Regarding the March 26 editorial, “Medicine cabinet needs its own spring cleaning,” most of it is great. But, both the Washington Poison Center and the American Association of Poison Control Centers strongly disagree with the American Academy of Pediatrics revised position about using ipecac – even though they have strongly backed it for 30 years. Actually, the switch was instigated by several emergency physicians who want you to bring any potentially poisoned child their ED – it’s good for business! We both still urge you to still keep ipecac on hand.
Our poison center here in Washington manages the highest percentage of poison cases at home among any of the centers across the United States – and induction of emesis is critical to rapid care. Even if the FDA knuckles under the academy’s political pressure to ban ipecac, remember that ipecac is still effective at least 22 years after it was purchased – and not in line with the expiration date on the bottle. That expiration date is no more valid than those that appear on your favorite bottled water!
Medical Director
Washington Poison Center, Seattle
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