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.

[hchutch]

Hoping the ban is overturned.

[Future Snake Eater]

Same here. I've used ephedra for years--RESPONSIBLY!--and I've never had any problems. This is stupid, meaningless, feel-good legislation.

[knarf]

I'm a trucker ... nuff sed.

[hchutch]

FYI Ping.

Hope that this judge can see the facts, and not the hype that Thompson and McClellan dished out in December.

[Howlin]

BTTT.

[hchutch]

Dropped 25 pounds since I started using it.

[HELLRAISER II]

They seem to want to take every little legal drug and make it illegal so that we can't have access to it, don't they? You know if they weren't alway's on their high horse declaring this & that illegal then we wouldn't have so many damn criminals. It won't be long when cigarette smokers will be added to the list, wait & see.

[Wolfie]

I'm sitting on a stockpile of the stuff.

[hchutch]

Down to 17 bottles.

What supplement do you have? I've used Stacker 2.

[hchutch]

There is a huge difference between cocaine and meth and a dietary supplement.

[Mo1]

NVE Pharmaceuticals of New Jersey contends the FDA lacks proof that ephedra is dangerous if used as directed

I don't know much about this drug .. But I do know that ANY drug can be dangerous if not used as directed or abused ... and the includes Aspirin

Are they going to ban Aspirin next?

[Wolfie]

Dymetadrine Extreme. They were running a buy 1/get 1 special towards the end there. That'll teach 'em to come up with an OTC weight loss supplement that beats the number one prescription drug at its own game.

[mfulstone]

God doesn't want us on speed

Genesis 1:29
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

[Future Snake Eater]

With ephedra, protein, and creatine, I gained 25 pounds of muscle and lost a lot of fat in a few months' time. It works well but you just have to keep well-hydrated. A lot of these guys who died from it had OD'd on ephedra to begin with, were dehydrated, and some even had medically-verifiable heart conditions.

[hchutch]

I don't know.

I do know that the major case that caused this was Bechler's death - and USA TOday reported shortly afterwards that he was taking three pills in the morning - that's three times the recommended dose of my supplement.

Oops. Tommy Thompson didn't mention that, did he?

And the RAND study reportedly said ephedra was safe if it was used according to the directions on the label.

Oops. The FDA head (McClellan) didn't say much about THAT, either, did he?

[Wolfie]

Bechler's Risk Factors For Heat Stroke

According to reports in the media, Mr. Bechler had the following risk factors for heat stroke:

a prior history of heat illness episodes while in high school - which heightens the probability of reoccurring incidents;

a family history of sudden death following exercise (his half-brother died of an aneurysm at the age of 20 after overheating from playing baseball);

a history of hypertension and liver problems;

he had not eaten solid food for a day or two, in an apparent attempt to lose weight;

he was apparently not adequately acclimatized to training in the heat and humidity of South Florida;

it appeared that he was wearing two or three layers of clothing during workouts, again, in an attempt to lose weight;

he was overweight and did not have a high enough fitness level to make it through conditioning drills; and,

he was allowed to exercise until he collapsed with a core temperature reportedly of 106° F before being removed from the field.

It has been extensively documented that untrained, overweight, and unacclimatized people who perform excessive exercise in heat/humidity are at great risk of heat illness and heat stroke—particularly if they have become dehydrated and are trying to lose weight quickly.

[hchutch]

My use of Stacker 2 is between me and God.

You will forgive me if I take exception to a ban passed due to emotion over a death caused by misuse (to wit, tripling up on the dosage).