A clinical trial using syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal concurrently

A prospective study was conducted to determine if the emetic effects of syrup of ipecac are preserved when activated charcoal is administered prior to emesis. Ten overdose patients who fulfilled the entrance criteria for the study were administered 60 mL syrup of ipecac by a nasogastric tube followed immediately by 500 mL of tap water. Ten minutes after the ipecac was administered, an aqueous slurry of 50 g activated charcoal diluted to 500 mL was instilled down the nasogastric tube and the tube was removed. Emetic response and time to emesis were recorded. Thirty minutes after emesis subsided, a second dose of 50 g activated charcoal (with sorbitol) was administered orally. Emetic responses were noted in all ten patients. The patients averaged 3.7 emetic episodes. Emesis commenced in an average of 13.8 minutes from the start of ipecac administration and concluded in an average of 45.9 minutes. These results in patients are similar to those observed in a previously reported volunteer group similarly treated. This protocol allows early administration of activated charcoal while preserving the emetic properties of syrup of ipecac in the patients treated.