Weight Loss Products Containing Ephedra
There were many weight loss products which contained ephedra before ephedra was banned in the United States in 2006. Many of them have now replaced ephedra with other ingredients which work just as well as the ephedra did but without the serious side effects. The Food and Drug Administration had reports of over 800 serious illnesses plus some deaths caused by ephedra products from 1994 to 2003 when ephedra was banned for the first time. After it was banned the first time some people compiled a petition and filed it with the courts and the ban was lifted. There was not to be no more than 10 mg of ephedra allowed in each dose of the products. When the reports still came in about more serious illnesses and more deaths (more than 1,000 people hospitalized and at least 17 deaths) from people who had used products that contained ephedra since 1997, the FDA felt that they had to act again and worked to get ephedra banned for the second time. There were people who suffered from heart attacks and strokes with just the small amount of 8 mg. of ephedra. The numbers were too great for the FDA not to do something about it. Too many lives were involved and ephedra was proven to be too dangerous.
The Chinese have been using ephedra for over 5,000 years for lung problems. It has also been used elsewhere for asthma, bronchial tube congestion, common colds, as an energy booster, weight loss aid, and as a sportsmen performance enhancer. Other names for ephedra you might see on labels of bottles are Mormon Tea, Squaw Tea, Chinese Ephedra, Ma Huang, and Epitonin. If you see any of these ingredients listed on a bottle of pills be careful. Do not take a chance with your life. Also do not mix aspirin (willow bark, salicytes, or salicylic acid) with ephedra or caffeine (guarana, kola nut, or cocoa extract) with ephedra. The combination of either one of these with ephedra can be lethal and at the very least, life threatening.
Ephedra is a stimulant plant which is found in arid regions around the world. There are four different members of the ephedra family. It is a perennial which stimulates the body and acts like adrenaline but lasts much longer. It can cause rapid heartbeats or irregular heartbeat. It has also caused heart attacks, strokes, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, high blood pressure, and seizures as well as other side effects. If you have suffered from a serious health problem from the use of ephedra you are entitled to be compensated. You should talk to a good attorney that handles cases of this type.
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