1. Ephedra was once an extremely popular herbal product. That popularity ended on February 6, 2004, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a ban on the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra. This ban was finalized on April 6, 2004. The FDA made this decision based on increased reports of adverse events. Dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids, like other sympathomimetics, raise blood pressure and increase heart rate. The FDA believed ephedrine-based products exposed users to several risks, including the consequences of a sustained increase in blood pressure (e.g., serious illnesses or injuries including stroke and heart attack that can result in death). There was also a risk of increased morbidity and mortality from worsened heart failure and proarrhythmic effects in susceptible individuals.
2. Chang HM, But PP. Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica. Philadelphia: World Scientific.
3. Ephedra in perspective—a current review;Abourashed;Phytother Res,2003
4. Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements;Gurley;Am J Health Syst Pharm,2000
5. Concentrations of ephedra alkaloids and caffeine in commercial dietary supplements;Haller;J Anal Toxicol,2004