Stacker weight loss pills have three active ingredients "stacked" together -- ephedrine, also known as ephedra or ma huang, caffeine and aspirin. There are a few versions of stacker pills, but the basic three ingredients remain the same. Ephedra was banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for use in supplements, but it is still allowed for use in diet medications. Both caffeine and ephedrine are stimulants, and there may be serious side effects from using stacker diet pills, including heart attacks, stroke and seizures. Always consult your physician before taking any type of weight-loss medication.
Step 1
Read all warnings on the stackers packaging. Besides the three main ingredients, stackers may contain chitosin, from shellfish -- anyone with a shellfish allergy may have an allergic reaction to stackers. Other ingredients in stackers may include green tea, grapefruit seed extract, white willow bark or guarana seeds.
Step 2
Make healthy lifestyle changes, adding exercise to your daily routine. According to the Ephedrine Education Council, the ephedrine and caffeine in the stackers work as an appetite suppressant to help you consume fewer calories while giving you more energy and revving up your metabolism so your body may burn fat more effectively. The aspirin works as a blood thinner, increasing the time the stacker is effective.
Step 3
Lower the dose of medication or discontinue use if you have any of the following symptoms: high blood pressure, increased or irregular heartbeat, headaches, dizziness or insomnia.
Tips and Warnings
- There are ephedra-free versions of stacker available, which may be safer and carry lower risk of side effects.
- The FDA has not approved all of the health claims made by many manufacturers of stackers. Use your best judgment and be skeptical if a claim seems too good to be true.
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