Last Updated: June 25, 2026

CLINICAL TRIALS PROFILE FOR EPHEDRINE SULFATE


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All Clinical Trials for ephedrine sulfate

Trial ID Title Status Sponsor Phase Start Date Summary
NCT00426842 ↗ A Dose Response Trial Using 5 and 10 Mg of Midodrine Hydrochloride Completed James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center Phase 2 2007-01-01 With upright postures, there is an immediate redistribution of blood to the dependent circulation; venous return and central venous filling pressure are reduced, resulting in diminution of cardiac output and blood pressure. These hemodynamic alterations stimulate the baroreceptor reflex, which is mediated via the central nervous system to increase peripheral sympathetic vasomotor tone, restoring blood pressure and cardiac output within seconds-to-minutes of the assumption of the upright position. Following SCI, individuals often experience the inability to adjust to postural changes due to disruption of central command of the baroreceptor reflex and reduction in efferent sympathetic neural pathways; consequently, orthostatic hypotension (OH) and symptoms of cerebral hypo-perfusion may ensue. OH is a well-documented phenomenon, which is characterized by a fall in systolic blood pressure of >20 mmHg or diastolic BP of > 10 mmHg within 3 minutes of assumption of an upright posture. As a consequence of OH, many individuals experience symptoms of cerebral hypo-perfusion which include lightheadedness, dizziness, blurry vision, fatigue, nausea, ringing in the ears, cognitive impairment and heart palpitations. Although several investigators have reported increased prevalence of OH during the acute phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), individuals with chronic injury also experience significant falls in blood pressure with seated upright postures. This investigation will examine the effects of an alpha-agonist, midodrine hydrochloride, during head-up tilt on systemic blood pressure, cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygenation compared to placebo administration in persons with chronic SCI who demonstrate significant orthostatic hypotension during a 24-hour observation study. This is the first study to determine the dose response and efficacy of midodrine to improve orthostatic blood pressure and cerebral blood flow and oxygenation in the SCI population.
NCT00458003 ↗ Phenylephrine in Spinal Anesthesia in Preeclamptic Patients Completed Northwestern University N/A 2006-07-01 Hypotension remains a common clinical problem after induction of spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery. Maternal hypotension has been associated with considerable morbidity (maternal nausea and vomiting and fetal/neonatal acidemia). Traditionally, ephedrine has been the vasopressor of choice because of concerns about phenylephrine's potential adverse effect on uterine blood flow. This practice was based on animal studies which showed that ephedrine maintained cardiac output and uterine blood flow, while direct acting vasoconstrictors, e.g., phenylephrine, decreased uteroplacental perfusion. However, several recent studies have demonstrated that phenylephrine has similar efficacy to ephedrine for preventing and treating hypotension and may be associated with a lower incidence of fetal acidosis. All of these studies have been performed in healthy patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Preeclampsia complicates 5-6% of all pregnancies and is a significant contributor to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Many preeclamptic patients require cesarean delivery of the infant. These patients often have uteroplacental insufficiency. Given the potential for significant hypotension after spinal anesthesia and its effect on an already compromised fetus, prevention of (relative) hypotension in preeclamptic patients is important. Spinal anesthesia in preeclamptic patients has been shown to have no adverse neonatal outcomes as compared to epidural anesthesia when hypotension is treated adequately. Due to problems related to management of the difficult airway and coagulopathy, both of which are more common in preeclamptic women, spinal anesthesia may be the preferred regional anesthesia technique. Recent studies have demonstrated that preeclamptic patients may experience less hypotension after spinal anesthesia than their healthy counterparts. To our knowledge, phenylephrine for the treatment of spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension has not been studied in women with preeclampsia. The aim of our study is to compare intravenous infusion regimens of phenylephrine versus ephedrine for the treatment of spinal anesthesia induced hypotension in preeclamptic patients undergoing cesarean delivery. The primary outcome variable is umbilical artery pH.
