Until recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised parents to keep ipecac syrup on hand to cause vomiting if it was believed that a child had swallowed a potential poison. The AAP changed its policy in 2003 and now recommends that ipecac no longer be used routinely at home. The reasons behind the new recommendation include:

• There's no evidence that vomiting helps children who have ingested something poisonous.

• Most emergency rooms have stopped using ipecac in favor of activated charcoal, which binds to poison in the stomach and prevents it from entering the bloodstream.

• Continued vomiting caused by ipecac later may prevent the use of activated charcoal in the emergency room.

• Vomiting of caustic agents, such as drain cleaners, may further damage the esophagus by re-exposing it to the agent.

If you have ipecac at home, get rid of it safely, such as by flushing it down the toilet. In the event of poisoning, call your local or state poison control center and then visit an emergency room if so advised.