Heart attacks, ephedrine

Many diet pills that work by increasing the number of calories burned have been developed. Most of these contain one or more of the three ingredients caffeine, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), and ephedrine. In the United States, PPA and ephedrine have been withdrawn from the market because they produce serious side effects, including heart attack and stroke. Caffeine, which is still found in many diet pills, will be further discussed in Chapter 6. 

Although ephedrine has been sold for decades, it has recently been reported that this drug is potentially quite dangerous. Ephedrine use has been linked to numerous heart attacks and strokes (see the box on pages 68-69) and was officially banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2004. However, prior to its ban, it was estimated that 12 to 17 million Americans were consuming ephedrine-containing products at an estimated 3 billion doses per year. 

Ephedrine was a popular ingredient in many diet pills and muscle and energy boosters for decades. Ephedrine-based products were marketed to teenagers and young adults as having the ability to produce euphoria (feelings of pleasure) and increased sexual sensations, energy, and alertness. However, over the last decade, scientists have linked ephedrine use to numerous heart attacks, strokes, and deaths. 

Concerns about the safety of ephedrine-containing products date back to 1994, when the FDA noticed an increase in the number of health problems associated with the use of ephedrine, including chest pain, headaches, increased blood pressure, heart attack, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), stroke, seizures, and sometimes death. In 2001, the National Football League banned the use of ephedrine by professional football players. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Olympic committees have also banned the use of ephedrine by their athletes. In February 2004, ephedrine was finally banned by the FDA from being sold in the United States. To date, at least 100 deaths have been attributed to ephedrine use in the... 

One night after going to bed, he suffered a major heart attack and died. An autopsy revealed that the heart attack was a result of ephedrine, although he never exceeded the recommended dosage. 

Some medical experts have testified about ephedrine s physiological side effects, which include hypertension and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. The Halt Ephedrine Abuse Today survey found that more than 60% of respondents reported feeling physiological side effects such as a rapid heartbeat, nervousness, headaches, insomnia, shortness of breath, and chest... 

The government is currently in the process of attempting to regulate ephedrine use in pep pills and supplements. The proposal is the FDA s first regulatory major initiative under the 1994 Act. According to the FDA, more than 800 adverse reactions, including seizures, strokes, and heart attacks, have been linked to ephedrine capsules, tablets, and teas since 1994. The FDA puts the ephedrine-related death toll at 18 since then. 

Ephedrine is isolated from ma huang, an herb used to treat respiratory ailments in traditional Chinese medicine. Once a popular drug to promote weight loss and enhance athletic performance, ephedrine has now been linked to episodes of sudden death, heart attack, and stroke. 

Great stress, to ensure efficacy, is put on those products containing stimulants, such as caffeine or ephedra, to those on a diet, workout often, or under the age of 18. These products can cause long-term stress to the body if used for extensive amounts of time. Ephedra arises in the concern of the FDA because of the mechanism of ephedra in the human body. The adrenaline-like stimulant can cause dangerous effects to the nervous system and heart. Some of these effects include heart attack, seizure, stroke, and even death. There must be caution because the risk can increase with the dose, and with strenuous exercise. It specifies certain groups (such as women who are pregnant or breast feeding) who should never use these products and lists other conditions, such as diseases and the use of certain medications that rule out the use of ephedrine alkaloids. 

Scientists have conducted several studies and the totality of the available data showed little evidence of the effectiveness of ephedra except for modest, short-term weight loss without any clear health benefit, while confirming that the substance raises blood pressure and otherwise stresses the circulatory system. These effects are linked to significant adverse health outcomes, including heart attack and stroke. On Eebruary 6, 2004, the EDA issued a final rule prohibiting the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (ephedra) because such supplements present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury (Table 2). 

Ephedrine has been linked to several deaths. As a result, it has been banned until more research can be done. Ephedrine may cause severe bleeding in the brain, as well as sudden heart attacks and strokes. It is a good example... 

Ephedrine abuse has been linked to heart attacks. 

Ephedrine is a molecule found in the dietary supplement ephedra, which has been linked to adverse health reactions such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart palpitations. The use of ephedra in dietary supplements is now banned by the FDA. 

Dapsone hemolytic anemia and/or methemoglobinemia Diuretics, loop and thiazide hyponatremia and hypokalemia Dopamine receptor agonists pathological gambling Dopamine receptor agonists sleep attacks Ephedrine ischemic heart disease... 

Physicians routinely used intravenous ephedrine for the prophylaxis and treatment of hypotension caused by spinal anesthesia particularly during caesarean section (9). In the past, ephedrine was used to treat Stokes-Adams attacks (complete heart block), and was also recommended as a treatment for narcolepsy. Over the years, ephedrine has been replaced by other, more effective agents (10), and the advent of highly selective [3-agonists has mostly eliminated the need to use ephedrine in treating asthma. 

In the past, ephedrine was used to treat Stokes-Adams attacks with complete heart block and as a CNS stimulant in narcolepsy and depressive states. It has been replaced by alternate treatments in each of these disorders. In addition, its use as a bronchodilator in patients with asthma has become much less extensive with the development of p2-selective agonists. Ephedrine has been used to promote urinary continence, although its efficacy is not clear. Indeed, the drug may cause urinary retention, particularly in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Ephedrine also has been used to treat the hypotension that may occur with spinal anesthesia. 

Ephedrine may be used with success in combating the fall of blood pressure in spinal anesthesia, in the treatment of bronchial asthma (bronchodilatation), hay fever, and other allergic conditions. It relieves whooping cough. Ephedrine has been used both for the prevention and the cure of attacks of heart block known as Stokes-Adam s syndrome. Use of ephedrine in the prevention of the pathological sleep of narcolepsy is now replaced by its more efficient chemical relative, deoxynorephedrine (Benzedrine). Ephedrine is of value in the treatment of myasthenia... 

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