# Does hydrogen peroxide induce vomiting in humans?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 16, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143 "2002-12-16T19:31:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143/1 "2002-12-16T19:31:40Z")
My 15-lb dog ate about 5 oz. of milk chocolate yesterday evening. We called the on-call vet with 30 minutes of ingestion. The vet-on-call suggested that since we had caught the dog so soon after eating, we should make the dog swallow about a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. The vet said he’d throw up the chocolate in short order, and we wouldn’t have to bring our dog in for a visit.
Well, the vet was right on – our Bichon heaved up virtually ALL the chocolate within two minutes of taking the hydrogen peroxide. Better yet, he was back to his old frisky self, as if nothing had ever happened.
My question: wouldn’t this work on people, too? Any reason to have Ipecac in the medicine cabinet when hydrogen peroxide will do the trick?
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### Author:  [@Chava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chava)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143/2 "2002-12-16T20:27:57Z")
I don’t know about the 3% hydrogen peroxide but the 40% stuff some health fanatics used to keep around for some weird reasons will kill you if you it undiluted. You wind up with oxygen coming out of solution in your bloodstream and instant strokes.
Maybe ipecac won’t make dogs vomit. They evidently have different ideas of what is sickening, since I have never seen a human eat what he has just puked up, let alone keeping it down the second time around.
Chava
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143/3 "2002-12-16T20:38:25Z")
From: [About :: Dogs](http://dogs.about.com/library/poisons/blvomit.htm)
> [@](#):
>
> If your dog has ingested a substance that you suspect is toxic, your first step is to identify the substance in question. Once you know what he ate, call the Animal Poison Control Center
> 1-888-426-4435.
> A $45 fee may be applied in some cases.
>
> The good people at this hotline will be able to tell you if the substance is caustic or not.
>
> This is a very important distinction, as caustic substances can NOT be treated by induced vomiting. Instead, vomiting will cause internal tears in your dog’s stomach and his condition will rapidly worsen.
>
> In most cases of poisoning, the immediate treatment is to induce vomiting.
>
> To induce vomiting, give orally, one teaspoon of Syrup of Ipecac, or two teaspoons of Hydrogen Peroxide. In a desperate pinch, a teaspoon of table salt will also have thecorrect effect.
>
> \*\ ***Warning**
>
> If convulsions, seizures, shock or lethargy are present as symptoms, do NOT induce vomiting!!
>
> In ALL poisoning cases, please seek veterinary care immediately!
> Vomiting is only a temporary fix, to allow you enough time to get your pet to a vet! \*\*
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### Author:  [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143/4 "2002-12-17T06:48:59Z")
As posted by **Whack-a-Mole** , ipecac works just fine. However, most folks don’t happen to have it kicking around in the medicine cabinet. A goodly percentage _do_ have peroxide, which is why vets automatically skip to that treatment.
Also, I used to have to gargle with peroxide, and accidentally swallowed some after being startled. Trust me, it’ll make humans barf, too.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hydrogen-peroxide-induce-vomiting-in-humans/143143/5 "2002-12-17T07:06:41Z")
Yes it can.
From the Material safety data sheet ([MSDS](http://www.bu.edu/es/LabSafety/ESMSDSs/MSHydPeroxide.html) )for H[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]2[/sub]
> [@](#):
>
> Ingestion:
> May cause severe and permanent damage to the digestive tract. Causes gastrointestinal tract burns. May cause perforation of the digestivetract. May cause severe digestive tract irritation with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Here’s the gory details of [death by Hydrogen peroxide](http://members.tripod.com/~Prof_Anil_Aggrawal/poiso038.html).
More on [pets and H[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]2[/sub]](http://petplace.netscape.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=545).