Ephedrine is an alpha and beta-adrenergic agonist indicated to treat hypotension under anesthesia, allergic conditions, bronchial asthma, and nasal congestion. Ephedrine was first described in western literature in 1888, as a naturally occurring component of the ephedra plant, along with pseudoephedrine.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 4 references
Ephedrine is a direct and indirect sympathomimetic amine. As a direct effect, ephedrine activates alpha-adrenergic and beta-adrenergic receptors. As an indirect effect, it inhibits norepinephrine reuptake and increases the release of norepinephrine from vesicles in nerve cells. These actions combined lead to larger quantities of norepinephrine present in the synapse for more extended periods of time, increasing stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Ephedrine acts as an agonist of alpha-1, beta-1 and beta-2-adrenergic receptors. The stimulation of alpha-1-adrenergic receptors causes the constriction of veins and a rise in blood pressure, the stimulation of beta-1-adrenergic receptors increases cardiac chronotropy and inotropy, and the stimulation of beta-2-adrenergic receptors causes vasodilation and bronchodilation.
- Primary indication
- Ephedrine intravenous injections are indicated to treat hypotension under anesthesia, ephedrine injections by multiple routes are indicated to treat allergic conditions such as bronchial asthma, ephedrine nasal spray is and OTC medication used as a...Curator reviewed · 18 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C10H15NO · 165.2322 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2002 · United States, 2016
- Also known as
- L-Ephedrine
- Code names
- NSC-170951 · NSC-8971
- Brand names
Resolves to
KWGRBVOPPLSCSI-WPRPVWTQSA-NSMILESCN[C@@H](C)[C@H](O)C1=CC=CC=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Ephedrine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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