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Scientific Name: Ephedrine
Drug Class: Stimulant
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Ephedrine, a close relative of amphetamine, is a naturally occurring stimulant. Ephedrine comes from the Ephedra bush which grows in the desert. Legal in many states, ephedrine can be bought without a prescription in gas stations and drug stores across the country. Many truck drivers working long hours and students studying late into the night take ephedrine to help them stay awake. Ephedrine is most often taking orally in pill form, but can be snorted or injected. Ephedrine may also be sold as the Chinese stimulant "mahuang" and brewed as tea. Ephedrine is also the main ingredient in the product, "Herbal Ecstasy."
Short term effects are similar to those of other drugs in the stimulant class, but milder. Users may feel a sense of alertness, energy, excitation, increase in heart rate and blood pressure, arousal, anxiety, jitteriness, and at higher doses, tremors, headache, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, seizures, stroke, heart attack, and death. There is not much information on the long term effects of ephedrine use. It may lead to heart and blood pressure problems. Also, since ephedrine is very similar to amphetamine, then the long term effects may also be similar to those of amphetamines.
There is not much information on the long term effects of ephedrine use. It may lead to heart and blood pressure problems. Also, since ephedrine is very similar to amphetamine, then the long term effects may also be similar to those of amphetamines.
Ephedrine is absorbed through the stomach into the bloodstream and then reaches the brain. It reaches its peak effects after an hour, and then may last from 3 to 6 hours. Ephedrine overdose is reached sometimes with only 2 or 3 times the recommended doses. Ephedrine overdose is also likely when the drug is mixed with other stimulants like caffeine. Overdose can lead to sudden rise in blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. Amphetamine-like addiction can develop with ephedrine use because (especially with chronic use), users need such large quantities to get high.
Ephedrine overdose is reached sometimes with only 2 or 3 times the recommended doses. Ephedrine overdose is also likely when the drug is mixed with other stimulants like caffeine. Overdose can lead to sudden rise in blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.
Amphetamine-like addiction can develop with ephedrine use because (especially with chronic use), users need such large quantities to get high.
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Interactions with other drugs:
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It is never possible to know for sure the effect that an interaction will have on a user. There are so many factors that affect the action of the drugs, that it is impossible to accurately consider them all. They include, but are not limited to, the user's mood, body chemistry, other medications or illnesses, and psychological history. Even a medical professional would not be able to say for sure what the effect of an interaction will be.
Ephedrine in all its forms, as an asthma drug (Primatene, Broncholate, Tedral), as an anti-hypertensive drug (Ismelin), and in pill form can have deadly reactions with the MAO inhibitor drugs because of an extreme rise in blood pressure. Also, psuedoephedrine, which is the active ingredient in many OTC cold medicines, can also have dangerous interactions with MAOIs. Ephedrine should not be mixed with caffeine or other stimulants because of the risk of increased blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Also, psuedoephedrine should not be mixed with Alka Seltzer because this increases the risk of anxiety, tremors, palpitations,
and mood changes.
Ephedrine is sold as pills, in herbal remedies, as herbs, in teas, as psuedoephedrine in cold medicines, and as inhalers. Ephedrine (and sometimes psuedoephedrine) is also the main ingredient in the illegal drug
methamphetamine.
Ephedrine is sold under many names, including Herbal Ecstasy, Primatene, Broncholate, Tedral, mahuang, and is present in cold remedies as psuedoephedrine.
While ephedrine is legal in most states, it is illegal in some because of the deaths that have occurred from its use. Illegal loads of ephedrine are often brought into the country for illicit manufacturing of
methamphetamine.
Ephedrine is used as a anti-asthmatic drug because it stimulates the bronchial passages. It is also used to treat narcolepsy, allergies, and low blood pressure.
Ephedrine has been used as a naturally occurring stimulant for a long time. In the 1800s, Mormons used ephedrine as a substitute for coffee. In China, ephedrine has been used for over 4000 years. Athletes have tried using ephedrine as a physical stimulant, but discovered that its effects on heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature were too dangerous. Now, ephedrine is sold as OTC herbal Ecstasy (MDMA) and herbal
amphetamine. The main ingredient in methamphetamine is ephedrine.
Kuhn, Cynthia. Buzzed. W.W.Norton and Co, New York. 1998
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