Ephedra, as traditional Chinese medicine, is often used to treat diseases such as cough and pneumonia as the main component of it is ephedrine, which is proved can prevent fentanyl-induced coughing. Ephedrine intravenous injection is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. It can soothe the smooth muscles of the trachea, but the mechanism is unclear. Exploring the inhibitory mechanism of this may lay a foundation for ephedrine to act on similar symptoms.

Shuoze Li. The Mechanisms of Ephedrine Suppressing Fentanyl-Induced Cough. Frontiers in Medical Science Research (2020) Vol. 2 Issue 4: 47-53. https://doi.org/10.25236/FMSR.2020.020407.

[1] Bohrer H, Fleischer F, Werning P (1990). Tussive effect of a fentanyl bolus administered through a central venous catheter. Anaesthesia, no.45, pp.18-21.
[2] Paintal AS (1969). Mechanism of stimulation of type J pulmonary receptors. J Physiol, no.203, pp.511-532.
[3] Yasuda I, Hirano T, Yusa T, Satoh M (1978). Tracheal constriction by morphine and by fentanyl in man. Anesthesiology, no.49, pp.17-19.
[4] Karlsson JA, Sant’ Ambrogio G, Widdicombe J (1988). Afferent neural pathways in cough and reflex bronchoconstriction. J Appl Physiol, no.65, pp.1007-1023.
[5] Lou YP (1993) Regulation of neuropeptide relwase from pulmonary capsaicin-sensitive afferent in relation to bronchoconstriction. Acta Physiol Scand, no.62, pp.1-88.
[6] Vidruk EH, Hahn HL, Nadel JA(1977). Sampson SR: Mechanism by which histamine stimulates rapidly adapting receptors in dog lungs. J Appl Physiol, no.43, pp.397-402.
[7] Benthuysen JL, Smith NT (1986). Sanford TJ: Physiology of alfentanil-induced rigidity. Anesthesiology, no. 64, pp.440-446.
[8] Chin-Shuang Lin (2004) Intravenous lidocaine and ephedrine, but not propofol, suppress fentanyl-induced cough. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, no.51, pp.654-659.