Ephedrine, Ephedra Weight Loss Pills

Diet pills, herbal weight loss products or dietary supplements containing ephedra, ma huang or ephedrine are not effective for long term weight loss. They may be unhealthy and even fatal.

Also known as ma huang, ephedra is the natural source of the amphetamine-like stimulant ephedrine.
Ephedrines are amphetamine-like compounds with powerful and potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and the heart.
These compounds act as stimulants that can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias).
Ephedrine acts in a similar way to adrenaline. It dilates the bronchial muscles, contacts the nasal mucosa and raises blood pressure
In diet pills the dangers of ephedra far outweigh the benefits.
According to a 1995 report in the journal Obesity Research, Danish researchers found that ephedrine combined with caffeine helped obese patients on a strict diet lose an extra 7.5 pounds over six months compared with patients who simply dieted. That's just over 1 pound extra per month, with all the health risks.

Over-the-Counter Diet Pills Containing Ephedrine

Ephedra and ephedrine are also sold in health food stores and online under a variety of brand names including Easy Trim, Advocare, Matabolite, Metabolite 356, Metab-Rx Ultar, Epitonin, Chinese Ephedra and Ripped Fuel. Products like these are not regulated by the FDA. Suppliers claim their products breakdown fat, build muscle and enhance athletic performance. Consumers are often not warned about potentially serious or even fatal side effects.

FDA Warnings & Studies into Ephedrine Weight Loss Pills

Over the last five years, the Food and Drug Administration has logged 1,000 serious reactions that may be linked to ephedra, including 38 deaths. The reactions included soaring blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, tremors, seizures, heart attack, and stroke.

The FDA urges everyone to consult with a doctor before trying any ephedra product and experts advise against using any weight-loss products that contain the herb. If you do, check the labels to make sure you don't get more than 8 milligrams of the drug ephedrine in any 6 hour period, and don't take any ephedra product for more than a week.

You should avoid ephedra completely if you have hypertension, heart trouble, kidney disease, neurologic disorders, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid gland, or if you're pregnant or nursing.

NOTE: Before using any form of diet pills or weight loss supplements, please consult your doctor.

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