What is ephedrine used for?

Ephedrine is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat breathing problems (as a bronchodilator), nasal congestion (as a decongestant), low blood pressure problems (orthostatic hypotension), or myasthenia gravis.

What type of drug is ephedrine?

What is Ephedrine and how is it used? Ephedrine is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of low blood pressure during anesthesia (Hypotension). Ephedrine may be used alone or with other medications. Ephedrine belongs to a class of drugs called Alpha/Beta Adrenergic Agonists.

What is the antidote for ephedrine?

ANTIDOTE – For hypertension, 5 mg phentolamine mesylate diluted in saline may be administered slowly intravenously, or 100 mg may be given orally. Convulsions may be controlled by diazepam or paraldehyde. Cool applications and dexamethasone 1 mg/kg, administered slowly intravenously, may control pyrexia.

Who should not use ephedrine?

Do not use ephedrine if: you do not have a diagnosis of asthma. you have a diagnosis of asthma but use prescription asthma medications. if you have ever been hospitalized for asthma. you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) now or have taken an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days.

When is ephedrine given?

USES: Ephedrine injection is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat low blood pressure (hypotension) during certain surgical procedures, severe allergic-type reactions (e.g., bronchospasm or bronchial asthma), certain heart rhythm problems (e.g., Stokes-Adams syndrome), narcolepsy, and myasthenia gravis.

What is another name for ephedrine?

Ephedrine is available under the following different brand names: Akovaz, and Corphedra.

Does ephedrine damage your heart?

“Ephedrine looks benign when you look at its effects on normal heart rates, but when there is a blockage, boom, ephedrine causes a potentially lethal arrhythmia,” Dr. Adamson said. “The heart starts beating so fast, it can no longer pump blood.” Dr.

What is the generic name of ephedrine?

Ephedrine

Clinical data
Trade names Akovaz, Corphedra, Emerphed, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Ephedrine: Monograph HCl: Monograph Sulfate: Monograph
Pregnancy category AU : A
Routes of administration By mouth, intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC)

What is the difference between ephedrine and pseudoephedrine?

By convention, the pair of enantiomers with the stereochemistry (1R,2S) and (1S,2R) is designated ephedrine, while the pair of enantiomers with the stereochemistry (1R,2R) and (1S,2S) is called pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine is a substituted amphetamine and a structural methamphetamine analogue.

Can you buy ephedrine over the counter?

Ephedrine is available over-the-counter (OTC) as an oral medication in combination with the expectorant guaifenesin, and comes in the form of tablets, caplets, or syrup.

When was ephedrine banned?

2004
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (stimulant compounds found in Ephedra sinica and some other plants) in the United States in 2004.

What kind of Medicine is ephedrine used for?

Traditional Chinese medicine has used ephedra for many years to treat a variety of conditions including the flu, coughing, and colds. In the western parts of the world, many asthma medications have ephedrine in them. Ephedrine binds cell receptors together. These cell receptors are the ones that respond to the chemicals known as catecholamines.

What are the side effects of ephedrine in rats?

In male rats, the (-)-ephedrine isomer contracted blood vessels more than a racemic mixture of ephedrine, which can result in higher blood pressure [ 1 ]. Ephedrine has a greater capacity to constrict veins than arteries, which increases blood pressure [ 22 ].

Why is ephedrine banned in the United States?

Ephedrine is banned in many countries including the United States, as it can be misused to make methamphetamine (crystal meth) [ 3, 4 ]. Additionally, the FDA prohibited the sale of all dietary supplements containing Ephedra alkaloids, including ephedrine, due to potential adverse effects on heart health [ 5 ].

Are there any antidepressants that are similar to ephedrine?

Bupropion is an example of an antidepressant with an amphetamine-like structure similar to ephedrine, and it is an NDRI.