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Ephedra Ban

On Tuesday, December 30, 2003, Federal officials announced plans to ban dietary supplements containing ephedra because of continued health concerns and adverse side effects. Between 12 and 17 million Americans use Ephedra each year to lose weight and increase their energy. This announcement marks the first time U.S. officials have banned an over-the-counter nutritional supplement. The ban, however, comes eight years after the Food and Drug Administration first began receiving reports that the herb used for weight loss and bodybuilding could be dangerous.

The government has warned consumers not to take products containing ephedra after determining they "present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury," according to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan. Bush administration officials report that the government will issue a regulation in the next few weeks that will make the sale of all ephedra-containing products illegal within 60 days, taking place sometime this Spring.

The ban is based on an extensive scientific study involving more than 16,000 reports of adverse health effects and 155 reported deaths from products containing ephedra, officials said. The herbal supplement Ephedra has been linked to heart attack, stroke and sudden death, as well as increasing risks of heart palpitations, tremors, insomnia and restricting blood vessels in consumers. The Annals of Internal Medicine reported that, although ephedra products make up less than 1 percent of dietary supplement sales, it has accounted for 64 percent of the serious side effects that have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in association with dietary supplements.

If you, or a loved one, has taken Ephedra based products, contact us for more information on the Ephedra ban and your legal rights!

Contact a Ephedra Recall Lawyer

More Ephedra Resources

MedLine Plus Drug Information - Guide to prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia.

Ephedra.com - Introduction, legal issues, weight loss and health concerns surrounding Ephedra.