What is ephedrine used for?
Ephedrine is an alpha and beta-adrenergic agonist indicated to treat hypotension under anesthesia, allergic conditions, bronchial asthma, and nasal congestion. Ephedrine was first described in western literature in 1888, as a naturally occurring component of the ephedra plant, along with pseudoephedrine.
Is ephedrine a narcotic?
These products of single ingredient ephedrine with small-packaging are sold as narcotics, and only national and regional wholesalers are authorized to sell these ephedrine products.
Why did FDA ban ephedrine?
The FDA banned dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids because of their serious safety risks. The supplements were associated with cases of heart attack, seizure, stroke, and sudden death.
Do they still sell ephedrine?
Due to safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned products containing ephedrine in 2004 ( 1 , 19 ).
How safe is ephedrine?
Ephedra and ephedrine increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, jitteriness, and palpitations. These products may be linked to catastrophic events such as sudden death, heart attack, or stroke.
What is another name for ephedrine?
Ephedrine is also used to treat breathing problems (as a bronchodilator), nasal congestion (as a decongestant), myasthenia gravis, narcolepsy, menstrual problems (dysmenorrhea), or urine-control problems. Ephedrine is available under the following different brand names: Akovaz, and Corphedra.
What is ephedrine used for illegally?
It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess or distribute EPH or PSE, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, the EPH or PSE will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine.
Can ephedrine be abused?
Ephedrine has become one of the most widely abused and harmful drugs around the world, since it is often used as an adrenergic drug, which is very easy to get and misuse. Ephedrine is thought to exert behavioural effects primarily through damaged actions on the central nervous system.
What replaced ephedrine?
Right after the FDA finally managed to ban ephedrine from dietary supplements another stimulant drug called synephrine (bitter orange) popped up in supplements to replace it.
Can I take ephedrine every day?
Dosage for Ephedrine
For prescription Ephedrine, do not exceed 150 mg per day in adults or 75 mg per day in children.
How long does ephedrine last in your body?
When given by injection it lasts about an hour and when taken by mouth it can last up to four hours. Common side effects include trouble sleeping, anxiety, headache, hallucinations, high blood pressure, fast heart rate, loss of appetite, and inability to urinate. Serious side effects include stroke and heart attack.
What OTC drugs contain ephedrine?
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.
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Common brands containing ephedrine:
- Bronkaid®
- Primatene® Tablets.
- Store Brands (ex: Walmart’s “Equate” store brand or CVS Health store brand)
How much is too much ephedrine?
Does ephedrine give you euphoria?
Large parenteral doses of ephedrine may cause confusion, delirium, hallucinations, or euphoria. Ephedrine may deplete norepinephrine stores in sympathetic nerve endings and tachyphylaxis to the cardiac and pressor effects of the drug may develop.
What works as good as ephedra?
Cayenne.
Does ephedrine boost mood?
However, the use of ephedra or ephedrine does cause an increase in jitteriness, mood changes, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting.
What is similar to ephedrine?
The stimulant, oxilofrine, though often listed as methylsynephrine on supplement labels, is considered to have ephedrine-like properties.
What does ephedrine do to the brain?
In summary, the finding of this study indicated that ephedrine neurotoxicity can cause neuronal damage in cerebral cortex, which in turn can result in certain neurobehavioral abnormalities, and that CRF expression in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus is elevated in response to ephedrine exposure.
Is ephedrine used for ADHD?
Methamphetamine, related to amphetamine and ephedrine and also an oral drug, is indicated for ADHD but also can increase blood pressure and reduce appetite. Methylphenidate, considered a mild stimulant, works by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake in the brain.
How does ephedrine make u feel?
Because ephedrine is a sympathomimetic and a central nervous system stimulant, it is commonly used as an energy enhancer. Ma huang-containing products are marketed and used to improve aerobic performance and endurance, reduce fatigue, increase alertness, improve reaction time, and even increase strength.
What drug is similar to ephedrine?
Some of the popular alternatives include guarana, bitter orange and green tea extract. Pharmacist Russell Zukin warns, “These are stimulant kind of medications which can increase blood pressure, decrease appetite and in high enough doses can cause death.”
What is a replacement for ephedrine?
What are long term side effects of ephedrine?
Long-term exposure to ephedrine leads to neurotoxicity and neurobehavioral disorders accompanied by up-regulation of CRF in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus in rhesus macaques.
Is ephedrine similar to amphetamines?
As a phenethylamine, ephedrine has a similar chemical structure to amphetamines and is a methamphetamine analogue having the methamphetamine structure with a hydroxyl group at the β position.
Does ephedrine increase dopamine?
Ephedrine, which has been used as a decongestant and weight loss agent, causes both central serotonin and dopamine (DA) release (Bowyer et al., 2000).