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Ephedrine

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main symptom and is present in 100% of patients with narcolepsy. Other primary symptoms of narcolepsy include:

  • loss of muscle tone (cataplexy),
  • distorted perceptions (hypnagogic hallucinations), and
  • inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis).

Additional symptoms include disturbed nocturnal sleep and automatic behavior (patients carry out certain actions without conscious awareness). All of the symptoms of narcolepsy may be present in various combinations and degrees of severity.

Narcolepsy usually begins in teenagers or young adults and affects both sexes equally. The first symptom to appear is excessive daytime sleepiness, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow excessive daytime sleepiness by months...

Ephedrine

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WARNINGS

No information provided.

PRECAUTIONS

General

Special care should be used when administering Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP to patients with heart disease, angina pectoris, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, prostatic hypertrophy or hypertension and to patients receiving digitalis. Prolonged use may produce a syndrome resembling an anxiety state. Tolerance to ephedrine sulfate may develop, but temporary discontinuance to the drug restores its original effectiveness.

Pregnancy Category C

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP. Also, it is not known whether the drug can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly indicated.

It is not known what effect Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, USP may have on the newborn or on the child's later growth and development when the drug is administered to the mother just before or during labor.

Nursing Mothers

Ephedrine sulfate is excreted in breast milk. Use by nursing mothers is not recommended because of the higher than usual risk for infants.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/30/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.

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