What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Ephedrine and selegiline
Selegiline's FDA label of August 7, 2024 names ephedrine in its drug interactions section; ephedrine's label does not name selegiline itself but warns about its class (MAO inhibitors). The selegiline label: “… taking the recommended doses of selegiline and a sympathomimetic medication (ephedrine).”
Check it at the source: the ephedrine FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 16, 2024, Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC); the selegiline FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 7, 2024, Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc.).
What does the ephedrine label say about selegiline?
Ephedrine's label does not name selegiline itself; it warns about its class (MAO inhibitors):
Ephedrine label, drug interactionsCarefully monitor the blood pressure of individuals who have received both EMERPHED and EMERPHED-PFS and an oxytocic. Clonidine, propofol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs ), atropine
Ephedrine label, drug interactionsCarefully monitor patients on cardiac glycosides who are also administered ephedrine. Interactions that Augment Pressor Effect: clonidine, oxytocin and oxytocic drugs, propofol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and atropine.
Source: FDA drug label (Emerphed PFS), Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC, effective September 16, 2024 (SPL set 14601778-93ac-43ec-b66b-5a942317133f), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the selegiline label say about ephedrine?
Selegiline label, drug interactionsSevere toxicity has also been reported in patients receiving the combination of tricyclic antidepressants and selegiline and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and selegiline. (See WARNINGS for details.) One case of hypertensive crisis has been reported in a patient taking the recommended doses of selegiline and a sympathomimetic medication (ephedrine).
Zelapar label (Bausch Health US, LLC, June 1, 2021), drug interactionsUncontrolled hypertension, including hypertensive crisis, has been reported when taking the recommended dose of swallowed selegiline and a sympathomimetic medication (ephedrine).
Emsam label (Viatris Specialty LLC, May 15, 2020), drug interactionsTherefore, monitor blood pressure if EMSAM is used with any of the following drugs: buspirone, amphetamines, and cold products or weight-reducing preparations that contain sympathomimetic amines (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, and ephedrine).
Emsam label (Viatris Specialty LLC, May 15, 2020), warnings and precautionsBlood Pressure Elevation Related to Concomitant Medication: monitor blood pressure if EMSAM is used with any of the following drugs: buspirone, amphetamines, or cold products or weight-reducing preparations that contain sympathomimetic amines (e.g., pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, and ephedrine).
Source: FDA drug label (Zelapar, NDA021479), Bausch Health US, LLC, effective June 1, 2021 (SPL set 380d7717-2a79-42f3-a712-efe5e7696ba0), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Emsam, NDA021336), Viatris Specialty LLC, effective May 15, 2020 (SPL set b891bd9f-fdb8-4862-89c5-ecdd700398a3), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Selegiline Hydrochloride), Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc., effective August 7, 2024 (SPL set 23c4481f-d150-40c6-addb-b3e454ca914f), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Ephedrine | Selegiline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma | Parkinson's disease, Depression |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $0.756 per capsule 5 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once