The availability of activated charcoal and ipecac for home use

Traditionally, Ipecac has been used in the home; however, recently attention has focused on prehospital activated charcoal (AC) administration. In an effort to assess the availability of AC and Ipecac, we conducted a telephone survey. One-hundred and 18 pharmacies were randomly selected from the 59 counties in California to assess availability of AC (liquid or powder) and/or ipecac. Ninety-four (80%) pharmacies participated. Seventy-nine of the pharmacies had ipecac compared to 8 which had AC. Three pharmacies had premixed aqueous AC while 5 had AC in powder formulation. There was no difference between chains and community in AC or ipecac availability. The major limitations of effective GI decontamination are AC availability and rapidity In its administration. Our results identify a significant delay in the administration of AC if a parent was referred to a local pharmacy for home or pre-hospital decontamination. As more toxicologists and poison centers move towards pre-hospital and home AC much education of pharmacists as well as pediatricians and parents is required.