Description

Administration of Ephedrine may cause a hypertensive crisis in patients receiving an Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (including an Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase type A). Ephedrine should be avoided or used with care in patients undergoing anaesthesia with cyclopropane, halothane, or other volatile anaesthetics. An increased risk of arrhythmias may occur if given to patients receiving cardiac glycosides, quinidine, or tricyclic antidepressants, and there is an increased risk of vasoconstrictor or pressor effects in patients receiving ergot alkaloids or oxytocin

Adverse effects reported are nausea, vomiting, anorexia; tachycardia (sometimes bradycardia), arrhythmias, anginal pain, vasoconstriction with hypertension, vasodilation with hypotension, dizziness and flushing; dyspnoea; headache, anxiety, restlessness, confusion, psychoses, insomnia, tremor; difficulty in micturition, urine retention; sweating, hypersalivation; changes in blood-glucose concentration; very rarely angle-closure glaucoma.

Pregnancy: Category C. Either studies in animals have revealed adverse effects on the foetus (teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and there are no controlled studies in women or studies in women and animals are not available. Drugs should be given only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the foetus. Lactation: Ephedrine Hydrochloride is distributed into breast milk, and therefore Ephedrine Hydrochloride Injection is not recommended for use during lactation because of the risk of adverse effects in the infant.

Ephedrine should be given with care to patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, renal impairment, or angle-close glaucoma. In patients with prostatic enlargement, Ephedrine may increase difficulty with micturition. Use in pregnancy and lactation: Increased fetal heart rate reported with parenteral Ephedrine. Irritability and disturbed sleep have been reported in breast-fed infants.

When given in sufficiently large doses Ephedrine gives rise in most patients to certain minor reactions, such as giddiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, sweating, palpitations, difficulty in micturition, tremors, anxiety, restlessness and insomnia; some patients may exhibit these symptoms even with the usual therapeutic dosage.

Other adrenoceptor stimulants, Vasoconstrictor/Venotonic

Store in a cool, dry place, protected from light. Keep all medicines out of reach of children.