Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2018 Publisher: hameln pharmaceuticals ltd, Nexus, Gloucester Business Park, Gloucester, GL3 4AG, United Kingdom
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Adrenergic and dopaminergic agents
ATC code: C01CA26
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine acting directly on the alpha and beta receptors and indirectly by increasing the release of noradrenaline by the sympathetic nerve endings. As with any sympathomimetic agent, ephedrine stimulates the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, and the sphincters of the digestive and urinary systems.
After intravenous administration, ephedrine is completely biologically available, and after oral administration, the bioavailability of ephedrine has been reported to be above 90%.
Excretion depends on urine pH:
From 73 to 99% (mean: 88%) in acidic urine.
From 22 to 35% (mean: 27%) in alkaline urine.
After oral or parenteral administration, 77% of ephedrine is excreted in unchanged form in the urine.
The half-life depends on urine pH. When the urine is acidified at pH=5, the half-life is 3 hours; when the urine is rendered alkaline at pH=6.3, the half-life is approximately 6 hours.
There is no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which is additional to that already included in other sections of the SmPC.
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