| Ephedrine HCl, or Eph / Ephs / Ephy / Gym E! as its commonly known as to its users or in gmys and fitness centres, is a Sympathomimetic acid, which is more commonly (ab)used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid (homework drug) and medicinally use as a decongestant, asthma remedy, bronchitis aid and general chest/breathing related problems. Ephedrine is similar in structure to the synthetic derivatives amphetamine, methamphetamine and most that family of medications, and indeed it is a precursor, which aided massively in its reclassification and the current restrictions on bulk purchases.
Ephedrine as it stands is most usually marketed in the HydroChLoride (HCL / HCl) and Sulfate forms, the latter being more prescription, medicinal and pharmaceutical use.
In traditional Chinese medicines, the herb Má Huáng / Ma Huang (Ephedra Sinica) contains both Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine as its principal active parts, so it works in slightly different ways and has different actions, effects and indeed side effects than Ephedrine HCl does alone. The same is true of other herbal products containing extracts from Ephedra species (Sinica/Viridis/Etc). Many people report that ephedra (herbal) is more efficient in high enough doses but once the dose is high enough the side effects are unbearable making Ephedrine the better option with less unwanted side effects and all the desirable effects.
Ephedrine increases post-synaptic noradrenergic receptor activity albeit weakly but still directly activating post-synaptic α-receptors (Alpha) and β-receptors (Beta), but the bulk of its effect comes from the pre-synaptic neuron being unable to tell the difference between real adrenaline or noradrenaline from the chemical 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 bottom of the nerves.
As an alkaloid, having some small amount of ephedrine within a noradrenaline vesicle increases the overall pH of the vesicle. This has the effect of increasing likelihood that the affected vesicle will be released during any subsequent action potential the nerve cell experiences. This means the more active you are, the more vesicles are released, this delivers a stronger effect, resulting in a boost in power, energy and determination.
Its 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 as explained above for norepinephrine.
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