Ephedrine
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C10H15NO 165.23

Benzenemethanol, -[1-(methylamino)ethyl]-, [R-(R*,S*)]-.
()-Ephedrine [299-42-3].

Hemihydrate 174.24 [50906-05-3].
» Ephedrine is anhydrous or contains not more than one-half molecule of water of hydration. It contains not less than 98.5 percent and not more than 100.5 percent of C10H15NO, calculated on the anhydrous basis.
Packaging and storage— Preserve in tight, light-resistant containers, in a cold place.
Labeling— Label it to indicate whether it is hydrous or anhydrous. Where the quantity of Ephedrine is indicated in the labeling of any preparation containing Ephedrine, this shall be understood to be in terms of anhydrous Ephedrine.
Identification— Accurately weigh about 100 mg, and add by buret the exact volume of 0.1 N sulfuric acid, determined in the Assay, to neutralize it. Dilute with water in a volumetric flask to 25 mL. Mix 2 mL with 10 mL of alcohol, and evaporate on a steam bath with the aid of a current of air to dryness: the residue so obtained responds to Identification test A under Ephedrine Sulfate.
Specific rotation 781S: between –40.3 and –43.3.
Test solution: 25 mg per mL, in 0.6 N hydrochloric acid.
Water, Method Ib 921: between 4.5% and 5.5%, for hydrated Ephedrine; not more than 0.5% for anhydrous Ephedrine.
Residue on ignition 281: not more than 0.1%.
Chloride 221 A solution of 500 mg shows no more chloride than corresponds to 0.20 mL of 0.020 N hydrochloric acid (0.030%).
Sulfate— Dissolve 100 mg in 40 mL of water, and add 1 mL of 3 N hydrochloric acid and 1 mL of barium chloride TS: no turbidity develops within 10 minutes.
Ordinary impurities 466
Test solution: methanol.
Standard solution: methanol.
Eluant: a mixture of isopropyl alcohol, ammonium hydroxide, and chloroform (80:15:5).
Visualization: 1, followed by 4.
Assay— Dissolve about 500 mg of Ephedrine, accurately weighed, in 10 mL of neutralized alcohol, and add 5 drops of methyl red TS and 40.0 mL of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid VS. Titrate the excess acid with 0.1 N sodium hydroxide VS. Perform a blank determination (see Residual Titrations under Titrimetry 541). Each mL of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid is equivalent to 16.52 mg of C10H15NO.
Auxiliary Information— Please check for your question in the FAQs before contacting USP.
Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee
Monograph Daniel K. Bempong, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
1-301-816-8143
(MDPS05) Monograph Development-Pulmonary and Steroids
Reference Standards Lili Wang, Technical Services Scientist
1-301-816-8129
RSTech@usp.org
USP32–NF27 Page 2258
Pharmacopeial Forum: Volume No. 30(3) Page 839
Chromatographic Column—
Chromatographic columns text is not derived from, and not part of, USP 32 or NF 27.