Northern Light Pediatrics-Newsletter

Flushing is safe way to dispose of ipecac syrup

With the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommending the removal of ipecac syrup from households, some people have questioned the best way to go about its disposal. Is it OK to flush it down the toilet?

In comparison to many other over-the-counter and prescription drugs that people routinely flush down the toilet, ipecac is not a concern. Ipecac's principle active ingredient is a plant alkaloid, so it will degrade relatively quickly when flushed.

-2004 American Academy of Pediatrics