Ephedrine history

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). 

Ephedrine has not been extensively studied in humans despite its long history of use. Its ability to activate 3 receptors probably accounted for its earlier use in asthma. Because it gains access to the central nervous system, it is a mild stimulant. Ingestion of ephedrine alkaloids contained in ma huang has raised important safety concerns. Pseudoephedrine, one of four ephedrine enantiomers, has been available over the counter as a component of many decongestant mixtures. However, the use of pseudoephedrine as a precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine has led to restrictions on its sale. 

Ephedra has a long history of legal use in the United States and around the world. Today, the laws that apply to ephedra cover sales, formulation, and labeling by manufacturers they do not outlaw its use by consumers as with street drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. Because ephedrine can be used to manufacture methamphetamine, companies that sell bulk ephedrine and ephedrine tablets are subject to laws... 

This is the first case of this kind associated with ephedrine, and it seems plausible that the patient s previous history indicated a genetic predisposition to vascular disease. 

Preexisting medical conditions The likelihood of adverse effects of ephedrine is heightened in individuals with a history of high blood pressure, heart or thyroid disease, diabetes, kidney disease or difficulty urinating, glaucoma, a seizure disorder, depression, prostate enlargement, history of stress, or are involved in stressful activities. 

Basic and advanced life-support measures should be instituted as indicated. Gastric decontamination may be performed depending on the specific drug involved, the patient s symptomatology, and the history of the ingestion. Activated charcoal may be used to adsorb ephedrine, synephrine, and/or caffeine. 

Trendelenburg (150) has reviewed some of the history concerning the isolation and pharmacological behavior of ephedrine, which was isolated by Nagai in 1887 and studied byMiura (151). The last author stated that ephedrine produced a respiratory arrest, decreased pulse rate, induced a cardiac arrest in diastole, and a mydriasis in the frog. With dogs and cats a stimulation of the respiration and pulse, clonic convulsions, and hyperthermia are noted. Airila (152) and Morita (153) observed an intense motor stimulation provoked by ephedrine in the rabbit (20 mg.). 

Amongst numerous pretreatment regimes, almost all include histamine 1 (HI) antagonist to antagonize the effects of histamine, and some additionally use a corticosteroid to target the inflammatory response. Other regimens also include ephedrine for bronchodilation as well as cimetidine because of its antagonism at the H2 receptor. If the patients history reveals a serious reaction to... 

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