Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs -> Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer

Personal Injury Law

: Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer

Diet Safety: FDA fed up with Ephedra

By Megan Roth

My previous two articles revolved around Alli and Xenical, both of which are diet pills. But these are just two of the many similar products currently on the market. There are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of different pills intended to help men and women alike lose weight.

Some require a prescription, some are sold over-the-counter and some are black market only. Many consumers hear claims that the drug will help them lose weight and begin consumption immediately, without looking into the components, directions and effects that are related to the drug.

We get caught up in the weight loss hub-bub and often don’t consider what we’re getting ourselves into. For example, many diet pills contain ephedra. No big, right? It’s just another medial ingredient in the slim-down miracle drugs.

Perhaps. But what if I told you the drug has immense fat-burning capabilities and that research has proven the drug promotes weight loss. Sounds glorious, doesn’t it? What’s that age old saying? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…

Unfortunately, such is the case with ephedra. The drug has long been questioned by the FDA (among other organizations) and, in February 2004, the FDA banned the sale of any and all dietary supplements containing ephedra. But why? I mean, we already know the drug has been effective in terms of weight loss, so why would the FDA take that away from us?

They justified it with the research provided in a 2003 that showed the drug has over 16,000 adverse side effects. They also reasoned that the prominent side effects and high death rates related to ephedra consumption were legitimate cause to determine that the drug prevents an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.

Fair enough.

But the mere fact that these drugs are banned doesn’t mean they’re not available. In fact, quite the opposite. In college I knew several ‘friends’ who took the fat-blaster as a means of keeping slim, and they certainly didn’t struggle to get their hands on it.

But why would people even consider purchasing drugs that contain the deadly ingredient? Because it really does work. Ephedra (ephedrine as a weight loss aid) contributes to weight loss by speeding up one’s systems and metabolism. Albeit, it’s effects as a stimulant (which include increased heart rate and constricted blood vessels (which, in turn, leads to increased blood pressure)) alter many other processes as well, but some consider that just a side note.

I suppose the effects of amphetamines should just be considered a side effect as well, because that’s what ephedra is compared to. It drastically alters the pace of our systems and can cause the sudden onset of strokes, heart attacks, convulsions, vomiting, and seizures (among many other equally unpleasant conditions).

Granted, we all strive to achieve perfection. The majority of us want to be slimmer, stronger, faster, etc. But don’t forget that comes at a price. Joseph Stern learned the hard way when he was just 16 years old and suffered a stroke in result of ephedra use.

If you or anyone you know are injured by weight loss aids, contact the Lombardi Law Firm.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Megan Roth

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on January 05, 2009 (boomark / email).