(e FED rin)
Treatment of anesthesia-induced hypotension
Note: The use of ephedrine for the treatment of acute bronchospasm, Stokes-Adams syndrome (ie, presyncope/syncope) with complete heart block, narcolepsy, or depression has fallen out of favor given the availability of more effective agents for these conditions.
Hypersensitivity to ephedrine or any component of the formulation; angle-closure glaucoma; concurrent use of other sympathomimetic agents
Hypotension induced by anesthesia: IV: 5 to 25 mg/dose slow IV push repeated after 5 to 10 minutes as needed to maintain blood pressure
Idiopathic orthostatic hypotension (off-label use): Oral: 25 to 50 mg 3 times daily; maximum: 150 mg daily. Note: Not considered first-line for this indication.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) refractory to traditional antiemetics (off-label use): IM: 0.5 mg/kg at the end of surgery (SAMBA [Gan 2007]; Hagemann 2000)
Refer to adult dosing.
Hypotension induced by anesthesia: IV:
Infants, Children, and Adolescents ≤15 years (off-label dose): 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg/dose slow IV push; administer as needed to maintain blood pressure; maximum: 25 mg (Taguchi, 1996)
Adolescents >15 years: Refer to adult dosing
Injection solution: dilute to 5 or 10 mg/mL.
Injection solution: Administer diluted solution as a slow IV push. Do not administer unless solution is clear.
Protect all dosage forms from light.
Injection solution: Store at room temperature. Note: Storage guidelines vary; check product labeling for exact temperature range.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product
Capsule, Oral, as sulfate:
Generic: 25 mg [DSC]
Solution, Injection, as sulfate:
Generic: 50 mg/mL (1 mL)
Solution, Injection, as sulfate [preservative free]:
Generic: 50 mg/mL (1 mL)
Solution, Intravenous, as sulfate:
Akovaz: 50 mg/mL (1 mL)
Stable in dextran 6% in dextrose, dextran 6% in NS, D5LR, D5NS, D51/2NS, D5W, D10W, D20W, sodium chloride 5%, LR, 1/2NS, NS.
Y-site administration: Incompatible with thiopental.
Alkalinizing Agents: May increase the serum concentration of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Indirect-Acting). Monitor therapy
Alpha1-Blockers: May diminish the vasoconstricting effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Similarly, Alpha-/Beta-Agonists may antagonize Alpha1-Blocker vasodilation. Monitor therapy
AtoMOXetine: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. AtoMOXetine may enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Atropine (Systemic): May enhance the therapeutic effect of EPHEDrine (Systemic). Monitor therapy
Benzylpenicilloyl Polylysine: Alpha-/Beta-Agonists may diminish the diagnostic effect of Benzylpenicilloyl Polylysine. Management: Consider use of a histamine skin test as a positive control to assess a patients ability to mount a wheal and flare response. Consider therapy modification
Beta-Blockers: May enhance the vasopressor effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Direct-Acting). Epinephrine used as a local anesthetic for dental procedures will not likely cause clinically relevant problems. Some beta-adrenoceptor mediated effects of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Direct-Acting), including anti-anaphylactic effects of epinephrine, may be diminished by Beta-Blockers. Management: Cardioselective beta-blockers and lower doses of epinephrine may confer a more limited risk. Patients who may require acute subcutaneous epinephrine (e.g., bee sting kits) should probably avoid beta blockers. Consider therapy modification
Cannabinoid-Containing Products: May enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Exceptions: Cannabidiol. Monitor therapy
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors: May increase the serum concentration of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Indirect-Acting). Monitor therapy
Cardiac Glycosides: EPHEDrine (Systemic) may enhance the arrhythmogenic effect of Cardiac Glycosides. Monitor therapy
CloNIDine: May enhance the therapeutic effect of EPHEDrine (Systemic). Monitor therapy
Doxofylline: Sympathomimetics may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Doxofylline. Monitor therapy
Droxidopa: EPHEDrine (Systemic) may enhance the hypertensive effect of Droxidopa. Monitor therapy
Ergot Derivatives: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Ergot Derivatives may enhance the vasoconstricting effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Exceptions: Ergoloid Mesylates; Nicergoline. Avoid combination
FentaNYL: Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Indirect-Acting) may decrease the serum concentration of FentaNYL. Specifically, fentanyl nasal spray serum concentrations may decrease and onset of effect may be delayed. Monitor therapy
Hyaluronidase: May enhance the vasoconstricting effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Management: Avoid the use of hyaluronidase to enhance dispersion or absorption of alpha-/beta-agonists. Use of hyaluronidase for other purposes in patients receiving alpha-/beta-agonists may be considered as clinically indicated. Consider therapy modification
Inhalational Anesthetics: EPHEDrine (Systemic) may enhance the arrhythmogenic effect of Inhalational Anesthetics. Avoid combination
Iobenguane I 123: Sympathomimetics may diminish the therapeutic effect of Iobenguane I 123. Avoid combination
Linezolid: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. Management: Reduce initial doses of sympathomimetic agents, and closely monitor for enhanced pressor response, in patients receiving linezolid. Specific dose adjustment recommendations are not presently available. Consider therapy modification
