Table 2.

Relative potency on noradrenaline release of indirectly acting sympathomimetics illegally used in sport

Compound	EC50 (nM)
S(+)methamphetamine	12.3
S(+)amphetamine	7.1
S(−)methcathionine	13.1
S(−)cathinone	12.4
(−) ephedrine2	43.1
(+) ephedrine	218
(−) pseudoephedrine2	4092
(+) pseudoephedrine2	224
(−) pseudonorephedrine3	30.1
(+) pseudonorephedrine4	15
(−) norephedrine	42.1
(+) norephedrine	137

The phenylpropanolamines (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and pseudonorephedrine) are less active on dopamine uptake and release, and largely inactive on 5-HT uptake and release, whereas the phenylisopropylamines (amphetamines) are much less selective (Rothman et al., 2001, 2003).

²(−) ephedrine and (−) pseudoephedrine are the pharmacopoeial preparations.

³Also known as (−) cathine.

⁴Also known as (+) cathine.