Definition
Description
Top Gene Interactions
Related Pathways
General Information
- Metabolism: Route of Elimination: mainly renal Half Life: 3-6 hours
- Uses/Sources: Ephedrine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia.
- Health Effects: Acute exposure to cholinesterase inhibitors can cause a cholinergic crisis characterized by severe nausea/vomiting, salivation, sweating, bradycardia, hypotension, collapse, and convulsions. Increasing muscle weakness is a possibility and may result in death if respiratory muscles are involved. Accumulation of ACh at motor nerves causes overstimulation of nicotinic expression at the neuromuscular junction. When this occurs symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps, fasciculation, and paralysis can be seen. When there is an accumulation of ACh at autonomic ganglia this causes overstimulation of nicotinic expression in the sympathetic system. Symptoms associated with this are hypertension, and hypoglycemia. Overstimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the central nervous system, due to accumulation of ACh, results in anxiety, headache, convulsions, ataxia, depression of respiration and circulation, tremor, general weakness, and potentially coma. When there is expression of muscarinic overstimulation due to excess acetylcholine at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors symptoms of visual disturbances, tightness in chest, wheezing due to bronchoconstriction, increased bronchial secretions, increased salivation, lacrimation, sweating, peristalsis, and urination can occur. Certain reproductive effects in fertility, growth, and development for males and females have been linked specifically to organophosphate pesticide exposure. Most of the research on reproductive effects has been conducted on farmers working with pesticides and insecticdes in rural areas. In females menstrual cycle disturbances, longer pregnancies, spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and some developmental effects in offspring have been linked to organophosphate pesticide exposure. Prenatal exposure has been linked to impaired fetal growth and development. Neurotoxic effects have also been linked to poisoning with OP pesticides causing four neurotoxic effects in humans: cholinergic syndrome, intermediate syndrome, organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP), and chronic organophosphate-induced neuropsychiatric disorder (COPIND). These syndromes result after acute and chronic exposure to OP pesticides.
- Symptoms: Side-effects can include sweating, dry mouth, blurred vision, insomnia, loss of appetite, and dizziness. In addition users can feel restless, anxious and moody, become excitable and have a false sense of power and security. Amphetamine overdose can also cause cardiac arrhythmias, headaches, convulsions, hypertension, rapid heart rate, coma and death. Amphetamines are psychologically and physically addictive.
- Treatment: If the compound has been ingested, rapid gastric lavage should be performed using 5% sodium bicarbonate. For skin contact, the skin should be washed with soap and water. If the compound has entered the eyes, they should be washed with large quantities of isotonic saline or water. In serious cases, atropine and/or pralidoxime should be administered. Anti-cholinergic drugs work to counteract the effects of excess acetylcholine and reactivate AChE. Atropine can be used as an antidote in conjunction with pralidoxime or other pyridinium oximes (such as trimedoxime or obidoxime), though the use of '-oximes' has been found to be of no benefit, or possibly harmful, in at least two meta-analyses. Atropine is a muscarinic antagonist, and thus blocks the action of acetylcholine peripherally.
- Route of Exposure: Oral ; parenteral (intramuscular or intravenous injection). 85%.
Mechanism of Action
Target Name | Mechanism of Action | References |
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Alpha-1A adrenergic receptor Sodium-dependent noradrenaline transporter Synaptic vesicular amine transporter |
19429089 7751968 10592235 17209801 12557268 15955613 17405867 12757963 21177475 14570629 |
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Acetylcholinesterase | Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine - that is, its principal mechanism of action relies on its direct and indirect actions on the adrenergic receptor system, which is part of the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedrine increases post-synaptic noradrenergic receptor activity by (weakly) directly activating post-synaptic α-receptors and β-receptors, but the bulk of its effect comes from the pre-synaptic neuron being unable to distinguish between real adrenaline or noradrenaline from ephedrine. The ephedrine, mixed with noradrenaline, is transported through the noradrenaline reuptake complex and packaged (along with real noradrenaline) into vesicles that reside at the terminal button of a nerve cell. Ephedrine's action as an agonist at most major noradrenaline receptors and its ability to increase the release of both dopamine and to a lesser extent, serotonin by the same mechanism is presumed to have a major role in its mechanism of action. |
18048412 |
Ephedrine Interacts with Diseases
Disease | Inference Score | References/Inference Genes |
HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA, FAMILIAL | 13.02 |
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Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency | 11.4 |
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Behcet's syndrome | 8.34 |
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Drug Eruptions | 7.16 |
|
Hyperlipoproteinemia Type I | 6.21 |
|
Hypobetalipoproteinemia, Familial, Apolipoprotein B | 6.08 |
|
Coronary artery disease | 5.83 |
|
Amyloidosis, familial visceral | 5.37 |
|
Lung Neoplasms | 5.24 |
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Pediatric Obesity | 5.23 |
|
Cardiovascular disease | 5.0 |
|
Fibrous Dysplasia of Bone | 4.83 |
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Hyperlipoproteinemias | 4.61 |
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Reperfusion Injury | 4.59 |
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Familial HDL deficiency | 4.45 |
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Neurotoxicity Syndromes | 4.44 |
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Polyploidy | 4.44 |
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Status Epilepticus | 4.41 |
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Diabetic Cardiomyopathies | 4.17 |
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Membranous glomerulonephritis | 4.01 |
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