Ephedrine Hydrochloride 15mg Tablets

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

The name of your medicine is Ephedrine Hydrochloride 15mg or 30mg Tablets. In the rest of this leaflet it is called Ephedrine Tablets.

1. What Ephedrine Tablets are and what are they used for
2. What you need to know before you take Ephedrine Tablets
3. How to take Ephedrine Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Ephedrine Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• are allergic to ephedrine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients contained in Ephedrine Tablets (see list under heading "What Ephedrine Tablets contain" in section 6)
• have coronary heart disease with narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart
• suffer from high blood pressure
• have an overactive thyroid gland
• have an enlarged prostate gland
• are being treated for depression with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or have only recently stopped taking them (within the last two weeks).

If any of the above statements apply to you, you should not take Ephedrine Tablets.

Ephedrine Tablets are not recommended for children under one year of age.

Talk to your doctor before taking Ephedrine Tablets if you:

• suffer from diabetes
• have glaucoma (a disease in which the pressure inside the eyeball is too high)
• have kidney problems.

If any of the above statements apply to you, you should speak to your doctor before taking Ephedrine Tablets.

Taking another medicine while taking Ephedrine Tablets can affect how it or the other medicine works.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines or herbal products, including those you may have bought yourself without a prescription. Please check with your doctor if you are taking any of the following (or any other medication):

• theophylline, a similar drug used to treat severe asthma and other conditions causing obstruction of the airways in your lungs
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline or dosulepin, or monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as phenelzine, isocarboxazid or tranylcypromine, used to treat depression
• Drugs used to treat high blood pressure, such as propranolol or atenolol
• Dexamethasone, a steroid
• Anaesthetics, such as halothane
• Methysergide or ergotamine, used to treat migraine
• Drugs used to treat heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm, such as digoxin
• Oxytocin, used to induce labour and prevent bleeding
• Agents used to make urine more alkaline (such as potassium citrate or sodium bicarbonate), or more acid (such as ammonium chloride or ascorbic acid).

If you have any doubts about whether you should take this medicine then discuss matters with your doctor before taking it.

You should not take Ephedrine Tablets if you are pregnant or wish to become pregnant. Taking Ephedrine Tablets whilst pregnant can affect your baby's heartbeat.

Ephedrine can enter breast milk. You should not breast-feed whilst taking Ephedrine Tablets. Irritability and disturbed sleep patterns have been reported in breast-fed infants.

Ephedrine Tablets do not affect the ability to drive or operate machinery.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medical product.

The usual dose for adults is 15-60mg three times daily.

Smaller doses are required. For the elderly the starting dose should be half the adult dose.

For children one to five years old the usual dose is 15mg three times daily.

For children six to 12 years old the dose is usually 30mg three times daily.

If you accidentally take too many tablets contact your doctor, pharmacist or nearest hospital casualty department. Take this leaflet and any remaining tablets with you to show the doctor or pharmacist. Symptoms of an overdose include being sick or feeling sick, high blood pressure, fever, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, difficulty breathing and convulsions. Hallucinations and delusions may also occur.

If you forget to take a dose, take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then do not take a missed dose at all. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

You should continue to take Ephedrine Tablets for as long as your doctor tells you to. Do not stop taking the medicine without talking to your doctor first.

• feeling sick
• restlessness
• insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
• anxiety
• dry mouth
• fast or irregular heartbeat (these are more likely to occur if you are elderly)
• trembling
• headaches
• high blood pressure
• poor circulation in your fingers and toes
• heart attack (this is a very rare side effect).

In children ephedrine may cause bed-wetting, sleeplessness or drowsiness.

If you have been taking Ephedrine Tablets for a long time you may become dependent on them.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for the MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

The active ingredient in Ephedrine Tablets is ephedrine hydrochloride. The tablets are available in two strengths, 15mg and 30mg. The other ingredients in Ephedrine Tablets are lactose, maize starch, acacia (spray-dried), stearic acid and magnesium stearate.

Ephedrine Hydrochloride 15mg Tablets are white circular tablets marked E15 on one face and CP on the reverse.

Ephedrine Hydrochloride 30mg Tablets are white circular tablets marked E30 on one face and CP on the reverse.

Ephedrine Tablets are available in polypropylene or polyethylene (plastic) containers of 28, 30, 56, 60, 84, 90, 100, 250 or 1000 tablets or blister packs of 28, 30, 56, 60, 84 or 90 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.