Pharmacy/Epedra

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Question
Could you tell me if the active med pseudoephepherdrine  in Tylenol Sinus and its generics is the same thing as ephedra?  I am very concrened.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi,
Ephedra is the common name of a chinese plant known as Ma Huang or botanically known as Ephedra vulgaris. It contains the alkaloid Ephedrine, which the FDA is going to ban or has already banned. Pseudoephedrine is a derivative of the same alkaloid, but it has different pharmacological and chemical properties, it is not harmful as ephedra is.
My best wishes to you for a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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Ravi Ghooi

Pharmacy

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Dr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi

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I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.

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