Short answer: Ephedrine has a half-life of about 6 hours (by mouth). People vary, so treat these as estimates.
Ephedrine is a stimulant drug that acts on alpha and beta adrenergic receptors and releases norepinephrine. In the US it is sold over the counter as 25 mg ephedrine sulfate tablets for mild intermittent asthma, and as an injection used for low blood pressure during anesthesia. Since 2004, FDA has banned dietary supplements that contain ephedrine alkaloids, such as ephedra.
Also known as: ephedrine sulfate, Bronkaid, Akovaz, ephedra, ma huang.
Bronkaid Max caplets contain 25 mg of ephedrine sulfate. Akovaz injection comes as 50 mg/mL vials, which are diluted before use, and 5 mg/mL prefilled syringes.
The Bronkaid Max Drug Facts label is for temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma (wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath), and only if a doctor has said you have asthma. For adults and children 12 and older it is 1 caplet every 4 hours as needed, no more than 6 in 24 hours; it is not for children under 12. It is not used with an MAO inhibitor or within 2 weeks of stopping one. The label warns that blood pressure and heart rate may go up, which could raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, and says to ask a doctor first with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid disease, seizures, narrow-angle glaucoma or an enlarged prostate, and to avoid caffeine and stimulant supplements.
The Akovaz injection label approves ephedrine for clinically important low blood pressure during anesthesia, given as 5 mg to 10 mg IV doses as needed, up to 50 mg in total. It warns that repeated doses can lose effect (tachyphylaxis).
In a final rule published February 11, 2004 (in effect April 12, 2004), FDA declared dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids adulterated because they present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. The rule covers ephedra plants such as ma huang (Ephedra sinica) and other plant sources such as Sida cordifolia, and cites ephedrine's well-known effects on blood pressure and heart rate and reported adverse events. WADA bans ephedrine in competition when its concentration in urine is above 10 micrograms per mL (S6).
The Akovaz injection label says ephedrine's plasma elimination half-life after a dose by mouth was about 6 hours, and that kidney impairment is likely to lengthen it.
Numbers shown are taken from the source above. Half-life varies from person to person.
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