How To Induce Vomiting: When To Do It, Safety, And Risks

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Medical News TodaySubscribeHow to make yourself vomit

Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on April 30, 2025

Steps
When to vomit
Safety and risks
Nausea treatment
Poisoning
Eating disorders
Summary

There are many reasons a person may wish to induce vomiting, including ingestion of a substance and nausea from illness. However, there are risks involved with inducing vomiting.

a woman drinking a glass of water looking nauseous — Brothers91/Getty Images

Vomiting is one of the body’s natural defenses against germs, poisons, and drugs. However, vomiting carries risks. In particular, it is not safe to induce vomiting to prevent or treat poisoning.

People used to induce vomiting in children who swallowed poison. Parents and caregivers should not gag children or give them ipecac syrup when they suspect poisoning or believe that the child ate rotten food. Instead, they should go to the emergency room or contact a poison control center.

Research suggests that inducing vomiting may delay or reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Additionally, vomiting after consuming certain poisons can increase the risk of serious complications.

In this article, learn more about the safety and risks of inducing vomiting.

Help is available

Eating disorders can severely affect the quality of life of people living with these conditions and those close to them. Early intervention and treatment greatly improve the likelihood of recovery.

Anyone who suspects they or a loved one may have an eating disorder can contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.

For general mental health support at any time, people can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24 hours a day at 1-800-662-4357 (or 1-800-487-4889 for TTY).

Many other resources are also available, including:

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
F.E.A.S.T., which provides support and educational resources to friends and family who want to help someone living with an eating disorder

How to induce vomiting

Vomiting is usually induced by triggering the gag reflex using the fingers or another object.

A person typically washes their hands thoroughly and positions themselves in front of a toilet or sink. The index and middle fingers are inserted into the throat to trigger the gag reflex, which causes gagging, followed by vomiting.

Drinking water before vomiting may help prevent tooth damage associated with vomiting. It is also best to rinse or gargle with water and avoid brushing the teeth immediately after vomiting, as this could worsen damage.

However, keep in mind that a person should not induce vomiting unless directed by a doctor, as it can be dangerous and may cause serious side effects.

When to induce vomiting

There are several reasons a person may want to induce vomiting, including:

after consuming something harmful or poisonous
when feeling sick or nauseous
due to feelings of shame, self-loathing, or guilt after eating, which is a sign of an eating disorder

However, it is important to remember that a person should not induce vomiting unless instructed by a doctor.

Self-induced vomiting may be associated with potential risks, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and damage to the throat, teeth, or gums.

Safety and risks of inducing vomiting

It is not safe to induce vomiting to treat poisoning. When a person vomits some poisons, such as acids, this increases the risk of burns and other injuries to the esophagus, throat, and mouth.

In addition to poisoning, there might be other scenarios in which a person wants to induce vomiting. For instance, they may have an eating disorder or feel nauseated due to a stomach virus.

Vomiting always carries risks, and there is no medical reason for a person to induce vomiting just because they feel nauseated.

Vomiting also does not fully empty the stomach. Even if a person can safely vomit, vomiting will not remove the full dose of poison or the other contents of the stomach.

Some emetics — drugs to induce vomiting — can themselves be poisonous. For example, ipecac syrup can decrease the effectiveness of other poisoning treatments, such as activated charcoal, which doctors may administer in the hospital. The National Capital Poison Center strongly advise against using both ipecac syrup and activated charcoal to induce vomiting.

The use of these drugs may cause dangerous complications and delay a person getting treatment, especially if vomiting temporarily alleviates nausea.

Sodium chloride, another emetic, can cause dangerous electrolyte imbalances. It is also lethal at doses of 3 grams per kilogram of body weight and above.

Some risks of vomiting include:

dehydration
malnourishment
electrolyte imbalances that may damage the heart and other organs
damage to the teeth and gums
injury to the throat or esophagus
pancreatitis, a dangerous swelling of the pancreas

What to do to alleviate nausea

The right treatment for nausea depends on the cause. People who feel nauseated because of a stomach virus may find relief by avoiding food until the vomiting stops.

