Ephedrine
| Legal Status (US) | OTC in combination products |
| Legal Status (Canada) | Legal and unrestricted |
| FDA Classification | Drug |
| Class | Stimulant |
| Addiction Risk |  Low to Moderate
|
| Brand names | Bronkaid |
Ephedrine is a stimulant drug sold in the United States under the combination product Bronkaid.
Ephedrine is no longer legally available in the United States in pure form, but was formerly available as a supplement for weight loss. It remains available in Canada.
Contents
Legality and Availability[edit]
United States[edit]
Ephedrine is currently only available in the U.S. in combination with guaifenesin. Purchasing ephedrine products typically requires one to sign a log book or scan their state ID, as it can be used to manufacture meth.
Pharmacies typically sell Bronkaid (25 mg ephedrine / 400 mg guaifenesin) for about $7 for 60 pills (approximately $4.50 per gram), making it similar in cost to pseudoephedrine for use as a stimulant.
Canada[edit]
In Canada, ephedrine can be purchased freely and is classified as a supplement (as it occurs naturally in the ephedra plant).
Athletic Organizations[edit]
Ephedrine is banned in the Olympics[1] and is prohibited by the NCAA[2].
Drug Testing[edit]
A standard 5-panel (AMP+OPI+THC+COC+PCP) drug test will not detect ephedrine in theory, but false positives for amphetamine or methamphetamine have been reported, as ephedrine is a member of the amphetamine class. Assuming you live in a country where over-the-counter ephedrine is legal, or have a prescription, it may be necessary to disclose ephedrine use.
Official Uses[edit]
Ephedrine is available over the counter for asthma treatment, as it is a bronchodilator.
Unofficial Uses[edit]
Ephedrine is a potent stimulant and acts on dopamine and adrenaline receptors. However, in the U.S. its use for athletics is limited because it is only available mixed with guaifenesin, which is a weak muscle relaxant.
