Ipecac alternatives

The American Academy of Pediatrics states it is "premature to recommend the administration of activated charcoal" as an alternative to ipecac syrup to treat ingestion of a potentially poisonous substance in a Nov. 3 1policy statement. Charcoal is "poorly accepted by young children" and does not store well in the home, the statement says. However, AAP adds that ipecac should "no longer be used routinely as a home treatment strategy" either. The use of activated charcoal in conjunction with ipecac syrup was discussed at Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee's June 2003 meeting on retaining ipecac's current OTC status (2"The Tan Sheet" June 2, 2003, p. 5)...