Comparing Ephedrine vs Theophylline

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Ephedrine	Theophylline	Enter another drug to compare

Ephedrine

Theophylline

Prescription and OTC

Prescribed for Narcolepsy, Hypotension, Asthma - acute, COPD - Acute, Myasthenia Gravis, Adams-Stokes Syndrome. Ephedrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Prescription only

Prescribed for Asthma - acute, Asthma - Maintenance, Apnea of Prematurity, Asthma. Theophylline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

More about Ephedrine

More about Theophylline

Ratings & Reviews

Ephedrine has an average rating of 8.2 out of 10 from a total of 9 ratings on Drugs.com. 78% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 11% reported a negative effect.

Theophylline has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 18 ratings on Drugs.com. 78% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 17% reported a negative effect.

View all 9 reviews

View all 18 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

View all Ephedrine side effects

View all Theophylline side effects

Drug Class

Methylxanthines

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	10 mL
Strength	50 mg/mL
Per unit^*	$10.11 - $42.64
Cost^*	$101.06 - $426.37

View all Ephedrine prices

Quantity	90 tablet, extended release
Strength	300 mg
Per unit^*	$0.89
Cost^*	$79.86

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Dosage Forms

Injectable solution
Intravenous solution

Intravenous solution
Oral elixir
Oral solution
Oral tablet, extended release

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

11 hours

30 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 233 drugs are known to interact with Ephedrine:

33 major drug interactions (130 brand and generic names)
186 moderate drug interactions (759 brand and generic names)
14 minor drug interactions (167 brand and generic names)

A total of 320 drugs are known to interact with Theophylline:

37 major drug interactions (147 brand and generic names)
237 moderate drug interactions (1267 brand and generic names)
46 minor drug interactions (192 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Both smoking and excessive caffeine consumption can alter the blood levels of theophylline, which... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

N/A

October 17, 1947

WADA Class View classifications

S6 - Stimulants

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Ephedrine uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Comparing Ephedrine vs Theophylline

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Further information

Comparing Ephedrine vs Theophylline

See also:

Further information

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