EPHEDRA INFORMATION

Ephedrine is derived from the Ephedra plant. It is also known as Ma Huang and has been used in China for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. The FDA has reported over 100 deaths and over 1000 serious side effects linked to ephedrine.

What Products Contain Ephedra?
Popular diet pills, over the counter decongestants,allergy medications,
herbal energy boosters, and herbal asthma medications.

Ephedra is a plant that produces the herb ephedrine. Ephedrine in its natural form is called Ma Huang. Ancient Chinese physicians prescribed this herb for asthma, hay fever, nasal and chest congestion. Ma Huang has been used as a health tonic, a natural stimulant and an appetite suppressant. Believed to be a powerful fat burner, weight watchers have noticed that it makes the body heat up and burn fat at a faster rate than normal. Ma Huang contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are used in over-the-counter medications for asthma (ephedrines) and as a nasal decongestant (pseudoephedrine). Ma Huang is included in some diet formulas where it functions as an appetite suppressant. Like amphetamines, Ephedra and the chemical compound ephedrine can be dangerous if abused. Ephedra side effects have affected people of all ages, even otherwise perfectly healthy individuals.

Products containing Ephedra have already been banned in 20 states! The NCAA, the Olympic Committee, and the NFL have banned the use of Ephedra in their organizations. In May of 2003, GNC, the nation’s largest nutritional product retailer, refused to sell any products containing Ephedra.

Ephedra has been reported to cause cardiovascular complications, central nervous system problems, hypertension, stroke, seizures, and irregular heartbeat.

FDA Statement: 4-10-96 The FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or consume ephedrine-containing dietary supplements with labels that often portray the products as apparent alternatives to illegal street drugs such as "ecstasy." Possible adverse effects of ephedrine range from clinically significant effects such as heart attack, stroke, seizures, psychosis, and death, to clinically less significant effects that may indicate the potential for more serious effects (for example, dizziness, headache, gastrointestinal distress, irregular heartbeat, and heart palpitations). Ingredient panels on these products may list Ma Huang, Chinese Ephedra, ma huang extract, Ephedra, Ephedra sinica, Ephedra extract, Ephedra herb powder, or epitonin, all of which indicate a source of ephedrine.

Dietary supplements such as Ephedra are routinely marketed without undergoing a safety review by FDA. Unfortunately the term "herbal" can be quite misleading – many herbal remedies and supplements are no safer than prescription medications. The FDA has recently proposed to label dietary supplements as adulterated, or contaminated, if they contain 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine per serving, or 24 milligrams or more daily intake. The new proposal also suggests users limit intake of ephedrine to 7 days or less.

You may be suffering from Ephedra side effects if you
experience any of the following:

StrokeSeizures
Dizziness
Nervousness
Depression
Fever
Vomiting
Palpitations
Respiratory failure
Tremors
Elevated blood pressure
Accelerated heart rate
HeadacheInsomnia
Gastrointestinal distress
Chest pain
Myocardial infarction
Psychosis

Ephedra should not be taken if you are nursing or pregnant, Are under 18 or over 65, have a history of heart disease, diabetes, kidney stones, gastric ulcers, glaucoma, high blood pressure, depression, insomnia, hypothyroidism, urinary retention, or anorexia or bulimia.

To learn more about Ephedra, visit our Resources section.

If you have taken Ephedra, even for a short time, please see your doctor. If you’ve suffered any type of injury, you need the help of an experienced Ephedra attorney.

Find an Ephedra Attorney in your State