MAO Inhibitors: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Indirect-Acting). While linezolid is expected to interact via this mechanism, management recommendations differ from other monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Refer to linezolid specific monographs for details. Exceptions: Linezolid; Tedizolid. Avoid combination
Oxytocin: May enhance the hypertensive effect of EPHEDrine (Systemic). Monitor therapy
Propofol: May enhance the therapeutic effect of EPHEDrine (Systemic). Monitor therapy
Rocuronium: EPHEDrine (Systemic) may enhance the therapeutic effect of Rocuronium. Monitor therapy
Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors: May enhance the tachycardic effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors may enhance the vasopressor effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Consider therapy modification
Spironolactone: May diminish the vasoconstricting effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists. Monitor therapy
Sympathomimetics: May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of other Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Tedizolid: May enhance the hypertensive effect of Sympathomimetics. Tedizolid may enhance the tachycardic effect of Sympathomimetics. Monitor therapy
Tricyclic Antidepressants: May enhance the vasopressor effect of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Direct-Acting). Management: Avoid, if possible, the use of direct-acting alpha-/beta-agonists in patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants. If combined, monitor for evidence of increased pressor effects and consider reductions in initial dosages of the alpha-/beta-agonist. Consider therapy modification
Urinary Acidifying Agents: May decrease the serum concentration of Alpha-/Beta-Agonists (Indirect-Acting). Monitor therapy
Injection solution: Monitor blood pressure, pulse
Can cause a false-positive amphetamine EMIT assay
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Angina pectoris, bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, palpitations, pulse irregularity, tachycardia, ventricular ectopy, visceral vasoconstriction (renal)
Central nervous system: Anxiety, confusion, delirium, dizziness, hallucination, headache, insomnia, intracranial hemorrhage, nervousness, precordial pain, restlessness, tension, vertigo
Dermatologic: Diaphoresis, pallor
Gastrointestinal: Anorexia, nausea, vomiting
Genitourinary: Dysuria, oliguria, urinary retention (males with prostatism)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Tremor, vesicle sphincter spasm, weakness
Respiratory: Dyspnea
Miscellaneous: Tachyphylaxis
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Hypertension: May cause hypertension.
- Psychiatric disorders: Long-term use may cause anxiety and symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia.
Disease-related concerns:
- Cardiovascular disease: Use with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and hypertension.
- Diabetes: Use with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus.
- Prostatic hyperplasia/urinary stricture: Use with caution in patients with prostatic hyperplasia and/or urinary stricture.
- Seizures: Use with caution in patients with a history of seizure disorder.
- Thyroid dysfunction: Use with caution in patients with thyroid dysfunction.
- Vasomotor symptoms: Use with caution in patients with unstable vasomotor symptoms.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-I): Use with extreme caution in patients taking MAO inhibitors; prolonged hypertension may result from concurrent use.
Special populations:
- Elderly: Use with caution in the elderly, since it crosses the blood-brain barrier and may cause confusion.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Injectable: Blood volume depletion should be corrected before IV/IM therapy is instituted.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Bronchodilator use: Avoid as a bronchodilator; ephedrine is generally not used as a bronchodilator since other beta2 agonists are less toxic.
- Long-term use: May cause anxiety and symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia.
C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. Ephedrine crosses the placenta (Hughes, 1985). Ephedrine injection is used at delivery for the prevention and/or treatment of maternal hypotension associated with spinal anesthesia in women undergoing cesarean section (ASA, 2007).
Releases tissue stores of norepinephrine and thereby produces an alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation; longer-acting and less potent than epinephrine
Oral: Complete
Minimally hepatic by oxidative deamination, demethylation, aromatic hydroxylation, and conjugation; metabolites include p-hydroxyephedrine, p-hydroxynorephedrine, norephedrine
Dependent upon urinary pH with greatest excretion in acid pH; Urine pH 5: 74% to 99% excreted unchanged; urine pH 8: 22% to 25% excreted unchanged
Pressor/cardiac effects: Oral: 3 to 6 hours; SubQ: 1 hour
2.5 to 3.6 hours
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Patient may experience tremors, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, or headache. Have patient report immediately to prescriber severe headache, vision changes, angina, tachycardia, abnormal heartbeat, severe dizziness, passing out, severe anxiety, or urinary retention (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.