Ephedrine Sulfate (e-FED-rin SUL-fate)
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor and pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you being given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection against the benefits this medicine is expected to have for you.
If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet in a safe place. You may need to read it again.
What DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is used for
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is used to treat bronchial asthma, reversible spasm of the airways, and some forms of shock. It is also used to treat the low blood pressure which may occur during spinal anaesthesia.
It works by relaxing some of the muscles in your airways, stimulating your heart, and contracting the blood vessels in your limbs, so that more blood is available for your brain, heart and lungs.
Your doctor may have prescribed this medicine for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why it has been prescribed for you.
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
Before you are given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection
When you must not be given it
You should not be given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection if:
- you have an allergy to ephedrine or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to ephedrine may include:
– Shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty in breathing
– swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
– rash, itching or hives on the skin. - you have, or have had any of the following medical conditions:
– heart problems
– pheochromocytoma (a rare tumour of the adrenal gland near the kidney)
– closed angle glaucoma (a condition in which there is a build up of pressure in the eye)
– mood/thought disorders - the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering
- the expiry date on the pack has passed
if you are given this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well or it may make you feel sick
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor any of the following before you are given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection:
- if you have or have ever had any other health problems or medical conditions, including:
– high or low blood pressure
– prostrate problems or difficulty in passing urine
– mental problems
– thyroid problems
– diabetes - if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection during pregnancy. - if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection when breast-feeding.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you are given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection. These include:
- Medicines used to treat heart failure (eg digoxin).
- alpha blockers or beta blockers (used to treat high blood pressure, eg prazosin, propranolol or methyldopa)
- Medicines used to control depression such as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (eg phenelzine or moclobemide) and tricyclic antidepressants (eg dothiepin or amitriptyline)
- Medicines used in the treatment of migraine such as ergotamine
- Theophylline (a medicine used to treat asthma)
- Acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate (medicines that make urine less acidic ie alkaline)
These medicines may be affected by DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection, or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection.
If you are not sure whether you should be given ephedrine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
How DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is given
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection can be given in three ways:
- as an slow injection into a vein
- as a deep injection into a large muscle
- as an injection under the skin
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
Your doctor will decide what dose of DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection you will receive and how long you will receive it for. This depends on your medical condition and other factors, such as your weight.
Sometimes only a single dose of is required.
If you take too much (overdose)
As DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is given to you under the supervision of a doctor, it is unlikely that you will receive an overdose. However, if you experience severe side effects tell your doctor immediately.
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre ((In Australia, call 13 11 26, in New Zealand, call 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Symptoms of an overdose include the side effects listed in the “Side Effects” section (see below), but are usually of a more severe nature.
Side Effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection. DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection may have unwanted side-effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side-effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
While being given it
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following:
- headache
- dry nose, mouth or throat
- fever or sweating
- nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
- mood or mental changes, such as nervousness, anxiety or irritability
- difficult or painful urination
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- irregular, fast or slow heartbeat
Some people may get other side effects while being given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After being given DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection
Storage
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C, and it is protected from light.
Product description
What it looks like
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is a clear, colourless solution.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients:
- ephedrine sulfate
Other Ingredients:
- sodium chloride
- water for injection.
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection does not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Supplier / Sponsor
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is supplied by:
Australian Sponsor:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
Sydney NSW
Toll Free Number : 1800 675 229
www.pfizer.com.au
DBL™ Ephedrine Sulfate Injection is available in the following strength and pack size:
30 mg/1 mL, 5 ampoules per pack. AUST R 16325
This leaflet was prepared in June 2019.
Published by MIMS September 2019