Ephedra Lawyers FAQs
If you have questions about Ephedra,
you can consult an experienced Ephedra attorney.
What is Ephedra?
What is ephedrine?
Who is at high risk for Ephedra injuries?
What are the side effects of Ephedra use?
Why isn’t Ephedra regulated?
How do Ephedra manufacturers mislead consumers?
What should I do if I suffered a reaction to Ephedra?
What are the treatments for injuries caused by Ephedra?
How is Ephedra listed on the ingredients label?
How do I know if I have a case against an Ephedra manufacturer?
Have lawsuits against Ephedra makers been successful?
Are there any safer alternatives to Ephedra?
What products contain Ephedra?
What is Ephedra?
Ephedra is a dietary supplement that stimulates the nervous system and speeds up metabolism. Ephedra is the primary active ingredient of Ma Huang, a Chinese medicinal herb used for over 5,000 years to treat asthma, allergies, and to increase metabolism for weight loss and performance enhancement. Ephedra is best known as a botanical source of the alkaloids ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and others.
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What is ephedrine?
Ephedrine is a chemical derivative of the herb Ephedra sinica and several other species of Ephedra. It stimulates the central nervous and the cardiovascular systems, increases metabolism and causes many of the same body effects as amphetamines, or speed.
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Who is at high risk for Ephedra injuries?
People with a history of heart disease, hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate, anxiety and restlessness, and glaucoma are especially at risk for injury after taking Ephedra. Ephedra/ephedrine aggravates these conditions and therefore should not be used except if recommended by and under the surveillance of a health care professional. It should also not be used during pregnancy and lactation.
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What are the side effects of Ephedra use?
Adverse effects of ephedrine can include dizziness, headache, decreased appetite, anxiety, restlessness or nervousness, gastrointestinal distress, irregular heartbeat, tachycardia (accelerated heart rate), insomnia, elevated blood pressure, flushing, hepatitis, chest pain, sweating, hypertension, stroke, seizures, psychosis, myocardial infarction and death.
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Why isn’t Ephedra regulated?
Due to extreme public pressure from nutritional supplement companies, a law was passed by Congress in 1994 exempting Ephedra and other supplements from the jurisdiction of the FDA.Despite being linked to more deaths and injuries than every other type of herbal product combined, Ephedra is not regulated because it is considered a dietary supplement, as opposed to a food or drug product. Supplements like Metabolife are not subjected to the same strict clinical testing standards as prescription and most over-the-counter drugs.
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How do Ephedra manufacturers mislead consumers?
Manufacturers of Ephedra products make false claims and use inaccurate terms like “safe” or “all-natural” to give consumers the illusion that there are no risks involved with the herb. The FDA and others are proposing labeling regulations to help warn consumers of the dangers of Ephedra.
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What should I do if I suffered a reaction to Ephedra?
If you have suffered a reaction to an ephedrine product, you should immediately consult a physician. You should then report the facts of your adverse reaction to the FDA Consumer Hotline at (800) 532-4440. The state you live in has a department of health services which also should be contacted. Then, contact an Ephedra attorney for legal advice.
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What are the treatments for injuries caused by Ephedra?
Fortunately, many of the short-term effects of Ephedra toxicity disappear when you stop taking the drug. However, the more serious side effects like stroke, hypertension, or heart damage may require continued medical care. Check with your doctor.
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How is Ephedra listed on the ingredients label?
Be sure to check the label of any dietary supplement before use. Ephedra may be listed under any of the following names:
Ephedra
Ephedra Sinica
Ephedra extract
Ephedra herb powder
Ma Huang or Ma Huang extract
Epitonin
Ephedrine
Chinese Ephedra
Pseudoephedrine and Norpseudoephedrine
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How do I know if I have a case against an Ephedra manufacturer?
If you have suffered a heart attack, stroke or other adverse reaction after taking a product Ephedra, you may qualify for compensation. The amount of compensation will vary, depending on the extent of the damage, any medical costs incurred as a result, and any long-term effects that resulted from having taken products containing Ephedra.
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Have lawsuits against Ephedra makers been successful?
Courts have overseen the awarded settlements to individuals who have been harmed by products containing Ephedra. A jury in Alaska awarded $13.3 million to a woman who suffered a stroke after taking a weight-loss product containing ephedrine in February 2001. Between 1994 and mid-1999, supplement companies settled nearly three-dozen personal-injury and wrongful-death lawsuits involving Ephedra or ephedrine. Many more suits are pending including claims against the makers of Xenadrine, Metabolife 356 and Hydroxycut.
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Are there any safer alternatives to Ephedra?
For weight loss, most physicians recommend a comprehensive approach including a healthy diet and good nutrition, regular physical activity, and behavioral change, with an emphasis on long-term weight management, rather than short-term extreme weight reduction.
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What products contain Ephedra?
Here are some of the most common products containing Ephedra. For a more thorough list, click here.
Metabolife 356®
Ripped Fuel
Extreme Ripped Force
Hydroxycut
Diet Fuel
GH Fuel
Herba Fuel
MetaboLift
ThermiCare®
ETA Stack®
Xenadrine RFA-1®
Ultimate Orange
UltraCuts
Vasopro
Adipokinex
ThermoPlex
Thermogenic Power
Chinese Ephedra
MetaCuts
Chinese Ma Huang
Lipokinetix
Clenbutrx
BetaLean HP
Diet Pep
Diurlean
Dyma-Burn Xtreme
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For answers to your questions about Ephedra, talk to an experienced Ephedra lawyer who knows how to handle product liability cases.
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