Chemical Properties
white powder
Uses
Non-selective adrenergic agonist; decongestant (nasal).
Controlled precursor.
Definition
ChEBI: A hydrochloride that is the monohydrochloride salt of pseudoephedrine.
brand name
Efidac (ALZA); Novafed (Sanofi Aventis);
Sudafed (GlaxoSmithKline); Sudafed (Warner Lambert).
Contact allergens
This sympathomimetic a-adrenergic agonist is found
in plants of the genus Ephedra (Ephedraceae) and is
systemically used as a nasal decongestant. It can induce
drug skin reactions such as acute generalized exanthematic
pustulosis or generalized eczema.
Clinical Use
Nasal decongestant
Drug interactions
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Adrenergic neurone blockers: antagonise hypotensive
effect of adrenergic neurone blockers.
Anaesthetics: increased risk of ventricular
arrhythmias with isoflurane.
Antibacterials: risk of hypertensive crisis with
linezolid.
Antidepressants: risk of hypertensive crisis with
MAOIs and moclobemide.
Dopaminergics: avoid concomitant use with
selegiline and rasagiline.
Metabolism
A small amount of pseudoephedrine is hepatically
metabolised by N-demethylation.
It is excreted largely unchanged in the urine with small
amounts of its hepatic metabolite.
Purification Methods
1S,2S-Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride [345-78-8] M 210.7, m 181-182o, 185-188o, [ + 6 1o (c 1 H2O). Crystallise the salt from EtOH. [Beilstein 13 IV 1878.]
