Losing weight is difficult, but sometimes people go to extremes for that perfect body. One dangerous step to take is the diet pill ephedra. This dietary supplement has a list of side effects that no one would want to face, yet there are still advertisements on the Internet to buy ephedra despite a Food and Drug Administration ban. Studies are not even conclusive that it is all that effective for weight loss. If you somehow find a way to get this supplement, think twice and consult your doctor.
Ephedra Explained
Ephedra is a naturally occurring herb also known as ma huang. The drugs ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are chemically derived from it and can be used for medicinal purposes. Psuedoephephedrine is a popular cold medicine that is sold over the counter. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, ephedrine is derived from ephedra and was once sold as a dietary supplement. Due to many adverse reactions, the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, banned the sale of ephedra and ephedrine as a weight loss supplement.
Uses
The herb ma huang has been in use for thousands of years for many things. It is most commonly used to treat asthma, cough, bronchitis and nasal congestion. However, people have used ephedra recently as a weight loss aide. According to the "Journal of the American Medical Association," ephredra and ephedrine produced only modest short-term weight loss in a review of studies. There were no long-term studies, and the side effects noted were significant.
Dangers
There are many documented and serious dangers of ma huang, ephedra and ephedrine. According to the "Journal of the American Medical Association," there are seven broad categories of symptoms: psychiatric, such as irritability; hyperactivity, such as twitching; gastrointestinal; irregular and pounding heartbeat; elevated heart rate; increased blood pressure; and headache. You should not take this drug if you have a psychiatric condition, heart problem or epilepsy. According to Drugs.com, users of ephedra have suffered heart attack, stroke and sudden death.
FDA Ban
The Food and Drug Administration has issued a ban on the over-the-counter sale of ephedra as a weight loss supplement. According to the Harvard Medical School, the ban began in December 2003, and it is the first time the FDA has ever banned a dietary supplement. Reportedly, there were 155 deaths related to the drug. A popular major league baseball player, Steve Bechler, died as a result of ephedra usage. Since 2003, ephedra manufacturers have tried to have the ban lifted for lower doses, but they have not yet had success.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Ephedra; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; December 2009
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Efficacy and Safety of Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance; Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., Ph.D., et al.; March 2003
- Drugs.com; Ephedra; 2009
- Harvard Medical School; Ephedra Ban; March 2004
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