102 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
102 lines
4.9 KiB
Plaintext
from: _Drugs and Drug Abuse_, 2nd Ed., by: Cox, Jacobs, LeBlanc, Marshman,
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and Fehr, 1987.
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EPHEDRINE
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Drug Class: CNS stimulant
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Ephedrine is a naturally occuring central nervous system stimulant obtained
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from the plant _Ephedra equisetina_. It is now also produced by chemical
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synthesis, the synthetic product being marketed in the form of its salt,
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ephedrine sulfate; it occurs as a white crystalline powder with a bitter
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taste, soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol. Ephedrine is closely
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related in structure to methamphetamine, although its CNS actions are much
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less potent and also longer-acting than those of the amphetamines. Its
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peripheral stimulant actions are similar to but less powerful than those of
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epinephrine (also called adrenaline), a hormone produced in the body by the
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adrenal glands.
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Ephedrine has moderately potent bronchial muscle relaxant properties, and
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therefore is used for symptomatic relief in milder cases of asthmatic
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attack; it is also used to reduce the risk of acute attacks in the treatment
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of chronic asthma. The typical adult dose range is 30-60 mg taken orally,
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three to four times per day, in the form of tablets. Ephedrine in the form
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of nose drops is also widely used to relieve nasal congestion associated
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with upper respitory tract illnesses. It is also used to treat low blood
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pressure, because it constricts blood vessels and stimulates certain actions
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of the heart. Common side effects are qualitatively similar to those
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produced by amphetamines and are generally milder. Higher doses (overdose)
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can cause restlessness and anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, tremor, rapid
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pulse, sweating, respiratory difficulties, confusion, hallucinations,
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delerium, and (very infrequently) convulsions. The most dangerous symptoms
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of overdose are abnormally high blood pressure and rapid, irregular
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heartbeat. A dose of ephedrine only two to three times the theraputic
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maximum can cause a significant increase in blood pressure. The elderly are
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particularly sensitive to overdose, and there have been a few deaths among
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such patients. Finally, a number of instances of psychosis, clinically
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similar to amphetamine psychosis, have resulted from chronic high-dose
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abuse; other effects of chronic abuse have not been adequately studied.
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Tolerance develops to the main effects of ephedrine; however, temporary
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abstinence restores sensitivity.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Interesting point to note is that the theraputic dose maximum of 60 mg is
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about 2 25mg pills (the common OTC strength), while 'dangerous' amounts
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would be 4 or more of the same pills. By the way, if you're going to use
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ephedrine more than once or twice, use a mail-order. The OTC prices are
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outrageous: 100 pils @ 25mg each should NOT cost more than about $10.
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Ephedrine is an adrenergic drug that works by stimulating alpha
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and beta receptors thus causing the release of norepinephrine.
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Alpha and beta receptors exist in the sympathetic nervous system,
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(fight or flight) and stimulation causes increased heart rate,
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bronchodilation, and vasoconstriction.
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Ephedrine is the oral form of Epinephrine, or adrenaline. It was
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once a commonly prescribed drug for asthma, but newer drugs in the
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xanthine class have less side effects.
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Ephedrine is related to pseudoephedrine which was designed as a
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decongestant with less undesirable effects.
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Ephedra is a Chinese herb that's been used for centuries to treat
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asthma.
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Rather than purchasing it through mail order, you might want to
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ask the local pharmicist for Ephedrine sulfate in the 100 capsule
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bottles as it's much cheaper that way. Though more difficult to find,
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ephedrine is kept as a 'behind-the-counter' drug. Legal to purchase
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without a Rx, but not put out on display.
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Ephedrine taken with caffeine is a more pleasant stimulant combination
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however be aware of the warnings concerning adrenergic drugs, which you
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can discuss with someone qualified and licensed to do so.
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=============================================================================
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Newsgroups: misc.fitness,alt.drugs
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From: n9020351@henson.cc.wwu.edu (James Douglass Del-Vecchio)
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Subject: Re: '30 BIGGEST LIES' -- The Third Ten [3/3]
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Message-ID: <1994Jan19.194717.16838@henson.cc.wwu.edu>
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Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 19:47:17 GMT
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jmccorm@osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu (Justin McCormack) writes:
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>On another note, it seems I've got a problem of my own. About 3/4 of a
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>year ago, I started taking Epherdine. I've worked my way up from getting
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>an awesome boost on 2 or 3, to having mild effects with 10 or 12. Yup,
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>I've built up a tolerance.
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>Are there any alternatives to bringing my tolerance down back to 2 or 3,
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>aside from stop taking them alltogether? I've tried stacking it with
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>caffine and asprin, and it doesn't seem to have any additional affect.
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There is no other way. Tolerance is the enevitable result
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of using it. To reduce the tolerance, you stop using it.
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