Rankings / Cognitive — Prescription Stimulants
Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants
Cognitive · Sympathomimetic stimulant
Tier C
High-risk evidence profile
Bottom line
Read Off Label grades Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants as C (4.9/10) based on moderate evidence, med benefit magnitude, and a med-high-risk safety profile.
Its high-risk evidence profile reflects a Safety score of 3.5/10; reported benefits and harms can differ by indication, dose, route, duration, and population.
WADA coverage: ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cathine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine and synephrine-related stimulant use.
Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: Clinical decongestant/bronchodilator dosing varies; no performance dose — OTC/Rx/status varies; ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are WADA S6 prohibited in competition above thresholds; synephrine is monitoring/not prohibited; not individualized guidance.
What the evidence says
WADA coverage: ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cathine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine and synephrine-related stimulant use. Synephrine is included because it appears in WADA monitoring and is common in fat-loss supplement stacks, not because it is prohibited in 2026.
Mechanism
Ephedrine-family sympathomimetics raise adrenergic tone and are used for alertness, nasal decongestion and historically fat loss; thresholds and permitted status differ by compound and dose.
Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route
Clinical decongestant/bronchodilator dosing varies; no performance dose
This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.
Citations
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Common questions
- What does the evidence show about Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants's effects?
- Read Off Label rates the evidence for Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants as Moderate and the benefit magnitude as med, producing an overall grade of C (4.9/10). WADA coverage: ephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cathine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine and synephrine-related stimulant use.
- What safety findings are reported for Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants?
- Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants has a med-high risk profile in the database. Med-High (BP/HR elevation, arrhythmia/stroke risk at high dose or combinations, anxiety/insomnia) Legal status: OTC/Rx/status varies; ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are WADA S6 prohibited in competition above thresholds; synephrine is monitoring/not prohibited.
- What does the low Safety score for Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants represent?
- The Safety score is 3.5/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.
- What doses or routes are reported for Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants?
- Clinical decongestant/bronchodilator dosing varies; no performance dose This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
- How does Ephedrine / pseudoephedrine / synephrine stimulants work?
- Ephedrine-family sympathomimetics raise adrenergic tone and are used for alertness, nasal decongestion and historically fat loss; thresholds and permitted status differ by compound and dose.
This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.