Drug & supplement interaction

Ephedra + Albuterol

Albuterol brand names: Proventil, Volmax, Ventolin (U.S.), ProAir HFA.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Ephedra has a moderate interaction with Albuterol. Theoretically, large amounts of ephedra might increase the cardiac inotropic effects of beta-agonists.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodProbable
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Ephedra and Albuterol

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS

Why this applies to Albuterol

Albuterol falls under BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS — the group Ephedra interacts with.

Theoretically, large amounts of ephedra might increase the cardiac inotropic effects of beta-agonists.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Probable Evidence D

Interaction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports..

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the simple version. Your albuterol inhaler (Ventolin, ProAir) is a stimulant for your airways. It relaxes the breathing tubes, but it can also nudge your heart faster and leave you a little jittery. Ephedra contains ephedrine, which is its own powerful stimulant on the heart and nervous system. Stack the two together and those stimulant effects can pile up.

What that looks like in real life: a racing or pounding heartbeat, the shakes, anxiety, and higher blood pressure. This is a theoretical concern based on how both act on the body, and it mostly applies to large, concentrated amounts of ephedra. Honestly, ephedra is banned in U.S. supplements and we don't recommend it at all. Please ask your pharmacist or doctor about safer options.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Ephedra Also Interacts With Other Medications

Ephedra has 337 major, 495 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Albuterol one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 337 Moderate 495 No known interaction 1,998 (incl. Albuterol)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Ephedra

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Ephedra. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About Ephedra or Albuterol

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Ephedra or Albuterol, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Albuterol

This page covers Ephedra only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Albuterol page lists 32 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Black Tea (moderate), Caffeine (moderate), Cocoa (moderate) and Coffee (moderate).

By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Albuterol page

“Albuterol is a rescue drug; when an asthma attack hits, a Ventolin or ProAir inhaler has to work, which is why this list deserves a careful read rather than a skim. Of the 32 ingredients on file, activated charcoal alone is rated major, since it can soak up the drug and blunt its effect no matter how the albuterol was taken.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Albuterol interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Ephedra as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 37 real supplement products containing Ephedra, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Ephedra. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Albuterol too, on top of Ephedra — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Ephedra and Albuterol Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Ephedra
Steady interest

#747 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Albuterol
Steady interest

#1,985 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Ephedra

What is Ephedra?

Ephedra
  • Weight loss
  • Nasal and sinus congestion
  • Asthma and breathing problems
  • Boosting energy and athletic performance
  • Allergies

Ephedra (ma huang) contains powerful stimulants like ephedrine that affect the heart and nervous system. Because it has been linked to serious harms including high blood pressure, stroke, and death, it is banned for use in dietary supplements in the U.S. and many other countries. We do not recommend using ephedra-containing supplements; talk to your pharmacist or doctor about safer, approved options.

Read the full Ephedra monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Albuterol

What Is Albuterol Used For?

Brand names: Proventil, Volmax, Ventolin (U.S.), ProAir HFA

Albuterol is used to treat or prevent bronchospasm — sudden tightening of the airways — in adults and children with reversible obstructive airway disease, such as asthma. Most inhaled formulations (HFA inhalers, dry-powder inhalers, and nebulizer solutions) are approved for patients 4 years and older, though some nebulizer solutions are approved for children as young as 2, and the oral syrup covers adults and children 2 and older. Albuterol tablets are approved for adults and children 6 and older.

Albuterol inhaled products are also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in patients 4 years and older. The inhaled aerosol solution (0.5%) is approved specifically for relief of bronchospasm and acute attacks in patients 12 and older. Not every formulation covers every use — follow the instructions for the specific product you have been prescribed.

See full Albuterol drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Ephedra

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Ephedra — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

337Major
495Moderate
0Minor
1,997No known interaction
337 Major 495 Moderate 1,997 No interaction
Major

337 interactions

Showing 60 of 337 major interactions — see all 337 on the Ephedra page.

Moderate

495 interactions

Showing 60 of 495 moderate interactions — see all 495 on the Ephedra page.

No interaction 1,997 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Ephedra against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,997 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Ephedra list.

See the full Ephedra interactions page
See every supplement checked against Albuterol, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Ephedra monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Albuterol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Albuterol, ranked by severity Albuterol drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Ephedra and Albuterol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ephedra with Albuterol?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the Ephedra and Albuterol interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Albuterol and Ephedra?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.