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Ephedrine

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Summary sheet: Ephedrine
Ephedrine
Chemical Nomenclature
Common names Ephedrine, Ephedra
Substitutive name (1R,2S)-2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-ol
Class Membership
Psychoactive class Stimulant
Chemical class Amphetamine
Routes of Administration

WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.



Oral
Dosage
Threshold 5 mg
Light 10 - 20 mg
Common 20 - 30 mg
Strong 30 - 50 mg
Heavy 50 mg +
Duration
Total 2 - 5 hours
Onset 20 - 90 minutes
After effects 2 - 4 hours









DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.

Interactions


Ephedrine is a naturally occuring central nervous system stimulant obtained from the plant Ephedra equisetina. Commonly used as a stimulant, concentration aid, decongestant, appetite suppressant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia.

Ephedrine is closely related in structure to methamphetamine, although its CNS actions are much less potent and also longer-acting than those of the amphetamines. Its peripheral stimulant actions are similar to but less powerful than those of epinephrine (adrenaline), a hormone produced in the body by the adrenal glands.

History and culture

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Ephedrine in its natural form, known as má huáng in traditional Chinese medicine, has been documented in China since the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) as an antiasthmatic and stimulant. In 1885, the chemical synthesis of ephedrine was first accomplished by Japanese organic chemist Nagai Nagayoshi based on his research on traditional Japanese and Chinese herbal medicines. The industrial manufacture of ephedrine in China began in the 1920s, when Merck began marketing and selling the drug as ephetonin. Ephedrine exports from China to the West grew from 4 to 216 tonnes between 1926 and 1928.

In traditional Chinese medicine, má huáng has been used as a treatment for asthma and bronchitis for centuries.

Chemistry

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Ephedrine is a substituted amphetamine and a structural methamphetamine analogue. It differs from methamphetamine only by the presence of a hydroxyl group (—OH).

Pharmacology

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Ephedrine primary mechanism of action is through increasing catecholamine activity at alpha and beta adrenergic receptors.[1] It also acts as a NDRA (norepinephrine-dopamine releasing agent).[2]

Subjective effects

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Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.

It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.


Physical effects

Visual effects

Cognitive effects


Experience reports

There are currently no anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index. Additional experience reports can be found here:

Toxicity and harm potential

This toxicity and harm potential section is a stub.

As a result, it may contain incomplete or even dangerously wrong information! You can help by expanding upon or correcting it.
Note: Always conduct independent research and use harm reduction practices if using this substance.

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance.

Lethal dosage

Tolerance and addiction potential

As with other stimulants, the chronic use of ephedrine can be considered moderately addictive and is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.

Tolerance to the effects of ephedrine are quickly built after repeated and frequent usage. Ephedrinepresents cross-tolerance with other dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of ephedrine, most other stimulant compounds will have a reduced effect.

Dangerous interactions

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As such, it may contain incomplete or invalid information. You can help by expanding upon or correcting it.

Warning: Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).

Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.

This legality section is a stub.

As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

  • Canada - Ephedrine can be sold for breathing purposes in 8 milligram doses OTC.
  • United states - Ephedrine is heavily regulated due to production of meth using ephedrine.

See also

Literature

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References

  1. Ephedra in perspective – a current review. | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ptr.1337
  2. Dopamine-mediated actions of ephedrine in the rat substantia nigra. (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16386715