Ephedra Lawsuit and Side
Effect Information

Ephedra Overview

Used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years, ephedra is a natural substance that's actually derived from a plant. It's also known as ma huang, ephedra sinica, Chinese ephedra, sida cordifolia, or epitonin.

Ephedra has been used in Eastern medicine for various purposes ranging from treatments for asthma, hay fever, the common cold, sinusitis, joint problems, and more recently, weight loss. By the 1980s, the herbal substance had become increasingly popular in the Western world. It was used by athletes to enhance performance and by others for weight loss. During both the 80s and 90s, countless nutritional supplements contained ephedra.

The active ingredients within the plant include the alkaloids pseudoephedrine and ephedrine. Both alkaloids are said to increase heart rate, raise blood pressure, dilate the lung's bronchial tubes (which is why it was originally used for respiratory ailments), and also affect metabolic rate by increasing body heat.

Some products that contain or have contained Ephedra include:

BetaLean HP - EAS
Chinese Ephedra - Frontiers, Inc.
Chinese Ma Huang - Gaia Herbs, Inc
Clenbutrx - Vital Pharm, Inc
Diet Fuel - TwinLab Laboratories
Diet Pep - Natural Balance, Inc
Dyma-Burn Xtreme - Dymatize Nutrition
Herba Fuel - TwinLab Laboratories
Lipokinetix - Syntrax Innovations, Inc
Metabolife 356 - Metabolife International
MetaboLift - TwinLab Laboratories
MetaCuts - Metaform
Thermogenic Power - Nature's Herbs
ThermoPlex - Bioplex
UltraCuts - BioPlex
Vasopro - Mega Pro International

Ephedra Side Effects

Adverse Ephedra side effects appear to be more prevalent in people with one or more preexisting conditions. Side effects can be considerably worse when coupled with substances such as caffeine or aspirin. Epphedra also adversely interacts with several other medications including a number of antidepressants, stimulants, amphetamines, blood pressure and diabetes medications, and narcotics.

Some health conditions that may contribute to adverse ephedra side effects include heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, mental illness, kidney disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate gland, and a history of seizures and stroke.

The following list includes Ephedra side effects reported by users:

- Anxiety
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Heart damage
- High blood pressure
- Increased risk of heatstroke
- Increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke
- Increased urination
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Kidney stones
- Nausea
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Restricted blood vessels
- Sleeping problems
- Stomach irritation
- Sweating
- Tremors

Timeline of Ephedra Lawsuit and Legal News

In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration first proposed a ban on supplements containing more than eight milligrams of ephedrine alkaloids. It was met with strong opposition from members of the dietary supplement industry. By 2000, the FDA withdrew its proposal despite several incidences of serious Ephedra side effects reported throughout the 90s.

February, 2001: In response to an Ephedra lawsuit, an Alaskan jury awarded over thirteen million dollars to a woman who had suffered a stroke that was reportedly due to her taking a product containing ephedra.

July, 2003: Wife of recently deceased Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler files a $600 million wrongful death Ephedra lawsuit against the manufacturer of a dietary supplement containing ephedra. The suit claimed the supplement caused his death after he suffered heatstroke during spring training.

December, 2003: Perhaps in light of the Bechler case, the FDA issues a warning to the public that any dietary supplements containing Ephedra presented a considerable risk to one's health, specifically in the form of increased blood pressure and undue stress on the body's circulatory system, possibly leading to heart conditions or stroke.

February, 2004: On February 6, 2004, the FDA announced an upcoming ban on all dietary supplements containing Ephedra, stating that the substance presented an unreasonable health risk.

March, 2004: An Ephedra lawsuit of a different type was filed in March 2004 by NVE Pharmaceuticals, who manufactured a supplement containing the herb and sought to delay the FDA's ban. According to the company's claims, Ephedra side effects were minimal and the herb was safe for consumption when used as directed.

April, 2004: The Ephedra ban was upheld and took effect on April 12, 2004 despite pleas from manufacturers that further research was needed to ascertain the true depths of the substance's side effects.

August, 2006: After yet another appeal, a federal appeals court in the U.S. upholds the 2004 ban on any dietary supplements containing Ephedra stating that there was no safe dosage level for consumption.

If you've experienced any negative side effects from taking Ephedra, consider speaking with a licensed attorney to discuss the possiblity of filing an Ephedra lawsuit.




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