ephedrine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Sympathomimetic bronchodilator and vasopressor
Available forms
Oral tablets and intravenous injections
Administration
Tablets are swallowed with water; injections are given by a healthcare professional
Important excipient
The selected tablets contain lactose
What is ephedrine hydrochloride used for?
Licensed uses differ by formulation.
Tablets: prevention or treatment of bronchospasm attacks in asthma.
Injection: reversal of hypotension caused by spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
How does ephedrine hydrochloride work?
Ephedrine acts directly at alpha and beta adrenergic receptors and indirectly by increasing noradrenaline release. It can relax bronchial smooth muscle, constrict peripheral blood vessels and increase cardiac activity, raising blood pressure.
ephedrine hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 15 mg, 30 mg
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 3 mg/mL, 30 mg/1 mL, 30 mg/mL
How to take ephedrine hydrochloride
Follow the product label and prescriber's instructions. Injections are given intravenously by trained healthcare professionals.
Swallow tablets with water.
The concentrated injection may require dilution before use.
Injection solutions should be clear and free from visible particles; ampoules are for single use.
ephedrine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Fast heartbeat or palpitations
- Raised blood pressure
- Anxiety, nervousness, irritability or restlessness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headache or sweating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weakness or shortness of breath
Get urgent medical advice
- Chest pain, severe or irregular heartbeat, collapse or cardiac arrest
- Severe hypertension, sudden severe headache or neurological symptoms
- Severe breathing difficulty or pulmonary oedema
- Seizures, hallucinations or psychotic symptoms
- Acute urinary retention
- Angle-closure glaucoma symptoms, such as severe eye pain with blurred vision
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction
ephedrine hydrochloride in pregnancy
Ephedrine crosses the placenta and may increase fetal heart rate. The selected product information advises avoiding it or using it only when clinically necessary after assessment by the prescriber, obstetric or anaesthetic team.
ephedrine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
Ephedrine enters breast milk; irritability and disturbed sleep have been reported in breastfed infants. The selected product information advises avoiding oral use during breastfeeding and making an individual specialist decision about feeding after an injection.
ephedrine hydrochloride interactions
Check prescribed, pharmacy and recreational products before ephedrine is used, particularly stimulants and decongestants.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Non-selective MAO inhibitors, including recent treatment, can cause dangerous hypertension and hyperthermia.
Pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, methylphenidate and related sympathomimetics
Combined effects can cause acute hypertension and excessive vasoconstriction.
Common questions about ephedrine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is ephedrine hydrochloride used for?
Tablets prevent or relieve asthma-related bronchospasm. Injections reverse low blood pressure caused by spinal or epidural anaesthesia.
Is ephedrine hydrochloride a stimulant?
Yes. It stimulates adrenergic pathways and can affect the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.