The Side Effects Of Xenadrine And Ephedra

The weight loss supplement called Xenadrine once contained ephedra. On Feb. 6, 2004, ongoing reports of the substance's fatal side effects prompted the Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of all ephedra-based weight loss supplements in the United States. The manufacturers of Xenadrine created an ephedra-free product, but despite the removal of ephedra, the supplement still has adverse side effects.

Ephedra Dangers

High blood pressure, rapid heart rate, nerve damage, psychosis, stroke, heart troubles, memory loss, insomnia and death are amongst the possible consequences of taking ephedra warns Robert C. France, author of "Introduction to Sports Medicine & Athletic Training."

Regulation Issues

Unlike prescription drugs, the Food and Drug Administration is not required to approve dietary supplements for safety before they reach the consumer market. The deaths resulting from ephedra based weight-loss supplements prove that what you don't know can indeed hurt
you. Broward County, Florida, Coroner Dr. Joshua Perper blamed ephedra use for the 2003 death of 23-year-old Steve Bechler, a prospective pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Bechler's death is just one of the 155 fatalities associated with ephedra, reports "Psychiatric News." The Food and Drug Administration banned ephedra, but other weight loss supplements may have equally harmful ingredients.

Xenadrine Side Effects

Epehdra-free Xenadrine produced elevated blood pressure and adverse gastrointestinal side effects in a study performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Lead author B. J. Gurley reported that some of the supplements had microbial contamination. The new formula contains bitter orange, also called synephrine. Synephrine is a key ingredient in the nasal spray called Neo-Synephrine, whose label advises against taking the product for more than three days in a row. Side effects can include nervousness, anxiety, dry mouth, blurry vision and headaches.

Xenadrine Ineffective

The ephedra-free Xenadrine supplement may not even be effective for weight loss, reports the Federal Trade Commission, which, in 2007, charged Xenadrine marketers with failing to disclose that the actors in their commercials did not take the supplements, but achieved their toned appearance through strict diets and rigorous workouts. Xenadrine paid the actors from $1,000 to $20,000 for their "testimonies." When the FTC hired an independent research company to test the product, the researchers reported that subjects taking Xenadrine lost an average of only 1.5 lbs. during the 10-week study. The control group -- taking a placebo -- lost about 2.5 lbs. over the same period.