Reprieve for ephedra hinges on judge

Washington Times ^ | 4/12/2004 | AP

[hchutch]

A government ban on sales of ephedra kicks in today unless a federal judge issues the dwindling industry a late reprieve.

The herbal stimulant, once popular for weight loss and bodybuilding, has been linked to 155 deaths and dozens more heart attacks and strokes.

[Wolfie]

All of these products contain ephedra, caffeine, and aspirin (better known as the ECA stack.) Can't understand why caffeine and aspirin aren't on the firing line either.

[hchutch]

Of course, they had to blame SOMETHING...

And ephedra took the fall.

[NCPAC]

I had a heart attack two years ago at the age of 41 and my doctor said my use of ephedra contributed greatly to bringing on the attack. Of course, I also discovered I had extraordinarily high blood pressure - and should have never been taking ephedra in the first place. Even then I believe this ban should be overturned. I was irresponsible in not getting myseld checked out prior to taking this version of nature's speed.

[Poohbah]

I gave up trying to save people from their own stupidity a LONG time ago. Maybe it's time for the goobermint to do likewise.

[cyborg]

Well they can't ban cigarettes (they get too much tax reveneue) and they DEFINATELY can't ban alcohol. They have to ban something so you're right.

[hchutch]

Agreed.

Then again, too many bureaucrats would be out of a job...

--

Darkdrake LIVES!

[templar]

I don't use Ephedra at all. I have some, in my med kit, in case I ever need a stimulant during an extended emergency. The government seems to have taken responsibility for the decisions of the people regarding their own person. Makes no difference whether Republicans or Democrats are in power, the government, both elected and appointed, justifies it's existence by regulating people to greater and greater degrees. Soon, you will not be able to buy even simple vitamins in anything but government approved doses and combinations, and will eventually be regulated as to how many and how often you can purchase them.

[cyborg]

I do work at a health food store. I ask lots of questions of my clients and if I knew you had blood pressure I would protest greatly at buying any ephedra products. Most of the time, guys want to buy *ahem* enhancement pills and in that case they don't care and buy pills anyway!

[mfulstone]

Cocaine and heroin are from plants

But they are not the plants - they are extracts. You could die from the oxalic acid extracted from spinach. There are other natural chemicals in all of our food plants that are toxic and/or narcotic. Lactucaine in lettuce is an example.

[hchutch]

Bad news - the judge is letting it stand.

http://www.xposed.com/headline_news/90_ds_333902.aspx

This is bullcrap.

[Xenalyte]

If you do not know the difference between dexedrine and Dexatrim, I cannot help you.

[Xenalyte]

Cocaine and heroin are from plants God made but it doesn't mean that they are used in the way He meant.

Why don't you tell us how He means us to use them? I mean, since it seems you have a direct line and all. I'd hate to be using God's creations in a way counter to God's intentions.

[cyborg]

Oh well... I figured as much.

[hchutch]

See my tagline. Tommy Thompson is on my crap list for this one.

[wingnutx]

They are both made in Dexter's Labratory.

[hchutch]

Tommy Thompson obviously doesn't seem to, either.

I'm sorry, but this is a major blown call. I just hope the appeal goes well.

[hchutch]

Reading the summary of the RAND study, it is obvious that the judge blew the call:
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/ephedra/summary.html

"The data on adverse events were drawn from clinical trials and case reports published in the literature, submitted to the FDA, and reported to Metabolife, a manufacturer of ephedra-containing supplement products. The strongest evidence for causality should come from clinical trials; however, in most circumstances, such trials do not enroll sufficient numbers of patients to adequately assess the possibility of rare outcomes. Such was the case with our review of ephedrine and ephedra-containing dietary supplements. Even in aggregate, the clinical trials enrolled only enough patients to detect a serious adverse event rate of at least 1.0 per 1,000. For rare outcomes, we reviewed case reports, but a causal relationship between ephedra or ephedrine use and these events cannot be assumed or proven."