Safe Diet or Dangerous Drug
... Its many side effects such as increased body temperature, sweating, dry mouth, and tremors lead to more dangerous effects such as heart attacks, bleeding in the brain, strokes, and even death. ... Ephedrine is one of the most dangerous of the dietary supplements. ... The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 800 reports of injuries associated with the use of products containing ephedrine since 1994. ... An estimated 15 million adults are at risk for potential herb-drug interactions. ... For example, one manufacturer claims its product “promotes weight loss without exercise” and then later states “use while getting sufficient exercise and proper diet” in small print. This type of misleading claim is apparently permissible under the new laws and mislead consumers into believing these products are safe, when many clearly can have serious side effects. ... They proposed to have companies require labels and marketing measures that give adequate warnings about the drug to consumers. ... When I quit using those products and turned strictly to diet and exercise, my body felt more natural and much more healthy. ... Given there are safe alternatives for weight and energy management-proper exercise and diet- I see no need to take ephedrine.