movement of poisons from the stomach into the intestine rather than make you throw up.

Side Effects and Dangers of Self-Induced Vomiting

Aspiration

During throwing up, some of the vomit may find its way into the breathing pathways and cause choking or, if it reaches the lungs, aspiration pneumonia.

Burning

Corroding substances in the vomit–acids or alkali–can cause chemical burns in the esophagus, throat and mouth ⁽²⁾.

Esophageal Tear

Violent vomiting can cause partial thickness tear (Mallory-Weiss syndrome) or full thickness tear of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome), which are especially common in chronic alcoholics and after overeating in individuals with eating disorders (bulimia). Symptoms include severe lower chest or upper abdominal pain and vomiting blood ⁽⁹⁾.

Vomiting can relieve symptoms of a hangover.

• References

  1. First Aid for Chemical Exposure  Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
  2. Vomiting – First Aid for Poisoning? An Incorrect Assumption  Poisons Prevention and Education, New Zealand National Poisinons Centre
  3. Boyle JS, 2015, Pediatric Iron Toxicity Treatment & Management  Emedicine
  4. Dealing with poisoning  Patient.info
  5. Methanol: Systemic Agent  Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
  6. Copper sulphate  Inchem
  7. Bloodroot  Drugs.com
  8. Cassavant MJ et al, 2003, Fatal hypernatremia from saltwater used as an emetic  PubMed
  9. Boerhaave Syndrome, Clinical Presentation  Emedicine
  10. Appetite and nausea chart  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  11. Bairral BQL et al, 2012, Activated charcoal bronchial aspiration  Scielo.br
  12. 2003, Poison Treatment in the Home  American Academy of Pediatrics
  13. What is ipecac syrup  Poison.org
  14. Facts about strychnine  Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
  15. Aspiration of Activated Charcoal Elicits an Increase in Lung Microvascular Permeability  Informa Healthcare
  16. First aid for pesticide poisoning  Cornell University
  17. Lobelia  University of Maryland