195 replies to this topic

[BatDuck]

Ok, so. Out of those of us who purge, the majority do it via puking (as opposed to lax abuse or exercise). And a lot of us (myself included) have probably considered, if not actually tried, using ipecac or some other form of emetic. However, because ipecac is bottled and is commonly used for medical purposes (i.e. if someone has been poisoned) there is a common stigma that it's safe, or at least safer than purging, right? Here are the facts about emetics.

An emetic is any substance that when ingested will induce vomiting. Saltwater and mustard water are very common. Ipecac is a form of emetic.

These are extremely dangerous. When using a substance like this, it will force vomiting. This means that the actual action is much more violent, and is much more likely to cause problems, such as a tear in the stomach lining, esophagus rupture, and problems with the heart and lungs. This on it's own, is reason enough to not use an emetic, right?

If that isn't enough for some of you to stay far away from emetics, here's where it gets even more dangerous. These substances induce vomiting by forcing your body to completely empty the contents of your stomach, involuntarily. You will vomit until the vomit is done. So, say you're purging with your hands, and you see blood. You can immediately stop triggering the gag reflex and call 911. However, if you are using an emetic to purge, and see blood in your vomit, YOU. CAN. NOT. STOP. You will continue to vomit, regardless of how you try to stop. When this happens with the use of an emetic, it is nearly always fatal. It's not a fun way to go either.

Now, let's say you use ipecac and survive purging. Well, your stomach is now empty. Completely empty. Acid included. This may cause the stomach walls to grind together, which can cause excruciating abdominal cramps.

So, for your own safety, please, please, if you are going to purge, just use your fingers (or purge hands-free if you are able)
Please do not even risk it. One purge is not worth risking your life.

EDIT: credit for the following goes to user sixdollardress
Ipecac (and I believe other emetics like CS as well) is actually even more dangerous than you've described here. While all of the vomiting-related dangers you have described are one thing, chronic use of emetics can also lead to muscle wasting due to build up of the toxin emetine - since your heart is basically one big muscle, this means that chronic use of emetics can lead to irreversible heart damage and congestive heart failure.

EDIT 2: In reference to non-ipecac emetics (i.e. salt water or mustard):
"Sometimes, these remedies did cause vomiting. But they often caused problems of their own. For example, too much salt caused sodium poisoning, seizures and even death. Gagging someone often caused throat bleeding and swelling. Also, these home remedies were never reliable enough to be used to treat poisoning. And complicated charts about what remedy went with what poisoning were confusing."

[Roo-barb]

Not to mention the fact that ipecac stays in your system so every time you do it you're contributing to the amount of toxin in your body.

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

[ghosties♡]

Isn't Ipecac not on store shelves anymore anyways?

[the panic/the vomit]

I hope everyone reads this.

[BatDuck]

Isn't Ipecac not on store shelves anymore anyways?

 

It's pretty difficult to obtain, but it's still out there. That's why I included all emetics, because they all cause basically the same side effects.

[OfficialMelaniaTrump]

Once again, MsBatDuck is a savior on MPA.

 

Can we like pin this or what?

[ghosties♡]

It's pretty difficult to obtain, but it's still out there. That's why I included all emetics, because they all cause basically the same side effects.

True, I finally just googled it and I found a bunch of ways to buy full vintage bottles of ipecac (no idea if it would still work though) so i'm sure it's easy to find a distributor who has a way to process it currently. 

[BatDuck]

Once again, MsBatDuck is a savior on MPA.

Can we like pin this or what?

I asked FluffyPitsPatrick before i made the post if i could have it pinned somewhere; she basically said sure, once she or another mod can read thru it

[Eachdaysmaller]

Agree this should be pinned. Really informative

[madcanadienne]

this is so important

[Utterly_Horrified]

Ok, so. Out of those of us who purge, the majority do it via puking. And a lot of us (myself included) have probably considered, if not actually tried, using ipecac or some other form of emetic. However, because ipecac is bottled and is commonly used for medical purposes (i.e. if someone has been poisoned) there is a common stigma that it's safe, or at least safer than purging, right? Here are the facts about emetics.

An emetic is any substance that when ingested will induce vomiting. Saltwater and mustard water are very common. Ipecac is a form of emetic.

These are extremely dangerous. When using a substance like this, it will force vomiting. This means that the actual action is much more violent, and is much more likely to cause problems, such as a tear in the stomach lining, esophagus rupture, and problems with the heart and lungs. This on it's own, is reason enough to not use an emetic, right?

