Hydrogen Peroxide Taken by Mouth or in Other Ways: Why Poison Centers Warn

Urgent first

If anyone has swallowed hydrogen peroxide, or splashed it in the eyes or on the skin, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Poison Control says expert guidance by phone or online is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day. [1] Call 911 for collapse, seizure, trouble breathing, chest pain, confusion or swelling of the face or throat. Poison Control lists difficulty breathing, chest pain and confusion as symptoms of gas embolism, which it says can be life-threatening and needs immediate medical attention. [1] For other countries see Poison Help by Country and Poisoning: What to Do First.

The claim as marketed

"Food-grade" hydrogen peroxide is promoted online as a drink or in other ways for many conditions. Poison Control says it is sometimes promoted for conditions such as allergies, arthritis, HIV, diabetes, emphysema, lupus, shingles, warts and irregular heart rhythms, and that these uses are not based on scientific evidence. [1] We are not repeating any directions for using it.

What the products are

The word "food-grade" describes the grade of a chemical. It does not mean the liquid is safe to drink. See Food Grade vs Cosmetic Grade vs Pharmaceutical Grade.

What poison centers say about swallowing

• A sip of the 3% bottle. Poison Control says a taste or sip may cause belching, upset stomach, an episode of vomiting or throat irritation but is not expected to cause serious symptoms. [1] A large amount, or a high-concentration product, can be much more serious, including severe stomach irritation and burns needing emergency care. [1]
• Concentrated peroxide. Poison Control says children and adults who swallowed concentrated hydrogen peroxide have suffered severe injuries, and some have died. [1]
• Gas embolism. Rarely, oxygen bubbles released by hydrogen peroxide enter the bloodstream and block blood vessels. Most cases followed large swallows or high-concentration products. [1]
• Mix-ups. Users often store the concentrated liquid in the refrigerator, where Poison Control says it can be mistaken for something safe to drink. [1] Keep every peroxide product away from children.

Wounds, ears and teeth

• Wounds. Poison Control says hydrogen peroxide was once used to disinfect skin wounds, that this is no longer recommended, and that research has shown it can irritate or damage the cells needed for healing. [1] This page does not give wound-care advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist.
• Ears. Poison Control describes hydrogen peroxide as one of several liquids used to loosen ear wax and says stubborn ear wax should only be removed by a qualified health care professional. [1]
• Teeth. Poison Control says not to use liquid hydrogen peroxide as a substitute for a tooth-bleaching product, and to consult a dental professional first. [1]
• Inhaling or injecting. Proper evidence not found. We searched the Poison Control article cited here and it does not discuss breathing in or injecting peroxide, so we make no statement about those uses.

Never as a vomiting aid

Poison Control warns not to use hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting in children, or in people of any age. [1] Call Poison Help instead.

Who is at higher risk

The sources we read do not break risk down by pregnancy, liver or kidney disease or medicines. A child who drinks any amount, and anyone who swallows a concentrated product, should get expert advice at once. Poison Control's article describes a child who drank 3% peroxide and was fine after a poison center follow-up, and an 82-year-old woman who died after being given about 2 tablespoonfuls of 32% peroxide. [1] Both are single case reports, not rates.

What a reader can safely do

• Poison Control prevention tips: store hydrogen peroxide out of sight and reach of children, buy only the 3% solution for household use, and keep it in its original opaque bottle. [1]
• If you already own a concentrated "food-grade" product, ask Poison Help how to handle it safely.
• Call Poison Help, not a social media group, after any swallow. See also Claims on Social Media About Natural Cures.