Never stimulate the gag reflex, unless directed by your doctor, for example if you have swallowed a poisonous substance. If the poisoned person is not breathing, falls asleep, is agitated, or is having seizures, call 911 or your local emergency services immediately. Follow the instructions given to you. Realize that you should never induce vomiting if there is no emergency, for example to control weight gain.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Seeking Medical Assistance in Case of Poisoning
Step 1. Contact the emergency health services immediately
There is no reason to induce vomiting on your own. If someone has ingested a toxic or poisonous substance, call the emergency services by dialing 118. You will communicate with a staff of professionals who can provide you with first aid directions before sending an ambulance.
- Call this number at any time if you have any doubts in case of poisoning or prevention against food poisoning;
- If you are abroad, look for the number of the emergency health services active in the national territory of the country where you are;
- It is possible to get intoxicated by ingesting chemicals, an overdose of drugs, and overdoing the consumption of certain foods. If you fear a case of poisoning, don't hesitate to call the emergency services.
Step 2. Follow the 118 instructions exactly
The staff will ask you about the foods that may have been ingested, but also about all the symptoms that have occurred. If they advise you to go to the emergency room, don't hesitate.
Again, don't induce vomiting unless ordered by a doctor
Step 3. Take the container of the allegedly poisonous substance with you
If you have a strong suspicion about the cause of the intoxication (for example, a box of pills), bring the evidence with you. In this way, doctors will have valuable information to treat the patient.
Part 2 of 3: Avoid Potentially Dangerous Treatments
Step 1. Avoid emetic medications unless prescribed
You should not take emetic drugs, which are drugs capable of inducing vomiting, unless a doctor has instructed you to take them in an extreme case. For example, ipecac syrup (or ipecac syrup) has been used for a long time to induce vomiting. However, it has been shown that this type of medication can complicate treatment in case of poisoning. In fact, ipecac is no longer produced in over-the-counter formulation.
Step 2. Don't drink salt water
Although it is a rather used home remedy to induce vomiting, it can pose some risk in case of poisoning, as the ingestion of salt water favors the displacement of toxic substances inside the intestine, accelerating their absorption.
In addition, there is a risk of serious health complications, including death, by drinking large amounts of salt water
Step 3. Use other home remedies with caution
Among the most common methods of inducing vomiting are the consumption of mustard, raw eggs or large quantities of food. Safety and efficacy of these methods have not been demonstrated. For example, gorging on food to vomit actually risks accelerating the absorption of poisonous substances.
Step 4. Avoid potentially dangerous substances
There are some substances that can induce vomiting, but their use for this purpose is not recommended. They include activated charcoal, atropine, biperidene, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, scopolamine, copper sulfate, sanguinaria, lobelia tincture, and hydrogen peroxide.
Part 3 of 3: Taking Additional Steps After Vomiting
Step 1. Rinse your mouth after vomiting
You will likely have an unpleasant taste left in your mouth after vomiting that you will want to get rid of. Then, rinse your mouth with warm water.
Step 2. Don't brush your teeth
Brushing your teeth immediately after vomiting risks damaging the enamel, as gastric juices may have spread into the mouth during vomiting and exert a corrosive action.
Step 3. Continue to follow your doctor's directions
Do whatever he tells you. He will likely tell you to drink water, but he may also suggest that you abstain from food and drink for some time. If he advises you to go to the hospital, don't hesitate, even if you think you have vomited almost anything that made you nauseous.
Advice
- Reasons why your doctor might recommend inducing vomiting include ingesting poisonous plants, methanol, antifreeze, certain pesticides, or mercury.
- They may also give you this recommendation if you have been consuming excessive medications, such as pain relievers, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, or opiates.
- Finally, it may urge you to induce vomiting following an allergic reaction to certain foods.