NCT01006863 ↗ Preoperative Ephedrine Attenuates the Hemodynamic Responses of Propofol During Valve Surgery: A Dose Dependent Study Completed Mansoura University Phase 2 2004-03-01 The prophylactic use of small doses of ephedrine may be effective in obtunding of the hypotension responses to propofol with minimal hemodynamic and ST segment changes. The investigators aimed to evaluate the effects of small doses of ephedrine on hemodynamic responses of propofol anesthesia for valve surgery. There is widespread interest in the use of propofol for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia for fast track cardiac surgery. However, its use for induction of anesthesia is often associated with a significant rate related transient hypotension for 5-10 minutes. This is mainly mediated with decrease in sympathetic activity with minor contribution of its direct vascular smooth muscle relaxation and direct negative inotropic effects. Ephedrine has demonstrated as a vasopressor drug for the treatment of hypotension in association with spinal and general anesthesia. Prophylactic use of high doses of ephedrine [10-30 mg] was effective in obtunding the hypotensive response to propofol with associated marked tachycardia. However, the use of smaller doses (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) was successfully attenuated, but not abolished, the decrease in blood pressure with transient increase in heart rate. This vasopressor effect is mostly mediated by β-stimulation rather than α-stimulation and also indirectly by releasing endogenous norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves. Because the effect of decreasing the dose of ephedrine from 0.1 to 0.07 mg/kg may be clinically insignificant, the investigators postulated that the prophylactic use of small dose of ephedrine may prevent propofol-induced hypotension after induction of anesthesia for valve surgery with minimal in hemodynamic, ST segment, and troponin I changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pre-induction administration of 0.07, 0.1, 0.15 mg/kg of ephedrine on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), central venous and pulmonary artery occlusion pressures (CVP and PAOP, respectively), cardiac (CI), stroke volume (SVI), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (SVRI and PVRI, respectively), left and right ventricular stroke work (LVSWI and RVSWI, respectively) indices, ST segment, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) changes in the patients anesthetized with propofol-fentanyl for valve surgery.
NCT01006863 ↗ Preoperative Ephedrine Attenuates the Hemodynamic Responses of Propofol During Valve Surgery: A Dose Dependent Study Completed King Faisal University Phase 2 2004-03-01 The prophylactic use of small doses of ephedrine may be effective in obtunding of the hypotension responses to propofol with minimal hemodynamic and ST segment changes. The investigators aimed to evaluate the effects of small doses of ephedrine on hemodynamic responses of propofol anesthesia for valve surgery. There is widespread interest in the use of propofol for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia for fast track cardiac surgery. However, its use for induction of anesthesia is often associated with a significant rate related transient hypotension for 5-10 minutes. This is mainly mediated with decrease in sympathetic activity with minor contribution of its direct vascular smooth muscle relaxation and direct negative inotropic effects. Ephedrine has demonstrated as a vasopressor drug for the treatment of hypotension in association with spinal and general anesthesia. Prophylactic use of high doses of ephedrine [10-30 mg] was effective in obtunding the hypotensive response to propofol with associated marked tachycardia. However, the use of smaller doses (0.1-0.2 mg/kg) was successfully attenuated, but not abolished, the decrease in blood pressure with transient increase in heart rate. This vasopressor effect is mostly mediated by β-stimulation rather than α-stimulation and also indirectly by releasing endogenous norepinephrine from sympathetic nerves. Because the effect of decreasing the dose of ephedrine from 0.1 to 0.07 mg/kg may be clinically insignificant, the investigators postulated that the prophylactic use of small dose of ephedrine may prevent propofol-induced hypotension after induction of anesthesia for valve surgery with minimal in hemodynamic, ST segment, and troponin I changes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of pre-induction administration of 0.07, 0.1, 0.15 mg/kg of ephedrine on heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), central venous and pulmonary artery occlusion pressures (CVP and PAOP, respectively), cardiac (CI), stroke volume (SVI), systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance (SVRI and PVRI, respectively), left and right ventricular stroke work (LVSWI and RVSWI, respectively) indices, ST segment, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) changes in the patients anesthetized with propofol-fentanyl for valve surgery.
NCT02033629 ↗ Low Remifentanil Target Controlled Infusions for Cardiac Surgery Completed Dammam University Phase 3 2014-05-01 The development of target effect-site controlled concentrations (TCI) of remifentanil have gained increasing acceptance during cardiac surgery as regarding the resulting of hemodynamic stability and early extubation. The use of low-dose opioid technique has been progressively used nowadays because of its ceiling effect to attenuate cardiovascular responses to noxious stimuli. We hypothesize that the use of low target remifentanil effect site concentrations may provide comparable shorter times to tracheal extubation and hemodynamic stability to the use of high remifentanil Ce during target-controlled propofol anesthesia for cardiac surgery.
>Trial ID >Title >Status >Phase >Start Date >Summary

