Does Ephedra Work?

Many people may wonder, "Does ephedra work?" Some small studies have suggested that ephedra may help people lose weight. However, the weight loss was modest -- about a pound or so per month. It is important to note that although ephedra may help people lose a few extra pounds, the FDA has banned the diet pill because of the potentially dangerous side effects that may occur (such as heart attacks, strokes, or seizures).

 

Does Ephedra Work for Weight Loss?

Ephedra (also known as ma huang) is an herbal supplement that was very popular as a weight loss aid, until it was banned by the FDA in 2004 due to safety concerns. There is some evidence that shows ephedra may actually be effective for short-term, modest weight loss. However, the risks of taking ephedra greatly outweigh any possible benefits of weight loss.
 

Ephedra and Weight Loss

Small studies have suggested that ephedra may help people lose weight. However, these studies generally showed that ephedra only caused modest weight loss (typically a pound or so per month), and no long-term studies were performed. There is also some evidence that people may develop a tolerance to the effects of ephedra. This means that a dose that initially works may stop working. This could possibly lead to ephedra abuse or dependence if you keep increasing the dose to achieve the desired results.
 
Ephedra is a stimulant and can cause dangerous stimulant side effects, such as heart attacks, strokes, or seizures. The FDA determined that the risk to the general public was great enough that ephedra needed to be banned from the market. Unfortunately, ephedra is still available online (from foreign countries or from unscrupulous local manufacturers or sellers). It is important to understand that the potential benefits of taking ephedra are small (probably just a few pounds of weight loss), and the risks are great.
 
(Does Ephedra Work? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;