EPHEDRINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Adults 15-60mg three times daily Children under 1 year not recommended 1 - 5 years 15mg three times daily 6 - 12 years 30mg three times daily Elderly Dosage should be substantially reduced. Initial therapy should be 50% of adult dose.

The most common side-effects of ephedrine are tachycardia, anxiety, nausea, restlessness and insomnia. Tremor, dry mouth, impaired circulation to the extremities, hypertension, headache and cardiac arrhythmias may occur. Tolerance with dependence has been reported with prolonged administration.

Myocardial infarction has occurred very rarely in patients taking ephedrine or pseudoephedrine.

Ephedrine should be given with care to patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, angle-closure glaucoma and renal impairment. Ephedrine has potentially life threatening effects in its acute cardiovascular and central stimulant effects.

Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactose deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.

Ischaemic heart disease Hypertension Thyrotoxicosis Prostatic hypertrophy Ephedrine has positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart and its use should be avoided in patients with ischaemic heart disease. Ephedrine increases blood pressure in man.

Over the counter acquisition of sympathomimetics should always be considered in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure control has suddenly deteriorated. Patients with hyperthyroidism may be susceptible to the effects of ephedrine.

Ephedrine may precipitate acute urinary retention in patients with prostatic hypertrophy.