Emergency induction of emesis using liquid detergent products: a report of 15 cases

Solutions of liquid detergent products were used to induce emesis in 15 patients who could not or would not obtain syrup of ipecac. Four patients refused to drink any of the solution and two others refused part, one of whom vomited. In the patients who drank all or part of the solution, 91% (10/11) vomited with a mean time to the onset of emesis of 6.5 min. None of these patients developed symptoms attributable to the ingested poison or the detergent solution. Liquid detergent solutions may be a useful alternative emetic for the poison center when a patient cannot be given syrup of ipecac.