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Ephedra Side Effects

Ephedra is the herbal form of ephedrine and is a central nervous system stimulant that behaves in the body much like an amphetamine. Basically, ephedra is an organic form of the drug "speed." Ephedra side effects are dangerous and have been proven to be the cause of heart attacks and strokes and also 155 deaths.

Ephedra side effects have caused harm to many people resulting in an official FDA ban on February 6, 2004. Unfortunately, the ban on ephedra has been lifted almost a year later after Utah based companies Nutraceutical Corp. and Solray Inc. sued the FDA saying it had not proven that the manufacturers arbitrarily-set dosages of 10 milligrams or less of ephedra dietary supplements were dangerous. While the ban on ephedra has been lifted, it's because of the law, and not the safety of ephedra.

Ephedra side effects have been most commonly seen when used as an herbal supplement to help people lose weight, boost their energy levels, and improve athletic performance. While Ephedra is a natural herbal substance, it is also a very powerful drug. Companies were going as far as marketing pills containing ephedra as a "safe alternative to street drugs" like ecstasy and amphetamines. You may have even experienced ephedra side effects like that jittery feeling when taking Sudafed or other over-the-counter medications.

Ephedra side effects include heart damage, heart attack, stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack), seizures, tachycardia (in which the heart rate is accelerated to above 100 beats per minute), paranoid psychosis, depression, coma, fever, vomiting, palpitations, hypertension, respiratory failure and death. Some people have considered taking supplements such as xenadrine in lieu of ephedra side effects, despite the concerns expressed by health officials about xenadrine safety.

Despite ephedra side effects such as heart damage, advertisements for ephedra claimed that the herbal supplement was safe and effective. The public is easily convinced that when something is touted as "natural" that it is "safe" as well. In reality, ephedra side effects are responsible for 155 known deaths and over 1,000 adverse reactions requiring emergency medical treatment have been associated with ephedra side effects.

In the case against ephedra side effects, doctors testified that ephedra and dietary supplements containing ephedra have significant risks, including heart damage, which can cause further complications or death in people with pre-existing illnesses, as well as previously healthy individuals. While doctors argued that ephedra should be removed from the market, products containing ephedra have already been banned or restricted in over 20 states due to ephedra side effects.

While ephedra is once again available to the public, it has been shown that the supplements can cause ephedra side effects such as heart damage and strokes, and the producing companies are leaving themselves wide open for lawsuits. For example, the company that makes Metabolife, a popular weight loss product that contains ephedra, has been forced to pay $5 million in personal injury claims related to the use of their product.

With the lift of the ephedra ban, we can only expect to hear of more ephedra side effects in the near future. If you or a loved one has suffered from ephedra side effects, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced ephedra side effects lawyer to help determine if you have a case.

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

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