Supplements With Ephedrine

Ephedrine is a natural substance derived from plant botanicals; it also is called ma huang in Chinese medicine. This ingredient was often combined with caffeine to create over-the-counter weight loss pills and supplements. But because ephedra and ephedrine alkaloids are so potentially dangerous to the heart, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned sales in 2004 of such supplements in the United States.

Weight Loss Potential

Some ephedrine users have compared the supplement to amphetamines or "speed" when it comes to increasing your energy and decreasing your appetite, notes ConsumersUnion.org. But it was most effective in boosting weight loss when combined with caffeine, which created a potentially dangerous combination. Ephedra alone only caused minimal weight loss and did not give athletes as much energy as they once believed.

Potential Side Effects

At least 100 people died as a direct result of using supplements with ephedra, according to ConsumersUnion.org. Between 1993 and 2004, the Food and Drug Administration received 16,961 reports of serious illnesses among ephedrine users. Ephedra and its alkaloids, especially when combined with caffeine, can cause increased blood pressure, tachycardia, central nervous system excitation, heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrhythmia.

Illegal Sales

Dieters can still find ephedra and ephedrine alkaloids online, whether they intend to take the ingredients or not, warns ConsumersUnion.org. Because ephedra sales are illegal in the United States, some manufacturers attempt to disguise the ingredient by using names such as epitonin, ma huang, sida cordifolia and sinica. Manufacturers also try to mask the caffeine ingredient in such supplements by using names such as guarana, kola nut, maté, paullinia cupan and tea extracts.

Other Potentially Dangerous Supplements

Some supplements that do not contain ephedrine may be just as dangerous, warns Mayo Clinic. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials banned the sales of products containing country mallow or heartleaf, and the popular ingredient bitter orange is under investigation for being potentially dangerous to dieters. Excessive quantities of even healthy supplements, such as green tea extracts, can cause gastrointestinal distress, insomnia, jitters and headaches. Side effects worsen when natural ingredients are combined with stimulants, such as caffeine. Also, representatives of the Food and Drug Administration are investigating whether the over-the-counter, fat-blocking drug orlistat causes an unacceptably high risk of severe liver injury. Women who are pregnant, nursing, over the age of 65 and those with pre-existing health issues should not take any dietary aid without speaking to a doctor first.