Clinical Trial Conditions for ephedrine sulfate

Condition Name

Condition Name for ephedrine sulfate
Intervention Trials
Hypotension 2
Pain, Postoperative 2
Analgesia 1
Lower Limb Injuries 1
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Condition MeSH

Condition MeSH for ephedrine sulfate
Intervention Trials
Pain, Postoperative 4
Hypotension 3
Rectal Diseases 1
Pre-Eclampsia 1
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Clinical Trial Locations for ephedrine sulfate

Trials by Country

Trials by Country for ephedrine sulfate
Location Trials
Egypt 7
United States 2
Saudi Arabia 2
Mexico 1
China 1
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Trials by US State

Trials by US State for ephedrine sulfate
Location Trials
Illinois 1
New York 1
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Clinical Trial Progress for ephedrine sulfate

Clinical Trial Phase

Clinical Trial Phase for ephedrine sulfate
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
PHASE4 1
PHASE1 1
Phase 4 6
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Clinical Trial Status

Clinical Trial Status for ephedrine sulfate
Clinical Trial Phase Trials
Completed 13
Not yet recruiting 2
Recruiting 1
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Clinical Trial Sponsors for ephedrine sulfate

Sponsor Name

Sponsor Name for ephedrine sulfate
Sponsor Trials
Ain Shams University 2
Mansoura University 2
Medical University of Lodz 1
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Sponsor Type

Sponsor Type for ephedrine sulfate
Sponsor Trials
Other 18
U.S. Fed 1
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Last updated: April 24, 2026

Ephedrine Sulfate: Clinical Trial Update, Market Analysis, and Projections

What is the current clinical-trial posture for ephedrine sulfate?

Ephedrine sulfate is an established, well-studied active pharmaceutical ingredient used in several therapeutic contexts (notably bronchodilation and, in some jurisdictions, peri-procedural use as a vasopressor/antihypotensive adjunct). Public clinical-trial signals for the API as a standalone branded product are limited, because much of the later-world development activity has shifted to (1) fixed-dose combination products, (2) alternative routes or formulations, and (3) jurisdiction-specific approvals and manufacturing compliance rather than broad phase-advancement programs for the same API.

No “active, globally visible” phase-advancement readouts are evident from the typical public clinical registries used for investment screening at the API-only level, and the current commercial lifecycle for ephedrine sulfate is dominated by legacy availability, regulatory maintenance, and supply-chain constraints rather than new pivotal development.

Clinical trial visibility (high-level) Domain Practical meaning for investors What typically drives it for ephedrine sulfate
Phase 2-3 registrations New major endpoints and enrollment timelines Rare at API-only level; more likely in country-specific protocols and combination products
Interventional trials Competitive differentiation Limited when an API is off-patent or widely generic
Observational studies Safety, dosing patterns, real-world effectiveness More common than interventional “registration-grade” trials for legacy APIs

Bottom line: the clinical-trials track for ephedrine sulfate is best characterized as “mature with sparse new pivotal activity,” with market value tied more to regulatory access, manufacturing capacity, and controlled-substance logistics than to new clinical-generation evidence.


How big is the ephedrine sulfate market today?

Ephedrine sulfate market sizing is difficult to translate into a single “global number” with clean granularity because demand is split across:

  • Pharmaceutical-grade ephedrine products (prescription markets in jurisdictions where it is used)
  • Hospital and specialty procurement (peri-procedural and respiratory indications, depending on local practice)
  • Generic manufacturers producing different strengths and salt forms (ephedrine base vs sulfate)
  • Regulatory and control regimes that affect distribution, inventory turns, and conversion costs

Market reporting for ephedrine sulfate also varies by source because many compendia and vendors describe “ephedrine” broadly rather than isolating “ephedrine sulfate” volume. What is consistent across industry framing is that the market behaves like a mature API with supply-driven price discipline, not like a growth frontier product with expanding clinical indications.


What is the demand driver mix (and what breaks it)?

Demand driver Mechanism Fragility point
Respiratory use cases Use in bronchodilation where permitted and clinically used Practice shifts toward alternative bronchodilators reduce dosing frequency
Controlled-substance compliance Licensing, recordkeeping, secure storage Tightening controls in any major geography constrains supply
Supply capacity Contract manufacturing, yields, and sourcing Salt-form demand spikes stress upstream chemical supply
Generic competition Multiple manufacturers reduce price per unit Currency swings and plant downtime can still cause abrupt price dislocations

Key implication for projections: price and availability swing more from regulatory execution and manufacturing continuity than from clinical uptake.


What does the regulatory landscape imply for commercial prospects?

Ephedrine is widely treated as a controlled precursor in many jurisdictions due to diversion risks. That control regime affects:

  • import/export quantities and documentation flow,
  • procurement timelines,
  • and the ability to scale distribution fast during demand spikes.

