Go to and enter the search term "ipecac". You will find the regulatory history of ipecac and presentations and submissions for and against the over-the-counter availability of ipecac syrup.

Can you get ipecac over the counter?

This medicine in amounts of more than 1 ounce is available only with your doctor's prescription. It is available in ½- and 1-ounce bottles without a prescription. However, before using ipecac syrup, call a poison control center, your doctor, or an emergency room for advice.

Where is ipecac found?

Ipecac is a small shrub. It grows in parts of Central America and Brazil. The root is used to make medicine. Ipecac syrup is available both as a nonprescription product and as an FDA-approved prescription product.