EPHEDRA - Uses, Side Effects, and More

Medications that can cause an irregular heartbeat (QT interval-prolonging drugs) interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra might cause an irregular heartbeat. Taking ephedra along with medications that can also cause an irregular heartbeat might have an additive effect. This might increase the risk of serious side effects such as irregular heartbeats that are too fast and sudden cardiac death. Some medications that can cause an irregular heartbeat include amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), ibutilide (Corvert), procainamide (Pronestyl), quinidine, sotalol (Betapace), thioridazine (Mellaril), and many others.

Methylxanthines interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra can simulate the body. Methylxanthines also stimulate the body. Taking ephedra along with methylxanthines might cause side effects such as jitteriness, nervousness, a fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, and anxiety. Methylxanthines include aminophylline, caffeine, and theophylline.

Stimulant drugs interacts with EPHEDRA

Stimulant drugs speed up the nervous system and can make you feel jittery and speed up your heartbeat. Ephedra can also speed up the nervous system. Taking ephedra along with stimulant drugs might cause serious problems including increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Avoid taking stimulant drugs along with ephedra. Some stimulant drugs include diethylpropion (Tenuate), epinephrine, phentermine (Ionamin), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and many others.

Dexamethasone (Decadron) interacts with EPHEDRA

The body breaks down dexamethasone (Decadron) to get rid of it. Ephedra might increase how quickly the body breaks down dexamethasone (Decadron). Taking ephedra along with dexamethasone (Decadron) might decrease the effectiveness of dexamethasone (Decadron).

Ergot derivatives interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra can increase blood pressure. Ergot derivatives can also increase blood pressure. Taking ephedra with ergot derivatives might increase blood pressure too much. Some of these ergot derivatives include bromocriptine (Parlodel), dihydroergotamine (Migranal, DHE-45), ergotamine (Cafergot), and pergolide (Permax).

Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra contains chemicals that stimulate the body. Some medications used for depression can increase these chemicals. Taking ephedra with these medications used for depression might cause serious side effects including fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, seizures, nervousness, and others. Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra might increase blood sugar. Diabetes medications are used to lower blood sugar. By increasing blood sugar, ephedra might decrease the effectiveness of diabetes medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed. Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with EPHEDRA

Medications used to prevent seizures affect chemicals in the brain. Ephedra may also affect chemicals in the brain. By affecting chemicals in the brain, ephedra may decrease the effectiveness of medications used to prevent seizures. Some medications used to prevent seizures include phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.

Medications for asthma (Beta-adrenergic agonists) interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra can stimulate the heart. Some medications for asthma can also stimulate the heart. Taking ephedra with some medications for asthma might cause too much stimulation and cause heart problems. Some medications for asthma include albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Volmax), metaproterenol (Alupent), terbutaline (Bricanyl, Brethine), and isoproterenol (Isuprel).

Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with EPHEDRA

Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Ephedra might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking ephedra along with some medications that are changed by the liver might decrease the effectiveness of some medications. Before taking ephedra, talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol), amitriptyline (Elavil), clopidogrel (Plavix), clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), diazepam (Valium), estradiol, fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), ropinirole (Requip), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, tizanidine (Zanaflex), verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan), zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.

Medications that can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs) interacts with EPHEDRA

Ephedra might harm the liver. Taking ephedra along with medication that might also harm the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. Do not take ephdra if you are taking a medication that can harm the liver. Some medications that can harm the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, others), phenytoin (Dilantin), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and many others.

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