Ephedrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Ephedrine is a norepinephrine releasing agent sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for asthma, bronchial spasm and orthostatic hypotension. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Norepinephrine Releasing Agent
- Treats (across its forms)
- Asthma, Bronchial Spasm and Orthostatic Hypotension
- Available as
- Injectable · Solution · Tablet
- Sold as
- 4 products — Ephedrine Sulfate, Akovaz and Corphedra, and others
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
How Akovaz is dosed
From the FDA label for Akovaz (application NDA208289). Other ephedrine products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Should be administered by trained healthcare providers ( 2.1 ) • AKOVAZ injection, 50 mg/mL, must be diluted before administration as an intravenous bolus dose. ( 2.1 ) • AKOVAZ injection, 5 mg/mL in a pre-filled syringe, is a premixed formulation. Do not dilute prior to use. ( 2.1 ) • Bolus intravenous injection: 5 mg to 10 mg as needed, not to exceed 50 mg. ( 2.1 ) 2.1 General Dosage and Administration Instructions AKOVAZ (ephedrine sulfate injection), 50 mg/mL must be diluted before administration as an intravenous bolus to achieve the desired concentration. Dilute with normal saline or 5% dextrose in water. AKOVAZ (ephedrine sulfate injection), 25 mg/5 mL (5 mg/mL) in a prefilled syringe, is a premixed formulation. Do not dilute prior to use. The single-dose prefilled syringe is intended for use in one patient during one surgical procedure. Discard any unused portion. Inspect parenteral drug products visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. 2.2 Dosing for the Treatment of Clinically Important Hypotension in the Setting of Anesthesia AKOVAZ should be administered by trained healthcare providers. The recommended dosages for the treatment of clinically important hypotension in the setting of anesthesia is an initial dose of 5 mg to 10 mg administered by intravenous bolus. Administer additional boluses…
Everything below is the FDA label for Akovaz (injectable). Ephedrine is also sold as solution and tablet, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Akovaz side effects
The following adverse reactions associated with the use of ephedrine sulfate were identified in the literature. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency reliably or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Gastrointestinal disorders: Nausea, vomiting Cardiac disorders: Tachycardia, palpitations (thumping heart), reactive hypertension, bradycardia, ventricular ectopics, R-R variability Nervous system disorders: Dizziness Psychiatric disorders: Restlessness Most common adverse reactions during treatment: nausea, vomiting, and tachycardia. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Exela Pharma Sciences, LLC at 1-888-451-4321 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
Who shouldn’t take Akovaz
None None ( 4 )
Akovaz drug interactions
Interactions that Augment the Pressor Effect Oxytocin and oxytocic drugs Clinical Impact: Serious postpartum hypertension has been described in patients who received both a vasopressor (i.e., methoxamine, phenylephrine, ephedrine) and an oxytocic (i.e., methylergonovine, ergonovine). Some of these patients experienced a stroke. Intervention: Carefully monitor the blood pressure of individuals who have received both ephedrine and an oxytocic. Clonidine, propofol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), atropine Clinical Impact: These drugs augment the pressor effect of ephedrine. Intervention: Carefully monitor the blood pressure of individuals who have received both ephedrine and any of these drugs. Interactions that Antagonize the Pressor Effect Clinical Impact: These drugs antagonize the pressor effect of ephedrine. Intervention: Carefully monitor the blood pressure of individuals who have received both ephedrine and any of these drugs. Examples: α-adrenergic antagonists, β-adrenergic receptor antagonists, reserpine, quinidine, mephentermine Other Drug Interactions Guanethidine Clinical Impact: Ephedrine may inhibit the neuron blockage produced by guanethidine, resulting in loss of antihypertensive effectiveness. Intervention: Clinician should monitor patient for blood pressor response and adjust the dosage or choice of pressor accordingly. Rocuronium Clinical Impact: Ephedrine may reduce the onset time of neuromuscular blockade when used for intubation with rocuronium if administered simultaneously with anesthetic induction. Intervention: Be aware of this potential interaction. No treatment or other interventions are needed. Epidural anesthesia Clinical Impact: Ephedrine may decrease the efficacy of epidural blockade by hastening the regression of sensory analgesia. Intervention: Monitor and treat the patient according to clinical practice. Theophylline Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of ephedrine may increase the frequency of nausea, nervousness, and insomnia. Intervention: Monitor patient for worsening symptoms and manage symptoms according to clinical practice. Cardiac glycosides Clinical Impact: Giving ephedrine with a cardiac glycoside, such as digitalis, may increase the possibility of arrhythmias. Intervention: Carefully monitor patients on cardiac glycosides who are also administered ephedrine. • Interactions that Augment Pressor Effect : clonidine, oxytocin and oxytocic drugs, propofol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and atropine. Monitor blood pressure. ( 7 ) • Interactions that Antagonize the Pressor Effect : Antagonistic effects with α-adrenergic antagonists, β-adrenergic antagonists, reserpine, quinidine, mephentermine. Monitor blood pressure. ( 7 ) • Guanethidine : Ephedrine may inhibit the neuron blockage produced by guanethidine, resulting in loss of antihypertensive effectiveness. Monitor blood pressure and adjust the dosage of pressor accordingly. • Rocuronium : Ephedrine may reduce the onset time of neuromuscular blockade when used for intubation with rocuronium if administered simultaneously with anesthetic induction. Be aware of this potential interaction. No treatment or other interventions are needed. • Epidural anesthesia : Ephedrine may decrease the efficacy of epidural blockade by hastening the regression of sensory analgesia. Monitor and treat the patient according to clinical practice. • Theophylline : Concomitant use of ephedrine may increase the frequency of nausea, nervousness, and insomnia. Monitor patient for worsening symptoms and manage symptoms according to clinical practice. • Cardiac glycosides : Giving ephedrine with a cardiac glycoside, such as digitalis, may increase the possibility of arrhythmias. Carefully monitor patients on cardiac glycosides who are also administered ephedrine.
Every ephedrine product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
How long ephedrine keeps
No ephedrine label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does ephedrine expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about ephedrine
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 205 reports naming ephedrine, and the FDA flagged 70% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- bradycardia16 reports
- hypotension16 reports
- drug hypersensitivity11 reports
- respiratory arrest11 reports
- administration related reaction10 reports
- anxiety9 reports
- fatigue9 reports
- nausea9 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean ephedrine caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Akovaz?
Ephedrine is an alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist and a norepinephrine-releasing agent. AKOVAZ (ephedrine sulfate injection) is a clear, colorless, sterile solution for intravenous injection.
What kind of drug is ephedrine?
The FDA classifies ephedrine as a norepinephrine releasing agent. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take ephedrine with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run ephedrine against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is ephedrine sold under?
We track 4 ephedrine-containing products in the U.S.: Ephedrine Sulfate, Akovaz, Corphedra and Emerphed. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does ephedrine come in?
Across the brands we track, ephedrine is currently marketed as injectable, solution and tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic ephedrine?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic ephedrine product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Ephedrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/ephedrine
- MLA
- “Ephedrine: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/ephedrine.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for ephedrine on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.