Drug & supplement interaction

Ephedra + Isoproterenol

Isoproterenol brand name: Isuprel.

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

Ephedra has a moderate interaction with Isoproterenol. 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 Isoproterenol

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

Moderate

BETA-ADRENERGIC AGONISTS

Why this applies to Isoproterenol

Isoproterenol 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: both ephedra and isoproterenol (Isuprel) rev up your heart in similar ways. Isoproterenol is a beta-agonist that doctors use to make the heart beat faster and stronger, often in a hospital setting. Ephedra's stimulants (ephedrine and pseudoephedrine) push in the same direction. Stacking the two could pile on those effects, so you might see a racing or pounding heartbeat, palpitations, chest discomfort, tremor, or a spike in blood pressure.

This warning is theoretical, based on how the two work rather than on real-world case reports, so think of it as a sensible caution. Still, ephedra is banned in U.S. supplements for good reason. Please don't combine these, and check with 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 Isoproterenol 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. Isoproterenol)
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.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Isoproterenol

This page covers Ephedra only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Isoproterenol page lists 16 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Black Tea (moderate), Caffeine (moderate), Cocoa (moderate), Coffee (moderate) and Cola Nut (moderate).

By severity: 16 moderate.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Isoproterenol page

“Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is a heart stimulant, usually given in a hospital to speed up a dangerously slow heartbeat, and all 16 supplement interactions on record with it are rated moderate, none major. That makes this a list to know rather than fear.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Isoproterenol 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 Isoproterenol 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 Isoproterenol 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
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Isoproterenol
Top 10%

#158 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
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 Isoproterenol, 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 Isoproterenol supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Isoproterenol, ranked by severity 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 Isoproterenol Together: Common Questions

Can you take Ephedra with Isoproterenol?
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 Isoproterenol 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 Isoproterenol 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.