"Ephedrine" has psychostimulating, vasoconstrictive, bronchodilator, hypertensive and hyperglycemic properties. But this tool has a long list of side effects. Despite the fact that it is prohibited in some states, in Russia this drug is actively used to treat adult patients. In pharmacies, "Ephedrine" is released only by prescription, so just before using it, you should consult your doctor. Next, we will find out what analogues of "Ephedrine" exist. But first, let's get acquainted with the instructions for using this drug.
Composition of "Ephedrine"
This drug is sold as a tablet or injection solution. The main active ingredient in it is ephedrine hydrochloride.
Pharmacological effects of this drug
Many wonder what group of drugs Ephedrine belongs to?
This medicine is a sympathomimetic that stimulates adrenoreceptors. The medication is endowedpsychostimulant, bronchodilator and vasoconstrictor properties. The presented drug can increase the strength of heart contractions.
What is the mechanism of action of "Ephedrine"?
This drug increases the concentration of glucose in the blood along with the tone of skeletal muscles. "Ephedrine" dilates the pupils in humans, without having any effect on accommodation and intraocular pressure. This medicine inhibits intestinal peristalsis. "Ephedrine" stimulates the nervous system and is very close to "Phenamine" in its psychostimulating effect. The drug starts the processes of constriction of dilated vessels, reducing their increased permeability and reducing swelling in urticaria.
Fifteen to sixty minutes after ingestion of ephedrine hydrochloride, people begin to experience a therapeutic effect, and the duration of drug exposure is typically three to five hours. With intramuscular injection of 25 milligrams of the drug, the effect of the drug is observed for twenty minutes. In the event that this drug is administered repeatedly with a small interval of ten to thirty minutes, then the effect of its active component is sharply reduced. Next, we will find out in which cases it is advisable to use this medicine.
Indications for the use of "Ephedrine"
The presented drug is prescribed to people in the following cases:
- If the patient has rhinitis, hay fever or sinusitis.
- Against the background of arterial hypotension.
- During surgical interventions, as well as injuries andblood loss.
- At the background of urticaria, asthma or serum sickness in combination treatment.
- When a person is depressed.
- In case of poisoning with drugs and sleeping pills.
- As part of diagnostic procedures in ophthalmology in order to dilate the pupils.
Indications of "Ephedrine" are described in detail in the instructions.
Medication method
The drug is prescribed for people to use orally or intramuscularly, and, in addition, it can be used intravenously:
- In the presence of bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases, 50 milligrams of the drug is prescribed orally for ten to twenty days.
- Before anesthesia, "Ephedrine" is injected intramuscularly at 20 milligrams.
- In the presence of arterial hypotension, "Ephedrine" is used intravenously at 0.4 milliliters of a five percent solution.
- For the treatment of children as part of the stimulation of the nervous system, the drug is prescribed orally at 100 milligrams per day.
- In ophthalmic practice, a five percent solution is commonly used.
Let's give the maximum allowable dosage of the drug for oral use: daily - 150 milligrams, and single - 50 milligrams.
Contraindications to the use of the drug
This medicine is not prescribed for people suffering from insomnia, and, in addition, hypersensitivity to "Ephedrine". The medication is not suitable for use in the presence of uncontrolled arterial hypertension and tachycardia.
When "Ephedrine" is neededuse with caution?
With caution, the medicine is prescribed in the following cases:
- If the patient has hypercapnia, metabolic acidosis, or atrial fibrillation.
- Due to hypoxia or pulmonary hypertension.
- On the background of myocardial infarction or occlusive vascular disease.
- With atherosclerosis and diabetic endarteritis.
- Against the background of arterial hypertension and thyrotoxicosis.
- If the patient has diabetes.
With caution, you should take "Ephedrine" with the parallel use of drugs for inhalation anesthesia. Now let's see what side effects this drug can cause.
Side effects while taking this medication
"Ephedrine" can cause a large number of different side effects, which must be considered before using it. Even if you take all the proper precautions for taking this medicine, it can still have harmful effects on the body. Thus, directly during the use of this drug, patients may experience adverse reactions in the form of restlessness, shortness of breath, nervousness, chills, weakness, hyperthermia and sleep disturbance.
Among other things, dilated pupils, headaches, allergies, tremors of the limbs and blurred vision are possible. The occurrence of spasms of muscle tissue is not excluded, along with shortness of breath, convulsions, increased sweating, dizziness,pale skin and so on. Also likely to be difficult and at the same time painful urination, nausea, chest pain, ventricular arrhythmias, and, in addition, dry mouth and the like.
Cost of medicine in pharmacy chains
This drug is not cheap and its approximate cost in Russian pharmacies is about one thousand rubles.
