Ipecacuanha
A plant extract that contains two alkaloids, emetine and cephaeline, that irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines and act as emetics.
Ipecacuanha has been used to induce vomiting in people (especially children) who have swallowed a non-corrosive poison. In very small doses it can act as an expectorant, being available as syrups and tablets and included in many cough medicines. Ipecacuanha is freely available over the counter.
Side effects: large doses produce excessive vomiting, bleeding from the stomach and intestines, and damage to the heart.
Precautions: overdosage can be fatal in children.
Proprietary preparations: Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup; Fennings Little Healers (tablets); Hill’s Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children; Melo (syrup); Throaties Family Cough Linctus; BOOTS INFANT SUGAR FREE COUGH AND CONGESTION SYRUP (combined with ephedrine); ES BRONCHIAL MIXTURE (combined with ammonium bicarbonate, senna, and squill); GALLOWAYS COUGH SYRUP (combined with squill); HILL’S BALSAM CHESTY COUGH PASTILLES (combined with benzoin tincture, menthol, and peppermint oil).