EPHEDRA SUPPLEMENT
The Chinese botanical ephedra,
or ma-huang, is sold as a dietary supplement in the United
States. It is a natural source of the alkaloids ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine. Some dietary supplement products used for weight loss
and to enhance athletic performance contain these alkaloids.
Beginning in the 1990s, concerns about
the safety of Ephedra
and Ephedra-based products began to be publicly raised. As
Ephedra is a herb, products containing it were marketed as
dietary supplements and therefore were exempt from FDA regulation in
the United States. |
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Ephedra
News: DENVER May 9, 2006 - A federal judge who lifted
the ban on dietary supplements containing low doses of the
weight loss aid ephedra misunderstood the law, the
Food and Drug Administration argued Monday in trying to
restore the ban.
Some popular Ephedrda/Ephedrine Pill brands:
Ephedrine Formula 200 | Xenadrine
|
EPHEDRA BAN
A federal judge in April, 2005 struck
down the FDA ban on supplements containing ephedra, the
once-popular weight-loss aid that was yanked from the market one year
ago after it was linked to dozens of deaths.
Results of controlled trials show that
the use of synthetic ephedrine, ephedrine plus caffeine, or ephedra plus
botanicals containing caffeine is associated with 2-3 times the risk of
nausea, vomiting, psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and change in
mood, autonomic hyperactivity, and palpitations compared with placebo.
EPHEDRINE
Synthetic ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
are found in over-the-counter decongestants and cold medicines and are
used to treat asthma.
Ephedrine is not approved in the United States as a drug for
weight loss or to enhance athletic performance.
The use of ephedrine, ephedrine plus caffeine, or dietary supplements
containing ephedra and botanicals with caffeine is associated with a
modest but statistically significant increase in weight loss over a
relatively short time (less than or equal to 6 months). No studies have
assessed their long-term effects (greater than 6 months).
MA HUANG
The traditional Chinese herb Ma
Huang (Ephedra sinica) contains ephedrine as its principal active
constituent. The same is true of other herbal products containing
extracts from Ephedra species. The substance called soma mentioned in
old Hindu books such as the Rig Veda, may have been ephedra extract.
Before taking an herb or a botanical, consult a doctor or other health
care provider-especially if you have a disease or medical condition,
take any medications, are pregnant or nursing, or are planning to have
an operation. |