Drug interactions
Ephedrine + Terbutaline
Severity: Moderate
Ephedrine and Terbutaline: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs are sympathomimetics, so together they can cause excessive cardiovascular stimulation, including tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations, tremor and arrhythmias. Beta-2 effects may also lower serum potassium.
What this interaction means in plain words
Ephedrine and Terbutaline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Ephedrine belongs to Cardiovascular; Terbutaline belongs to Respiratory.
Why it happens
Additive adrenergic agonism, direct beta-2 stimulation plus direct and indirect catecholamine effects of ephedrine.
What to do
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure and serum potassium, and avoid routine concurrent use where practical. Reduce doses or stop one agent if adverse adrenergic effects appear.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Terbutaline
Other interactions of Ephedrine
- Ephedrine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Procarbazine Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Selegiline Contraindicated
- Ephedrine + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Ephedrine with Terbutaline?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Ephedrine and Terbutaline can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs are sympathomimetics, so together they can cause excessive cardiovascular stimulation, including tachycardia, hypertension, palpitations, tremor and arrhythmias. Beta-2 effects may also lower serum potassium.
How serious is the interaction between Ephedrine and Terbutaline?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor heart rate, blood pressure and serum potassium, and avoid routine concurrent use where practical. Reduce doses or stop one agent if adverse adrenergic effects appear.
What other medicines interact with Terbutaline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Terbutaline with, for example, Carvedilol, Droperidol, Fexinidazole. The full list is on the Terbutaline page.
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