What is Ephedrine?

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What is Ephedrine?
Ephedrine is a drug that can stimulate the central nervous system, suppress a person’s appetite, help in concentration tasks, decongest clogged nasal pathways, and treat lowered blood pressure resulting from anesthesia.

This drug has similar structure to amphetamines and methamphetamine or shabu, owing to its abuse by a lot of people or drug addicts. On the legal side, ephedrine may also be prescribed for those with bronchial asthma. In this illness, ephedrine acts as a decongestant and bronchodilator. It is also said to effective in those with shortness of breath allowing for widening of the airway and reduction of possible swelling in nasal passages.

Because of its effect in appetite suppression, ephedrine also helps in promoting weight loss. Based on experiments done on humans and mice, this drug stimulates the burning or thermogenesis of fat or adipose tissue. When this drug is combined with promethazine, it is said to be effective in combating seasickness. Other uses of this drug include dysmenorrhea, sleep disorders like narcolepsy, and some forms of incontinence.

Ephedrine will have pronounced side effects when taken orally or through injections compared with topical applications. Side effects may include cardiac problems like tachycardia and hypertension, sweating, nausea, restlessness, confusion, insomnia, hallucinations, mania, euphoria, delusions, formication, paranoia, difficulty in breathing, pulmonary edema, headache, dizziness, acne vulgaris, dry mouth, angina pectoris, and tremors among many others.

The use of ephedrine is contraindicated for those who are taking diet pills and other anti-depressants. Extreme caution is advised for those who are driving as this drug causes dizziness and confusion. Diabetics are also cautioned to seek medical advice before taking this drug. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should also seek advice from doctors for guided treatment. Other conditions that warrant medical advice include hypertension, hypoxia, acidosis, hypothyroidism, prostatic hypertrophy, impaired adrenal function, hypercapnia, and heart disease among others.

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