My understanding, consistent with your impression, is that ephedrine has more of a full-system effect, including lungs & bronchial tubes, along with (in many pe

My understanding, consistent with your impression, is that ephedrine has more of a full-system effect, including lungs & bronchial tubes, along with (in many people) more of a general full-system stimulation. In contrast, pseudoephedrine has a greater nasal/sinus effect with a bit less full-system spillover (but still noticeable in some people, or at higher doses, or in combo with caffeine). So it's worth it for people to be aware of ephedrine options – like ephedrine sulfate or ephedrine hcl ('Primatene') – but many will still find pseudoephedrine better for their symptoms. It's worth trying both, separately, depending on personal chemistry & concerns.