Ipecac toxicity
Background
- Rapidly acting emetic agent
- Derived from the ipecacuanha plant
- Often abused by adults with eating disorders
- Occasionally seen used in Munchausen by proxy
Mechanism of Action
- Vomiting
- Immediate: direct irritation of gastric mucosa
- Delayed: absorption, stimulation of chemoreceptor trigger zone
- Inhibition of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle
Toxic Dose
- Acute
- As little as 10 mL of the potent fluid extract can cause death
- 120 mL of syrup of ipecac unlikely to cause severe toxicity
- Chronic
- Slow elimination of emetine causes cumulative toxicity
- Daily ingestion of 90-120 mL of syrup for several months can cause cardiomyopathy and death
Clinical Features
Acute
Chronic
- Dehydration
- Diarrhea
- Hypokalemia
- Cardiomyopathy
- Myopathy (weakness, hyporeflexia)
Differential Diagnosis
Emergent
- Acute radiation syndrome
- Acute gastric dilation
- Acetaminophen toxicity
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Appendicitis
- Aspirin toxicity
- Bowel obstruction/ileus
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Cholecystitis
- CNS tumor
- Digoxin toxicity
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Elevated ICP
- Gastric outlet obstruction, gastric volvulus
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- Pancreatitis
- Peritonitis
- Ruptured viscus
- Testicular torsion/ovarian torsion
- Theophylline toxicity
Nonemergent
- Acute gastroenteritis
- Biliary colic
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
- Chemotherapy
- Disulfiram effect
- Erythromycin
- ETOH
- Gastritis
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastroparesis
- Hepatitis
- Ibuprofen
- Ipecac toxicity
- Labyrinthitis
- Migraine
- Motion sickness
- Narcotic withdrawal
- Thyroid
- Pregnancy
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Renal colic
- UTI
Evaluation
- Emetine can be detected in urine for several weeks
- Electrolytes, CPK, LDH
- ECG
Management
- No specific antidote exists
- Supportive care is mainstay of treatment
Disposition
See Also
External Links
References
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