Mechanism of action
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine – its principal mechanism of action relies on its indirect action on the adrenergic receptor system, which is part of the sympathetic nervous system whilst it may have weak agonist activity at α- and ß-adrenergic receptors, the principal mechanism is to displace norepinephrine from storage vesicles in presynaptic neurons is released into the neuronal synapse where it is free to activate the postsynaptic adrenergic receptors. In brain it induces moderate stimulation of the release of both dopamine and to a lesser extent, serotonin, is presumed to have a major role in its mechanism of action.