List of analogues of this drug
There are a number of drugs with the same active ingredient that have a similar effect. But in some analogues of "Ephedrine" other active substances may be present. So, the analogues of the presented medicine today are the following drugs:
- Means "Teofedrin-N".
- Broncholitin drug.
- Cefedrin medicine.
- The drug "Dietrin".
- Drugs "Bronchoton" and "Bronchocin".
- A product called "DMAA".
Next, we will dwell on some of them in more detail and consider the main indications and methods of using these analogues of Ephedrine.
Drug "DMAA"
The main component of this analogue is the substance methylhexamine. This is a very effective substitute for "Ephedrine" in the field of bodybuilding, however, you should be careful with its use. The drug "DMAA" is famous for its psychostimulant properties and is accepted by many people. This substitute for "Ephedrine" is very popular among foreign military personnel and athletes.
Dose of the drug should be prescribed by the attending physician. In no case should the recommended dose be exceeded, and even more so, the active ingredient of the presented analogue should not be mixed with other stimulants. It is worth noting that there are known examples of deaths due to improper intake of "DMAA".
The main contraindications for taking this drug containing ephedrine is the presence of high blood pressure in the patient, and, in addition, rapid heartbeat along with tachycardia. Side effects of this analogue are similar to "Ephedrine" and usually manifest themselves in the form of headache, nervousness and tremor. The cost of these drugs is exactly the same: both drugs will cost customers one thousand rubles.
Let's consider another equally popular substitute for Ephedrine.
Drug "Bronholitin"
The main active ingredient of "Bronholitin" is also ephedrine hydrochloride. Therefore, the presented analogue is very similar in its pharmacological properties to the original. This analogue is also very popular among bodybuilders, like the previous substitute. It is often used to reduce appetite, increase the efficiency of the body, and, in addition, to burn fat, speed up metabolism, increase heart rate and stimulate the nervous system.
"Bronholitin" activates the sympathetic nervous system. The presented analogue allows the human body to start the anabolic process and accelerates cell metabolism.
As already noted, in many waysthis copy is identical to the original. The drugs have the same indications and contraindications, and in addition, the side reactions that may occur against the background of their use are also similar. The main difference lies in the cost. Bronholitin is a cheap analogue of Ephedrine and costs consumers only one hundred and fifty rubles.
Despite many different variations of the use of "Bronholitin", the average serving is, as a rule, 50 milliliters of the drug per day. To achieve greater effectiveness of the main component (ephedrine), this analogue must be used in combination with Aspirin and Caffeine. In such a combination, the following ratio would be ideal: 50 milliliters of Broncholithin, 500 milligrams of Aspirin and 240 milligrams of Caffeine.
Medication "Teofedrin-N"
According to the instructions for use, Teofedrin-N is a combined drug that has an antispasmodic and bronchodilator effect. This analogue contains the same active ingredient as Ephedrine.
This substitute increases the lumen of the bronchi, expanding the vessels of the lungs and lowering the pressure. Among other things, the action of the drug is aimed at stimulating the respiratory centers, expanding the coronary vessels and increasing the frequency and strength of heart contractions. Among other things, taking the drug increases renal blood flow, providing a moderate diuretic effect. Instructions for use for Teofedrin-N confirms this.
Thanks to the presence in the compositionAn additional ingredient in the form of paracetamol "Teofedrin-N", unlike "Ephedrine", is also endowed with antipyretic and analgesic properties. This drug is prescribed for adults half a tablet once a day. If necessary, you can take two tablets once a day. The presented analogue is cheaper than "Ephedrine" and its cost is about five hundred rubles.
Cefedrin drug
The drug "Cefedrin" is another analogue of "Ephedrine" and, as the name of the drug suggests, in this case we are talking about one active ingredient. "Cefedrin" is taken for depressive states, which are accompanied by motor retardation after prolonged use of antipsychotic drugs. It can also be given to patients with anesthetic depression.
Contraindications for its use are: the patient has hypersensitivity, agitation, liver and kidney failure. This analogue is taken orally. The initial dose is 25 milligrams of the drug three times a day. Then the amount of the active ingredient is gradually increased to 300 milligrams per day. After achieving the desired effect, the dose is gradually reduced and then maintenance treatment is already carried out at 50 milligrams per day.
The presented antidepressant analogue produces a thymoleptic and psychostimulating effect. In its structure, this substitute is very close to "Ephedrine". This medication has an unexpressed anticholinergic activity. "Cefedrin" causes the sameside effects as "Ephedrine", which are manifested in the form of dry mouth, constipation, agitation and insomnia.
