Edited sentence: A 2005 review by an HRSA-funded scientific panel concluded that vomiting alone does not reliably remove poisons from the stomach.Additionally, Ipecac’s potential side effects, such as lethargy, can be confused with the poison’s effects, complicating diagnosis.Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, however, strongly advise against this and in fact recommend the disposal of any syrup of Ipecac present in the home.Ipecac and opium were used to produce Dover's powder, which was used in syrup form.Ipecac has been used by individuals with bulimia nervosa as a means to achieve weight loss through induced defensive vomiting.Ipecac may also delay the administration or reduce the effectiveness of other treatments such as activated charcoal, whole bowel irrigation, or oral antidotes.Ipecac syrup is still used to induce vomiting.Ipecac was used in cough mixtures as an expectorant from the 18th until the early 20th century.It has also been used as an agent for Münchausen syndrome by proxy.Many toxicological associations have also issued position papers recommending against its use as a first-line treatment for most ingested poisons, because there has been no evidence that syrup of Ipecac actually helps improve the outcome in cases of poisoning.One victim may have been singer Karen Carpenter.Pediatricians once recommended Ipecac be kept in the home as a ready emetic for use in cases of accidental poisoning.Repeated abuse is believed to cause damage to the heart, which can ultimately result in the user's death.The study suggested that indications for use of Ipecac syrup were rare and patients should be treated by more effective and safer means.accidental overdose of Ipecac can result when administered in the home