Is Ephedra Coming Back?
Today, a federal judge in Salt Lake City struck down the FDA ban on ephedra supplements, which were taken off the market last year. The ban was very controversial because ephedra is a popular (and effective) weight loss and energy supplement that has been used by millions of people worldwide.
Personally, I think that lifting the ban is a good idea. Why? Because ephedra, when used correctly, is much safer than 95% of the prescription drugs people take on a daily basis. At the very least, it causes far fewer deaths than most drugs, including aspirin! I'm sure that if ephedra was a patented, synthetic chemical sold by a billion-dollar pharmaceutical company, the ban never would have happened in the first place. Just another example of the FDA doing its job poorly...
From Reuters News:
The judge ruled in favor of a Utah supplement company that challenged the Food and Drug Administration's ban. Nutraceutical claimed that ephedra "has been safely consumed" for hundreds of years, and that ephedra was wrongly being regulated by the FDA as a drug and not a food.
Judge Tena Campbell agreed, saying federal law places more restrictive rules on the FDA in determining whether to ban foods as opposed to drugs. The judge said the law requires the FDA to prove that a dietary supplement is harmful, rather than having the manufacturer prove it is safe, as is required with drugs.
Nutraceutical President Bruce Hough said the lawsuit had little to do with ephedra and more to do with forcing the FDA to follow the rules Congress set down for it.
He said Nutraceutical interprets the ruling to mean that the company is allowed to start selling ephedra supplements again, but added that it is too soon to say whether it will put the products back on the market.
"This is a great affirmation for the system, that the court goes back and says, 'This is Congress' intent,' and follow it," he said.
FDA spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said the agency is "evaluating the decision."
Supplements that included ephedra were once widely used for weight loss and bodybuilding, with industry groups claiming at least 12 million users. The amphetamine-like stimulant, which speeds the heart rate and constricts blood vessels, has been linked to 155 deaths, including that of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler. The federal government banned it one year ago.
Campbell's sends the matter back to the FDA "for further rulemaking consistent with the court's opinion" and keeps the agency from enforcement action against the companies.
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Related info:
FDA bans Ephedra: deaths may be Aspartame related
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posted by JC @ 3:26 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
I was taking yellow jackets for awhile and I lost 33 pounds that was much needed. I want ephedra to come back. Some people do need it. When taken cautiously, it is very effective. I hear it everywhere that it is safe when taken properly. I am grateful for it. Ephedra changed me as a person.
I was also taking stacker 3 and lot a muck needed 30lbs and it changed me for the better. When used safely it is the best for weightloss.
i totally agree with the judge. when used properly i lost 120 lbs in a year and 8 months, thats with exersicing and maintaining my eating. i went from 340 to 200lbs naturally and i still run 6- 10 miles a day. this was the best thing i ever found. and i had been over weight all my life until now.
I used Metabolife 356 two different times over the past 5 years. First time I lost 50 lbs. and the second time 78 lbs. I loved it. It changed my life. I am so thrilled that it may be coming back and tomorrow would not be soon enough. Thanks Judge.....
It is back and I spent a fortune to get some but its not the same. Does anyone know why or where to get the old, effective stuff?
i was taking metabolife 356 a year ago and i lost 35 pounds in 6 months it was the best thing for me but now tne pills that are on the shelves today do not work i want ephedra back!!!!!!!!!
I found this after searching and searching for information on ephedra, and its risks.
ok, you're a regular fat guy and you want to lose weight fast, and because you don't eat well, there are people with serious depression problems, going through recovery, dealing with depression medication who have found that HAY , YIPPEE, YOU CAN BUY A LITTLE UP WITH EPHEDRINE PLUS, it's a nice little cold medication and it can't hurt you.
the FDA, even says so, SO WHY NOT? I'll tell you why not....it ended up in a psychotic episode, the ONLY one in my son's 28 year old college graduatae life.
it ended in a week of nose bleeds, probably due to the mucus relief medication with it as well.
i'm not defending his addiction -- but you are simply brain fool if you think that people with chronic addiction problems aren't going to see this as an OK means to do exactly wht they're not supposed to....courtesy of all you people who say it's totally safe.
look at the news articles that tell you how drug dealers are buying two bottles of the stuff and making crystal meth labs for sale on the streets....
if the argument is that this is a safer medication than prescription meds for weight loss -- well how about its impact on others without a weight problem, but a substance abuse one....there are more of those now you know --- we have no health care and the mentally ill have no recourse other than cold meds to get a quick high.
honestly, i never rant, but i am a tired mother absolutely disgusted with .......
you can abuse anything lady. just bc/ your son cannot control his addictions doesnt mean it should be taken away form the rest of the world. Do some real unbiased research.
As with any thermogenic, hense the word "thermo" u should be consuming plenty of water, and follow directions 2 a "T". U can't just pop these pills and think they're going to create some kind of miracle. I took Hydroxycut with ephedra for years, and never had any problems and lost weight and got my body toned and in shape. Ephedra needs 2 b back on the market 2 b able 2 assist those who have trouble losing the weight. After all, we r the most obese country in the world.
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