Home : Unsafe Drugs : Ephedra
Ephedra
Ephedra is a naturally-occurring plant derivative, which has been used in supplements for weight loss, performance enhancement and increased energy. Supplements containing ephedra have been linked to heart attack, stroke, psychiatric problems and death. In 2003, the FDA issued a consumer alert advising the public to stop using products containing ephedra because they present a high risk of injury or death. While the FDA banned the unrestrained use of ephedra in supplements in 2003, ephedra is still used in some over-the-counter medications.
Fast Facts
| Name: | Ephedra |
| Generic: | N/A |
| Manufacturer: | N/A |
| Date approved: | N/A |
| Status: | FDA banned unrestricted use of ephedra in dietary supplements |
| Approved uses: | N/A. Frequently used in weight loss, performance enhancement energy-boosting drugs. |
| Off-Label uses: | N/A |
| Side effects: | Ephedra stimulates adrenergic receptors, causing a stimulatory effect that can harm patients with high blood pressure, asthma, anxiety, and glaucoma. The drug can cause dramatic increase in blood pressure and disorders of heart rhythm, in addition to other less severe side effects such as sleeplessness, nausea, increased heart rate, headache, and irritability. |
| Related topics: | Unsafe drugs, fen-phen |
FDA Bans Drugs Containing Ephedra Due to Health Risks
Ephedra is a naturally occurring substance derived from the Asian supplement Ma Huang and is also known as Ephedrine ,... read more
What is Ephedra?
Ephedrine alkaloids are naturally occurring stimulant compounds used in dietary supplements . Ephedrine alkaloids are known by a number of names... read more
View the Ephedra Main Articles page here
Videos Related to Ephedra
View the Ephedra Videos page here
FDA Information Related to Ephedra
Guidance for Industry Botanical Drug Products
View the Ephedra FDA Information page here
MSN Newsfeeds Related to Ephedra
View the Ephedra MSN Newsfeeds page here
News Articles Related to Ephedra
Ex-Metabolilfe CEO to Serve Six Months
Denver Sports Examiner - Disturbing the peace - Examiner.com
View the Ephedra News Articles page here
Useful Web Sites Related to Ephedra
Anapol Schwartz, Ephedra Attorneys
View the Ephedra Useful Web Sites page here
Wikipedia Entries Related to Ephedra
View the Ephedra Wikipedia Entries page here
Books Related to Ephedra
Ephedra - A Medical Dictionary Bibliography and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References
View the Ephedra Books page here





