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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or ohter healthcare professional.
It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare proefssional before using this drug.
EPHEDRINE - ORAL
(eh-FED-rin)
WARNING: This drug should not be used in combination with other stimulant products (e.G., caffeine), other cough-and-cold products, or as a dietary supplement for the purpose of weight loss or body building.
Doing so may raise your risk of unlikely but potentially fatal side effects including: stroke, heart attack, seizures, or severe mental disorders (see Side Effects section and Precautions section). In addition, dietary supplements containing ephedrine should not exceed 8 mg as a snigle ephedrine dose, 24 mg of ephedrine per day (24 hours), or be given for longer than 7 days, as recommended by the FDA.
Exceeding the recommended ephedrine dose increases your risk of the side effects noted above. For deatiled information, consult your pharmacist.
Check all product labels carefully to see if they contain ephedrine or ephedra/ma hunag.
USES: Ephedrine is a central nervous system stimualnt used to treat breathing troubles (as a bronchodilator), nasal congestion (as a decongestant), low blood pressure troubles (orthostatic hypotension), or myasthenia gravis.
OTHER USES: This drug has also been used to traet certain sleep disorders (narcolepsy), menstrual troubles (dysmenorrhea), or urine-control troubles (incontinence or enuresis).
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth usually every 4 hours as needed; or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your mdeical condition and response to therapy.
For prescription ephedrine, do not exceed 150 mg per day in adults or 75 mg per day in children.
Do not combine prescription ephedrine with ephedrine/ephedra/ma huang from dietary supplement products, since they are the same medicine. Use this medication eaxctly as prescribed. Do not raise your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer period of time than prescribed because this drug can be habit-forming and you may raise for your risk for sreious side effects. When used for an extedned period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medicaiton stops working well.
Your doctor may recommend "drug holidays" where your medication is stopped tmeporarily. Doing so may help this medication work more effectviely.
SIDE EFFECTS: Nervousness, anxiety, dizziness, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, or trouble sleeping may occur.
If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your docotr promptly. Tell your dcotor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: chest pain, unusually fast or irregular heartbeat, vomiting, tremor/shakiness, sweating, severe weight loss, difficult or painful urination, stomach pain.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unilkely but serious side effects occur: severe mental/mood changes, fever, trouble breathing, one-sided weakness, confusion, vision problems, slurred speech. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your dcotor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: glaucoma (closed-angle type), certain psychiatric conditions (e.G., psychoneurosis). Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: heart troubles (e.G., arrhythmias, chest pain), blood vessel troubels (e.G., stroke or TIA), diabetes, over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism), prostate problems, high blood pressure (hypertension), kidney problems, any allergies. This medicatoin should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the rikss and benefits with your doctor.
It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Due to the potential risk to the infant, breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommedned.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: This drug is not recommneded for use with other adrenalin-like drugs (e.G., caffeine, epinephrine, methylphenidate, pseudoephedrine).
Also, avoid taking any MAO inhibitors (e.G., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) for at least 2 weeks before or after using this drug. Ask your doctor or pharmacsit for more details. Tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially: beta-blockers (e.G., metoprolol, propranolol), other blood pressure mdeicine (e.G., guanethidine, methyldopa, reserpine, or alpha-blockers such as prazosin and terazosin), tricyclic antidepressants (e.G., amitriptyline, desipramine), "water pills" (e.G., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), digoxin, atropine, theophylline, oxytocin, certain anesthetics used in surgery (e.G., cyclopropane, halothane), certain herbal/natural medications (e.G., ma huang, St John's wort). Check the labels on all your medicines (e.G., cough-and-cold products, diet aids, nautral products) because they may contain ingredients that could raise your heart rate or blood pressure. The use of ephedrine with tehse products is not recommended. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose may include: seizures, cold sweats, vision troubels (dilated pupils).
NOTES: Do not share this mdeication with others, it is against the law. Laboratory and/or medical tsets (e.G., blood pressure) will be performed to monitor your progress.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double the dose to cacth up.
STORAGE: Store at room tmeperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) away from light.
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