Ephedrine bronchial asthma

Ma Huang (Ephedra sinica) is another potentially harmful herb that is available in the United States. Claims of utility of Ma Huang for the treatment of bronchial asthma, cold and flu symptoms, fevers or chills, headaches and other aches, edema, and lack of perspiration have been made [23], Ma Huang contains approximately 1% of ephedrine and therefore possesses central nervous stimulatory potential [24], However, ephedrine is difficult to extract and purify from Ma Huang, so it presently has no street value. 

Asthma - Ephedrine sulfate injection is indicated in the treatment of allergic disorders, such as bronchial asthma. Oral ephedrine is indicated for temporary relief of shortness of breath, tightness of chest, and wheezing caused by bronchial asthma. Eases breathing for asthma patients by reducing spasms of bronchial muscles. 

Special risk patients Administer with caution to patients with diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, prostatic hypertrophy (ephedrine) or history of seizures elderly psychoneurotic individuals, patients with long-standing bronchial asthma and emphysema who have developed degenerative heart disease (epinephrine). 

The alkaloids ephedrine, ergotamine, ergometrine and yohimbine are used in many forms. Products like Dorex or Endrine contain ephedrine as their major component. They are used for many purposes, including treating nasal cold symptoms or in bronchial asthma. More than 25 different drugs containing ephedrine have been developed today. 

Ephedrine is useful for the treatment of chronic and moderate type of bronchial asthma, used as nasal decongestant and as a mydriatic without cycloplegia. It is also useful in preventing ventricular asystole in Stokes Adams syndrome. It is also used in narcolepsy, however amphetamines are the drug of choice. 

How might a reductive amination be used to synthesize ephedrine, an amino alcohol that is widely used for the treatment of bronchial asthma ... 

Dulfano MJ, Glass P. Evaluation of a new B 2 adrenergic receptor stimulant, terbutaline, in bronchial asthma. II. Oral comparison with ephedrine. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp 1973 15(4) 150-157. 

Ephedrine (25 to 50 mg p.o. t.i.d.) is indicated in the treatment of allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma nasal congestion in acute coryza vasomotor rhinitis, acute sinusitis, and hay fever. Ephedrine (25 to 30 mg slowly SC, IM, or IV) has been used to relieve acute bronchospasm, but epinephrine is more effective. Ephedrine is also used in shock. It is a naturally occurring sympathomimetic agent that stimulates alpha and beta receptors and CNS. It is less potent than epinephrine but has a longer duration of action (see also Figure 37). 

Ephedrine may be used with success in combating the fall of blood pressure in spinal anesthesia, in the treatment of bronchial asthma (bronchodilatation), hay fever, and other allergic conditions. It relieves whooping cough. Ephedrine has been used both for the prevention and the cure of attacks of heart block known as Stokes-Adam s syndrome. Use of ephedrine in the prevention of the pathological sleep of narcolepsy is now replaced by its more efficient chemical relative, deoxynorephedrine (Benzedrine). Ephedrine is of value in the treatment of myasthenia... 

Brocks SM, Sholiton U, Weric EE, Altenau P. The effects of ephedrine and theophylline on dexamethasone metabolism in bronchial asthma. 1977) 17, 308-18. 

It was discovered subsequently that this alkaloid was effective for bronchial asthma [6,7]. Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic, and the action is essentially similar to that of adrenaline (epinephrine Chapter 1) [2]. However, ephedrine differs from adrenaline mainly in its efficacy after oral administration, its much longer duration of action, its more pronounced central actions, and its much lower potency [8,9]. 

Ephedrine is used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. What reactants are required to synthesize this compound using a reductive amination step. 

The smooth muscle of the bronchial tree is relaxed by ephedrine. Compared with epinephrine, the action of ephedrine is slow in onset, becoming complete only an hour or more after administration. Ephedrine prevents histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma. 

More often than not, psychosis occurs in individuals taking ephedrinebased products for asthma and other respiratory conditions. Ephedrine s usefulness as a bronchodilator is somewhat limited by the fact that chronic use leads to a predictable, and fairly rapid, down regulation of 3-receptors and decreased bronchial responsiveness (Neve and Molinoff, 1986). As the medication becomes less and less effective, patients tend to increase the dose. If they take enough, psychosis can occur. Of course, ephedrine, and products containing ephedrine enantiomers, can also be taken specifically with the intent of becoming intoxicated. 

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