Both recovered with the treatment for heart failure and withdrawal of emetine. It is as effective as emetine in its amoebicidal properties. When present, they are more transient than with emetine. Chemically, it is closely related to emetine. Ipecacuanha contains the alkaloids emetine (methylcephaeline) and cephaeline. Theoretically the use of emetine in children is not advised. Compared to emetine, its concentration in the heart is less. Heavy or overusage of emetine can carry the risk of developing proximal myopathy and/or cardiomyopathy. Cephaeline is a desmethyl analog of emetine also found in ipecac root. The identification of emetine as a more potent agent improved the treatment of amoebiasis. Patients receiving emetine should be monitored for changes in pulse, blood pressure and electrocardiography. Systemic amoebicidal drugs include emetine, dehydroemetine, chloroquine diphosphate, metronidazole, and tinidazole. Dehydroemetine is excreted by the kidneys, heart and the other organs more rapidly than emetine. The actions of ipecac are mainly those of major alkaloids, emetine (methylcephaeline) and cephaeline. A combination of tartar emetic (antimony potassium tartrate) and emetine hydrochloride healed the skin lesions.