Diet Pill Safety Ephedra Back at Work

Missing from the marketplace for almost two years, Ephedra has been returned to the shelves of your local store. The diet pill, Ephedra, was banned by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004 after 155 deaths were linked to the drug. Supplements including Ephedra have been widely used for weight loss and bodybuilding as well as over the counter and prescription medicenes. The ban was recently lifted after a United States court battle that challenged the ban. Now that the court has ruled in favor of lifting the ban on the diet pill, the case now returned to the FDA for recommendations that will coincide with the court's findings. It also keeps them from taking action against the companies as a result. The FDA has not yet commented on the case

. Ephedra is an herb that has been used for hundreds of years to treat asthma and other health conditions. Because it increases the metabolism, this herb became a popular ingredient in diet pills. Many felt that a complete ban was overkill. Of the deaths that occurred, several already had a history of complicating conditions that may have been exacerbated by the diet pills

Common side effects from using Ephedra to control diet include headache, restlessness of muscles, irritability, sleeplessness, nausea, urinary disturbances, increased heart rate, and vomiting. When used in higher dosages, there have been increased blood pressure and cardiac problems may occur. If used for an extended period of time, it may cause dependence on the drug.

The number of deaths actually attributed to Ephedra has been disputed. There may be as few as five deaths where there was no prior indications of a preexisting condition and Ephedra in the diet was cited as the contributing factor of death. Millions of Americans use Ephedra in their diet for one reason or another. The number of fatalities, regardless, is fairly low especially when compared to the statistics from Phentermine, another FDA-approved prescription diet drug. Because of this, many people questioned the reasoning behind the sudden removal and ban of the drug.

The general consensus regarding Ephedra is that it is safe to use under certain conditions. You must not have a preexisting condition known to be detrimental to the continued use of Ephedra. You must use Ephedra with other herbs as a diet supplement, not alone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Ephedra in their diet. If you consume caffeine in your diet or use aspirin, you should not use Ephedra. You should only use Ephedra in the recommended doses. Finally, you should not use Ephedra for other than its intended use.V Ephedra was reported to have caused over one hundred deaths by 2004. Although the ban on the drug was recently lifted in the United States, there is still controversy over its safety. Currently, there are many alternatives to the drug to control the diet that are known safe. These alternatives should be used instead of Ephedra in a diet and weight loss program.

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