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.
How does ephedrine affect the body?
Because of its direct sympathomimetic effects, ephedrine can increase heart rate, contractility, cardiac output, and peripheral resistance . Thus, increases in both heart rate and blood pressure are common observations after ephedrine ingestion.
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 .
Can I 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. It is not a replacement for prescription asthma treatments.
Is ephedrine legal in the US?
Ephedrine, one of the main components in ephedra, can boost metabolism and cause weight loss — especially in combination with caffeine. Still, due to safety concerns, dietary supplements containing ephedrine — but not necessarily other compounds in ephedra — are currently banned in the United States and elsewhere .
What are the dangers of 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.
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 are the long term effects of ephedrine?
Ephedra can cause severe life-threatening or disabling conditions in some people. Ephedra use is linked to high blood pressure, heart attacks, muscle disorders, seizures, strokes, irregular heartbeat, loss of consciousness, and death .
Does ephedrine affect the liver?
The severity of liver injury due to ephedrine ranges from mild, asymptomatic elevations in serum enzymes to clinically apparent acute liver injury and to acute liver failure . Chronic use of Ma Huang has been linked to a chronic hepatitis-like syndrome, but recovery was prompt when ephedra was stopped.
What sport uses ephedrine the most?
The most common sports among ephedra users were football, track and field, and weightlifting . This study suggests that Ephedra use was infrequent among the young athletes in this population.
What is the generic 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.
Can you buy Bronkaid over-the-counter?
Bronkaid is not available over-the-counter (OTC) in the traditional sense; while it does not require a prescription in most states, Bronkaid must be purchased directly from the pharmacy counter. The medication is sold as a dual-action capsule with two components: ephedrine sulfate and guaifenesin.
What is the difference between ephedra and ephedrine?
Ephedrine is a chemical contained in the ephedra herb. Ephedrine has medical uses, mostly in operating rooms and intensive care units. Its chemical properties raise blood pressure and heart rate and open up the large air passages in the lungs.
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).
Is it legal to grow ephedra?
ANSWER: Ephedra sinica, the herb also known as Ma Huang, is the one that was outlawed by the FDA and can no longer be legally sold as a dietary supplement . The major reason is the potential danger from the ephedra alkaloids, which are stimulant compounds that can represent an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.
When was ephedrine banned?
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 .
