Toxicology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Toxicology, including details on forensic toxicology, carcinogenicity, assays.

The eating disorders medicine cabinet revisited: a clinician's guide to ipecac and laxatives.

Steffen KJ, Mitchell JE, Roerig JL, Lancaster KL

Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, North Dakota 58107, USA. ksteffen@nrifargo.com

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of alternative medication use in bulimia nervosa (BN), and to review available nonprescription emetic (ipecac) and laxative products and their potential toxicities. METHOD: Survey data were collected from 39 consecutive treatment-seeking patients with BN or subthreshold BN. Survey data of the available nonprescription and herbal products from local retail stores were also collected. Toxicology information was reviewed on these agents from MEDLINE and herbal textbooks. RESULTS: Ipecac use occurred in 18% of the 39 patients. Laxatives had been used at some point to control weight or "get rid of food" by 67% of the patients. Of these, 31% had abused laxatives during the month prior to evaluation. In the product survey, 248 laxative-containing products were identified. CONCLUSION: There are numerous laxative products readily available to patients, and many of them have significant associated toxicities. Patients with BN tend to endorse high rates of laxative use. While ipecac is used infrequently, it can have deleterious consequences. Patients with BN should be screened for use of both ipecac and laxatives and should be educated about the potential consequences associated with the misuse of these agents.

Published 4 June 2007 in Int J Eat Disord, 40(4): 360-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Toxicology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.