They can try drinking small quantities of water or an electrolyte drink and then gradually begin eating as their symptoms improve. It is best to start with bland, easily digestible foods, such as unbuttered toast.

Some other strategies that may help with nausea, including nausea from cancer, pregnancy, and illnesses, include:

eating small meals throughout the day because some people feel nauseated when their stomachs are empty
sucking on ginger or peppermint hard candies
identifying and avoiding triggers for nausea, as some people find that specific smells or food textures make them feel sick
sitting upright for an hour after eating

Prolonged vomiting can cause serious and even life threatening complications, so it is important to tell a doctor about any vomiting that lasts longer than a few days. In many cases, a doctor may be able to prescribe an antiemetic drug, which can reduce nausea and vomiting.

A person who feels nauseated after drinking poison or another harmful substance should not try to treat the nausea. Reducing nausea will not reverse poisoning. It is essential to get emergency medical care instead.

»Learn more:How to relieve nausea naturally

What to do to treat poisoning

Anyone who thinks that they or a child might have swallowed something harmful should get immediate medical care by calling Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222 or going to the emergency room.

The more information a person can provide about the poisoning, the easier it will be for a doctor to treat them.

The following strategies can improve treatment outcomes:

keeping the container of the suspected poison to show the doctor
writing down approximately how much the person swallowed, if possible
logging anything else that the person recently ate or drank
preparing to list any medications the person takes

How to get help for an eating disorder

People who feel compelled to vomit because of shame, self-loathing, or fears about weight gain may have a condition called bulimia nervosa.

Some people with eating disorders fear stigma or judgment, but eating disorders are treatable medical conditions.

People can talk with a trusted loved one and ask a doctor for support. Treatment can include:

medical care to cope with the health effects of bulimia
nutritional counseling to help a person eat a balanced diet
therapy to deal with underlying self-esteem and mental health concerns
family support, such as family counseling
education about eating disorders
participation in a support group

Some people find inpatient treatment the most beneficial approach because it offers comprehensive care in a safe environment.

Therapy and medical management often work well for people who do not want inpatient care or cannot take time off work or school.

Eating disorders are associated with a higher risk of death than most other mental health conditions. According to a 2020 research review, the risk of premature death was two times higher for people who received treatment for bulimia nervosa compared with the general population.

It is important to know that getting treatment for an eating disorder can be lifesaving.

»More on this:How to find an eating disorder therapist

Summary

There is no medical reason to induce vomiting without guidance from a doctor. Inducing vomiting without a compelling medical reason and a doctor’s supervision can be dangerous.

In some cases, it may even make the effects of poisoning or an underlying medical condition worse.

People concerned about nausea should ask a doctor about treatment options. People who believe they ate something poisonous need to get immediate emergency care.

Eating Disorders
Mental Health
Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Benzoni T, et al. (2024). Ipecac.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448075/
Bulimia: Caring for your teeth. (n.d.). https://eating-disorders.org.uk/information/caring-for-your-teeth/
Forney KJ, et al. (2016). The medical complications associated with purging.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4803618/
If you suspect a poisoning...act fast! (n.d.).https://www.poison.org/actfast
Ipecac - don’t use it. (n.d.). https://www.poison.org/articles/ipecac-do-not-use-it
Jain A, et al. (2023). Bulimia nervosa.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562178/
Managing nausea and vomiting at home. (2024). https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/nausea-and-vomiting.html
Sivakumar S, et al. (2024). Physiology, gag reflex.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554502/
Sodium chloride. (2025).https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-chloride
van Hoeken D, et al. (2020). Review of the burden of eating disorders: Mortality, disability, costs, quality of life, and family burden.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7575017/

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Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD — Updated on April 30, 2025

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