Those constraints tend to dampen long-term “volume growth” while enabling steadier pricing for compliant suppliers, assuming manufacturing remains uninterrupted.


Market projection: baseline, downside, upside scenarios

Because the drug’s current growth is not being pulled by new pivotal trials, projections should be treated as supply-regulatory driven rather than clinical-indication driven.

Below is a scenario framework expressed in directional terms (not a single-point forecast) for investor use.

Baseline (most likely)

  • Stable-to-moderate volume with periodic shortages or reorder spikes tied to compliance and plant schedules.
  • Pricing tracks cost and compliance overhead, with limited structural margin expansion.
  • Generic competition keeps long-run pricing constrained.

Upside (short-cycle, not structural)

  • One or more compliant suppliers regain capacity after downtime, easing allocation.
  • Tightened enforcement in alternative sourcing markets pushes buyers to licensed channels.
  • Fixed-dose combinations increase local formulary usage (not new ephedrine discovery, but distribution channel shifts).

Downside (supply or controls)

  • Manufacturing disruptions or compliance re-approvals delay deliveries.
  • Stricter diversion controls or enforcement action restrict procurement volumes.
  • Substitution by alternative bronchodilators/therapeutics reduces total demand.

Competitive landscape: what matters for ephedrine sulfate

With an established API, competitive advantage typically concentrates in:

  • CMC reliability (batch consistency, impurity profile control, and salt-form conversion accuracy),
  • regulatory access (DMF/CEP strategy, inspection readiness),
  • controlled-substance logistics (secure chain-of-custody, QA documentation, broker relationships),
  • distribution coverage (hospital and specialty procurement routes).

In these markets, “who wins” is usually the supplier with the most reliable supply chain and approvals rather than the newest clinical package.


Actionable investment and R&D takeaways

Even without new pivotal clinical programs, there are still investable levers:

1) Treat development as supply and formulation risk management

Projects that can create value without claiming new clinical efficacy include:

  • improved manufacturing yield,
  • impurity control and tighter specs,
  • more efficient salt-form processes (where applicable),
  • packaging and distribution compliance improvements for controlled-substance handling.

2) Validate regulatory readiness as a growth strategy

In mature controlled APIs, speed-to-availability and inspection track record decide share. Any investment thesis should incorporate:

  • documentation maturity (DMF status, CEP coverage where relevant),
  • inspection history and corrective action capacity,
  • and ability to scale compliant manufacturing.

3) Model revenue to allocation risk

For ephedrine sulfate, revenue predictability is sensitive to:

  • supplier allocation changes,
  • lead times caused by documentation bottlenecks,
  • and episodic shortages.

Key Takeaways

  • Ephedrine sulfate is a mature, legacy API with limited visible phase-advancement clinical-trial activity at the API-only level; new value creation is more likely from formulation, CMC reliability, and supply-chain execution than from novel clinical differentiation.
  • Market growth is constrained by generic competition and substitution patterns; pricing and volume behave like supply-regulatory constrained commodities.
  • Projections should be treated as scenario-based on manufacturing continuity and controlled-substance enforcement, not as indication expansion.
  • Commercial advantage concentrates in compliance, inspection readiness, and distribution reliability.

FAQs

  1. Is there active late-stage (Phase 3) development for ephedrine sulfate?
    Public signals for late-stage pivotal development at the API-only level are limited, consistent with a mature product lifecycle.

  2. What drives price changes for ephedrine sulfate?
    Manufacturing capacity, compliance execution, controlled-substance logistics, and documentation lead times.

  3. Why do market reports often disagree on ephedrine sulfate size?
    Many sources report “ephedrine” broadly or combine salt forms, hospital procurement channels, and generics under non-uniform definitions.

  4. Where can value be created if clinical development is limited?
    CMC improvements, impurity-spec tightening, more reliable salt-form manufacturing, and stronger regulatory access and inspection readiness.

  5. What is the main downside risk in procurement or manufacturing?
    Regulatory enforcement changes and manufacturing disruptions that restrict compliant supply and delay deliveries.


References

[1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (n.d.). Precursors and chemicals (control framework relevant to ephedrine-type substances). UNODC.
[2] U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). List I chemicals and controlled substance regulatory framework (precursor control context). DEA.
[3] World Health Organization. (n.d.). International drug control / control status background for ephedrine-related substances. WHO.
[4] ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Search results for ephedrine sulfate (clinical trials registry). U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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