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Defective Product Lawyers

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Dangers from Ephedra, Ephedra, Ephedrine,

Ephedra, an amphetamine-like stimulant long used in Asia, has become a common ingredient in modern dietary supplements, weight loss medications, and appetite suppression pills. Because of the status of 'dietary supplement', it was introduced in the United States with little review or monitoring by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This lack of review is provided for by the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act of 1994 and cannot be altered unless the supplement is determined to be unsafe. Besides being used in dietary supplements, ephedra is also used in non-dietary-related medications such as over-the-counter nasal decongestants, asthma medications (because of its effect as a bronchodilator), and cold and allergy medicines. However, in relation to dietary supplements, drug companies use this lapse in FDA review to produce a product with amphetamine-like qualities. These qualities are created by mixing caffeine and similar stimulants with the moderately regulated ephedrine.

Ephedra is effective in weight loss because it increases energy for the purposes of increased metabolism, exercise, and body-building purposes. It makes one feel more energetic by stimulating the central nervous system. This stimulant effect is similar to the effects of adrenaline and caffeine. The stimulation is a cause of concern to many physicians and has recently come under heightened scrutiny by the FDA. The FDA is reviewing increasing numbers of serious adverse effects, including claims of damage to the nervous system and heart.

Ephedra comes from herbal and chemical sources. Originally it was derived from ma huang, a bush found in China, but it can also be created in the lab. Because of the varied forms of ephedra/ephedrine, the supplement can be known by various names on the ingredients list of dietary supplements.

• Ephedra, Ephedra extract, and Ephedra herb powder
• Ephedra gerardiana, Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra intermedia, Ephedra shennungiana
• Ephedra sinica or Chinese Ephedra
• Ephedrine
• Epitonin
• Ma Huang or Ma Huang extract
• Norpseudoephedrine
• Pseudoephedrine
• Sida cordifolia

As already mentioned, because ephedra is categorized as a food supplement, it is not scrutinized in the strict manner as are pharmaceuticals. Due to this lack of control and monitoring, the side-effects of Ephedra/Ephedrine use are not fully known. At this time, potential symptoms of Ephedra/Ephedrine use include:

• Chest pain
• Death
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) distress
• Headaches
• Hepatitis
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack and stroke
• Insomnia
• Irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations
• Nerve damage
• Nervousness and jitters
• Psychosis
• Seizures and stroke
• Tremors

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NAME	DESCRIPTION
Food and Drug Administration	United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FDA Food Safety and Applied Nutrition	Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, part of the FDA (CFSAN).
Dietary Supplement Information	U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition - Dietary Supplements.
Statement on Botanical Ephedrine	FDA Statement on Street Drugs Containing Botanical Ephedrine.
Dietary Supplements: Ephedrine Alkaloids	FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition - Ephedrine Alkaloid Dietary Supplements.
Adverse Effects of Ephedra	Adverse Events with Ephedra and Other Botanical Dietary Supplements.
Index to Adverse Event Reports Associated with Ephedrine Alkaloids	Reports by CFSAN on adverse events associated with the use of Ephedrine Alkaloids.
National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health	Information from the National Library of Medicine.
InteliHealth	Searchable directory from InteliHealth, an Aetna Company, featuring Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information.
InteliHealth - Ephedra	Ephedra information from InteliHealth.
InteliHealth - Ephedrine	Ephedrine information from InteliHealth.
Ephedra Facts	Consumer Information from the Ephedra Education Council.
Recalled Drugs - Ephedra	Information on the dangers of Ephedra use from Recalled Products, Inc.
Ephedra and FDA Regulation	"Ephedra falls under FDA jurisdiction. (natural stimulant)" - from the Vegetarian Times.
Recall of Health Products by Health Canada (original recall)	CBC News Reports on Health Canada's recall of Ephedra products.
Information from Health Canada	Health Canada information on Ephedra.

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