Ephedrine - A Dangerous Drug?

» NikkiLeigh - "Ephedrine - A Dangerous Drug?" (7-5-00) You better believe it!

The author of this article is seriously mistaken in thinking that ephedrine is only dangerous in large quantities or to people with certain medical conditions.
I do volunteer work for a non-profit organization called H.E.A.T. which has had a survey regarding ephedrine use on the internet for 3 years now. Hundreds of people have responded, and many of these people have reported various side effects (anything from rapid and/or irregular heartbeat to hallucinations and blackouts) but also such things as severe mood swings, withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing use of the product, heart attacks, seizures, strokes, kidney stones, psychosis, addiction, and death. As of August 11, 2000, sixty percent of the people that responded to our survey (who were taking only herbal ephedrine or ma huang products) reported side effects of some kind, and twenty-six percent reported addiction. The vast majority of these people were taking the recommended dose or less. In fact, more people have died from taking ephedrine products than from taking Phen-Fen, and Phen-Fen has long since been taken off the market. However, ephedrine is not considered a "drug" and these products are not regulated by the FDA.
Certain products keep recurring in the surveys we have received as causing adverse reactions: Hydroxycut, Ripped Fuel, Diet Fuel, Xenadrine, and Metabolife, among others. Anyone taking these or any other ephedrine or ma huang product needs to use extreme caution, and report any adverse reactions to the FDA. Anyone can fill out the ephedrine survey at http://www.ephedrainjury.com

-- posted by NikkiLeigh

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» MattD_2 - Interesting

Nice to get some feedback.
I am the author of the article, and though I see your point, I can't say that I agree.
Granted, ephedrine is not for everyone - no doubt about that. However, I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of users out in the real world suffer from the symptoms you describe.
I mean, seriously, if 60% of users would get downright SICK from using the product, why do we still have several brands carrying it - and has done so for several years?
Just speaking for myself, if I used something that gave me, say irregular heartbeat and blackouts, would I come back and buy a second bottle? Hell no! And if 60% of the users would stop using the product after the first product, logic suggests that the manufacturers would drop the product (you can't live off first-time buyers for year after year - without repeat customers, a product is doomed!)

That is not to say that your concerns are invalid. Like I pointed out, exceeding the dosage is a big no-no, and in most cases the label suggests a sensible trial of HALF the normal dosage to test the individual sensitivity.
If unsure, one should always consult with a medical professional beforehand.
Any user who experiences discomfort should discontinue the use immediately. Simple as that.

But having used the product for a great many years myself, I don't quite buy into the "Ban Ephedrine" idea, just like I don't buy into the manufacturer's claims of "miracle pills".
The truth is that it is a pretty simple stimulant, not too far from caffeine actually, that can be used as well as abused (like all other substances).

In my humble opinion, sound, individual judgment should be the guiding light in this, not rules and regulations.

-- posted by MattD_2

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» NikkiLeigh - Russian Roulette?

Dear Mr. Danielson,

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.

I agree with your statement that ephedrine is not for everybody. I also agree that some people can take it and suffer no apparent ill effects from it. My concern mainly comes from the fact that (aside from those people with known medical conditions) nobody seems to know who will be adversely affected. It's like playing Russian Roulette. Here are some specific cases of what has happened to some people who were taking their ephedrine product according to package directions: 1) a 29 year old man who was in the Army had a massive stroke at the on-post gym; 2) a 20 year old police cadet died; 3) a 15 year old girl died (however, in this case, although she had been extremely athletic all her life, she had a heart condition that no one knew was there until the autopsy -- she only took the product twice); 4) a 45 year old man had sudden cardiac arrest and brain damage; 5) a 40 year old woman had a massive seizure and respiratory failure. These are just a few examples out of many. In fact, there are other articles here at Suite101 that mention others: for example, "Ephedra - Is It Really Good For You?" under the heading Drugs, Research, and the Pharmacutical Industry.

It is very important that people know that these "supplements" are not regulated by the FDA. Studies have been done by independent labs on the contents of many ephedrine products, and the results range from almost no ephedra to 150% more than stated on the bottle. Plus, many of these products are designed by people with no medical background whatsoever.

It is my opinion, based on much research, that the risks of taking ephedrine outweighs the possible benefits. Thanks to the internet, there is a ton of information available to people who want to research a substance before they decide to take it, and it is wise to keep in mind that "natural" does not mean "safe."

Respectfully,
Nicole

-- posted by NikkiLeigh

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» MattD_2 - Caution

Sure, but bear in mind there are tragic stories for many, if not MOST products out there. You can get seriously sick, even KILL a child by overdosing iron, a simple and normally harmless mineral that is necessary to our survival.
A person who is allergic to peanuts and doesn't know about it until he chokes and die from it is also a tremendous tragedy. Heck, some people get severe adverse reactions to a seemingly harmless bee sting for crying out loud!

The point I'm trying to make is that we're all individuals, and I think it opens the doors to a skewed perception if you chose to focus solely on the most unfortunate cases that leads to illness or death. If were to do the same with allergy to nuts, no mother would ever give a PB&J-sandwich to her kids, right? As we have enough serious allergy incidences to back it, I think we should even push for a total BAN of all nut-products! Am I making sense? Of course not. The reason is that nuts are perfectly fine for MOST people, and that those who don't tolerate nuts quickly learn to stay away from it. It's a trial-and-error process with sometimes lethal incidences, yet no one is questioning the suitability of peanut butter on our shelves.

Now, with this in mind, please explain to me why you are not arguing for a ban of nut-based products, and all other known allergents that has at some point in history been proven to cause serious illness or death?
If you chose not to, and instead choses to ignore such incidents with OTHER products, what is the reason why you are singling out ephedra?

Oh, and one last thing: The trail-and-error principle with nuts I mentioned earlier, bear in mind that this is a trial that almost always happen with small children. With ephedra, the person is at least an adult (not counting your example with the 15 year old kid, who had no business taking the product in the first place.)

So, the bottom line is that I am unconvinced that the answer lies in banning ephedra, just like I'd be a fool to want to ban nuts, wheat, shellfish, and everything else known to cause allergy or confirmed cases of lethal adverse reactions.

It's a shame that so many drugs and foods in this world are not for everyone, and can cause individual tragedies. But I don't see why ephedra would be so exceptionally bad in comparison to other products with a similar - or worse - track record.
I am not saying ephedra is safe, nor that I feel any less sorrow for the incidences you describe, but I can't say I want to give up one of the most potent fat-burners on the market. Just like I wouldn't give up eating peanuts for the rest of my life just because someone in a neighboring town died from peanut allergy. It doesn't make sense. The choice should still be mine to make.

-- posted by MattD_2

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» Shabba_du - Buyer beware...

In the case of the supplemental craze it seems to me what’s going on is the use of a substance with limited levels approval. By that I mean that the collective powers that be have gathered themselves together and said that possible side effects caused by these chemicals in the human body are acceptable enough to market the supplement to the public with out fear. My personal physician (yes, a real doctor) happens to disagree with the powers that be. Whether or not people use the fat burners or appetite suppressants according to the instructions or not, there will be some percentage of perfectly healthy people among the general public who will experience some degree of negative reaction; something about their physiological make up, you understand. This all puts me in mind of the phen-fen controversy that gripped so many obese dieters years ago. You just never know.

-- posted by Shabba_du

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