The Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) on Wednesday said ephedrine was very useful drug and contradicted a news item published in a section of press pertaining to it.
In a statement, the PPMA termed the news items baseless and without facts that the drug was a poor man’s cocaine.
It said ephedrine, which is derived from the plant of the Ephedra Genus, including E Sinica and others, have traditionally been used by indigenous people for a variety of medicinal purposes, including treatment of asthma, fever, and the common cold.
It said ephedrine was a decongestant and bronchodilator. It worked by reducing swelling and constricting blood vessels in the nasal passages and widening the lung airways, allowing to breathe more easily.
Practically every cough and cold preparations have ephedrine as one of the ingredients which is useful during the outbreak of cough and cold season, especially during winter.
The PPMA said it was commonly used for temporary relief of shortness of breath, chest tightness, and wheezing due to bronchial asthma. Ephedrine is a central nervous system stimulant used to treat breathing problems (as a bronchodilator), nasal congestion (as a decongestant), low blood pressure problems (orthostatic hypotension), or myasthenia gravis.
This drug has also been used to treat certain sleep disorders (narcolepsy), menstrual problems (dysmenorrheal), and urine-control problems (incontinence or enuresis).
“Imagine plight of the patients if ephedrine based preparations disappear from the market, as for some conditions, there is no alternative,” it added.
