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Ipecac has a low risk of severe toxicity. Page 5 of the 2013 AACT position statement states, "Considering that over 3 million patients received therapeutic doses of ipecac during the 14 years of 1983 through 1996, ipecac appears to have a high margin of safety. The potential complications of the therapeutic use of ipecac are well-documented, but serious sequelae rarely occur. An important concern is that using ipecac can delay the administration of activated charcoal by 1 to 2 hours." Ipecac has limited medical use in toxicology. If administered within the first few minutes after the oral ingestion of a noncorrosive, nonvolatile substance that may cause harm if absorbed and metabolized, ipecac might remove an uncertain amount of the substance by inducing vomiting. However, the exact quantity removed is unclear.[3] A recent animal study suggests that while syrup of ipecac can induce vomiting, its use may lead to oxidative brain damage, as indicated by increased levels of lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, and protein carbonyls. This raises concerns that, despite its historical use for inducing emesis, ipecac may have harmful neurotoxic effects, especially in the context of oxidative stress.[15]

Nurses, pharmacists, and clinicians should be aware that ipecac is no longer approved for any medical use due to concerns about its toxicity. Although the drug was once commonly used, its therapeutic benefits are now questioned. Therefore, nurses who receive an order for ipecac should consult with a pharmacist, particularly one with toxicology training, before administering it to the patient. Pharmacists should remain vigilant if they receive a prescription for ipecac and proactively contact the prescribing physician to discourage its use. If ipecac is being considered, a toxicologist should be consulted to evaluate the situation. In most cases, an interprofessional healthcare team, including clinicians, toxicologists, nurses, and pharmacists, is essential to prevent using ipecac. Such collaboration ensures that more appropriate measures are implemented, guiding patient care toward optimal outcomes.