A typical dose of syrup of ipecac can take up to twenty minutes to "kick in," and once it does, it will not give up until the patient has thoroughly emptied their stomach, so it is rarely recommended to induce vomiting anymore.

A fully stocked professional first aid kit should have a bottle of ipecac syrup, and a bottle of activated charcoal. The latter does not induce vomiting, but will absorb most chemicals to make them more inert inside the stomach.