Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get medical attention in case of poisoning
• Method 2 of 3: Avoid potentially dangerous methods
• Method 3 of 3: Then
• Tips
• Warnings

Never make someone vomit unless directed to do so by medical personnel. If the poisoned person is not breathing, is dazed, hunted or has fits, call 911 immediately. Otherwise, you can call the National Poison Information Center and follow their instructions. Remember never to vomit because you want to lose weight.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get medical attention in case of poisoning

1. Contact the National Poison Information Center (NVIC) immediately. There is no reason whatsoever to make someone throw up at home. If you or someone with you may have been poisoned, call the NVIC on 030 274 ​​88 88. Here you can get free and confidential advice.
   • Call this number day and night for questions about poisoning or how to prevent it.
   • You can of course also call 112 immediately.
   • Someone could be poisoned by chemicals, too many drugs, or even food. If you think you or someone close to you has been poisoned, don't hesitate and call the NVIC or 112.
2. Follow the instructions of the emergency services. They may ask you questions about what has been eaten or drunk and what the symptoms are. If you are referred to the hospital emergency room, go there immediately.
   • Again, don't try to throw up unless the emergency services tell you to.
3. Take the packaging of the possible poison with you. If you have a good idea of ​​what caused the poisoning, such as a box of pills, take that with you. Then the medical staff will have valuable information that can assist in the treatment of the poisoned person.

Method 2 of 3: Avoid potentially dangerous methods

1. Do not use emetics unless instructed to do so by medical personnel. Vomiting should be taken only as a last resort and as directed by medical personnel. In the past, it was recommended to take a remedy with emetic root to induce vomiting. However, research has shown that this can actually make treating the poisoning more difficult. It is also no longer being sold now.
2. Do not drink salt water. While salt water is a classic home remedy to stimulate vomiting, it can be dangerous for someone who has been poisoned. This is because salt water can push toxic substances deeper into the digestive system and accelerate the absorption of the substance by the body.
   • In addition, drinking a lot of salt water can have serious health consequences and even lead to death.
3. Be careful with other home remedies. Traditional means of inducing vomiting include eating mustard or raw eggs, or eating very large amounts of food. The safety and effectiveness of these methods have never been proven. If you eat a lot because you want to vomit, the toxic substance can be absorbed by the body more quickly.
4. Avoid potentially hazardous materials. There are all kinds of substances that can induce vomiting, but you should not take them. These are, for example, activated charcoal, atropine, biperide, diphenhydramine, doxylamine, scopolamine, copper sulphate, bloodroot, lobelia tincture and hydrogen peroxide.

Method 3 of 3: Then

1. Rinse your mouth after vomiting. You probably have a bad taste in your mouth after throwing up what you want to get rid of. To do that, you can rinse your mouth with warm water.
2. Don't brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth after vomiting can damage your tooth enamel. That's because there was corrosive stomach acid in your mouth.
3. Follow the instructions of the medical personnel. Do what the doctors or the people at the NVIC tell you. They will probably tell you to drink water, but they may find it better not to eat or drink anything at all. If they tell you to go to the hospital, do it, even if you think your stomach is already completely empty.

Tips

• Reasons that doctors think you can throw up better are, for example, swallowing poisonous plants, methanol, antifreeze, certain pesticides or mercury.
• They may also recommend vomiting if you've taken too many of certain medications, such as painkillers, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, or an opiate.
• Finally, they can also advise you to vomit after an allergic reaction to certain foods.

Warnings

• If you ever throw up to lose weight, or if you have binge eating and then vomit everything, you may have an eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Long-term vomiting can cause dehydration, damage to the tooth enamel, and irreparable damage to the esophagus. If you think you have an eating disorder, see your doctor right away.