If that isn't enough for some of you to stay far away from emetics, here's where it gets even more dangerous. These substances induce vomiting by forcing your body to completely empty the contents of your stomach, involuntarily. You will vomit until the vomit is done. So, say you're purging with your hands, and you see blood. You can immediately stop triggering the gag reflex and call 911. However, if you are using an emetic to purge, and see blood in your vomit, YOU. CAN. NOT. STOP. You will continue to vomit, regardless of how you try to stop. When this happens with the use of an emetic, it is nearly always fatal. It's not a fun way to go either.

Now, let's say you use ipecac and survive purging. Well, your stomach is now empty. Completely empty. Acid included. This may cause the stomach walls to grind together, which can cause excruciating abdominal cramps.

So, for your own safety, please, please, if you are going to purge, just use your fingers (or purge hands-free if you are able)
Please do not even risk it. One purge is not worth risking your life.

Wow...thank you for taking the time to post this. Ipecac is legit dangerous and should NEVER be used as a purging tool.

I used it once when I was about 16...The cramps were so painful and it seemed like I would never stop vomiting... I felt like abosolute shit for 24 hours afterwards and vowed never to touch it ever again. AND NOBODY SHOULD USE IT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN EXACTLY AS INTENDED AND DIRECTED.

(This was very early on in my disordered thinking when I wasn't nearly as deep into the belly of the beast as I am today...
I've never been a consistent purger but it still cost me one of my molars in my mid twenties...)

[OfficialMelaniaTrump]

I asked FluffyPitsPatrick before i made the post if i could have it pinned somewhere; she basically said sure, once she or another mod can read thru it

 

EXCELLENTE. FIRST LADY APPROVED. 

 

Not that anyone cares. But I have a role to fulfill k?

[BatDuck]

Wow...thank you for taking the time to post this. Ipecac is legit dangerous and should NEVER be used as a purging tool.

I used it once when I was about 16...The cramps were so painful and it seemed like I would never stop vomiting... I felt like abosolute shit for 24 hours afterwards and vowed never to touch it ever again. AND NOBODY SHOULD USE IT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN EXACTLY AS INTENDED AND DIRECTED.

(This was very early on in my disordered thinking when I wasn't nearly as deep into the belly of the beast as I am today...
I've never been a consistent purger but it still cost me one of my molars in my mid twenties...)

Out of likes, but i'm glad you're ok! And thanks for sharing your experience, though I'm sorry you went through it. Where did you even get the ipecac anyway? Online somewhere?

[Utterly_Horrified]

It was over 20 years ago...my mom kept some in a First Aide kit under the bathroom sink.

[18lydia]

I asked FluffyPitsPatrick before i made the post if i could have it pinned somewhere; she basically said sure, once she or another mod can read thru it

ahh yay you deserve it! such a smart idea to make this post!!

[BatDuck]

ahh yay you deserve it! such a smart idea to make this post!!

 

Aww, naaaw, I'm just a vomiting duck who knows how to work a keyboard :3 thank you though

[sixdollardress]

Ipecac (and I believe other emetics like CS as well) is actually even more dangerous than you've described here. While all of the vomiting-related dangers you have described are one thing, chronic use of emetics can also lead to muscle wasting due to build up of the toxin emetine - since your heart is basically one big muscle, this means that chronic use of emetics can lead to irreversible heart damage and congestive heart failure. 

 

If anyone reading this is thinking about using emetics: it isn't worth it. You can recover from an eating disorder, but you can never take back this kind of heart damage and failure. Please leave the emetics alone.

[PixelCat]

Great post!

[BatDuck]

Ipecac (and I believe other emetics like CS as well) is actually even more dangerous than you've described here. While all of the vomiting-related dangers you have described are one thing, chronic use of emetics can also lead to muscle wasting due to build up of the toxin emetine - since your heart is basically one big muscle, this means that chronic use of emetics can lead to irreversible heart damage and congestive heart failure. 

 

If anyone reading this is thinking about using emetics: it isn't worth it. You can recover from an eating disorder, but you can never take back this kind of heart damage and failure. Please leave the emetics alone.

 

Thank you for the info! I knew it could damage the heart, but I haven't done any research on that part of it, so didn't want to include false information. Hope you don't mind that I added your post to the OP