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Injured by Bitter Orange?

On July 27, 2004, the FDA announced that it is going to start looking into the safety of alternatives to Ephedra. One product that has filled the market niche of Ephedra is Bitter Orange (generic name: Citrus Aurantium). It contains Synerphrine, which brings about stimulation similar to Ephedra and many believe that it is as dangerous as Ephedra.

Supplement manufacturers are already gearing up to replace Ephedra with supplements like bitter orange. An FDA spokesman said Bitter Orange has been associated with seven deaths and 25 adverse reactions.

Bitter orange is now used in a new generation of herbal diet pills that are being marketed as safe alternatives to the banned Ephedra. Popular products include Xenadrine EFX and Metabolife's Metabolife Ultra.

Metabolife declined to answer questions about Metabolife products that contain bitter orange or whether the company has conducted any product safety tests.

Bill Gurley, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Arkansas, said it is too early to declare bitter orange safe. The substance is chemically similar to Ephedra and could pose similar health risks, he said. "Based on the pharmacology of some of these compounds and the few case reports starting to come out, it doesn't look good," Gurley said.

A government ban on Ephedra went into effect after years of reports and studies on its potential dangers. About 16,000 adverse events and numerous deaths had been linked to the substance, and the agency was criticized widely for not taking action sooner.

Several lawmakers have already asked the FDA to investigate the safety of Ephedra substitutes and to remove dangerous products. And Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), who has expressed concern over bitter orange, is working with Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), a longtime supporter of the dietary supplement industry, to introduce a bill mandating that manufacturers promptly report serious adverse events related to dietary supplements.

Researchers say the supplement may cause cancer, severe liver or kidney damage, heart problems, or even death. Supplements do not have to undergo the strict trials and regulations that ethical/prescription drugs do.

If you or a loved one took Bitter Orange and suffered side effects, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified drug side effects attorney.
Bitter OrangeRSS Feed

Experts Warn that Bitter Orange May Be as Dangerous as Ephedra

Oct 12, 2005 | www.newsinferno.com
Only a year and a half after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of diet supplements containing ephedra, bitter orange peel is becoming increasingly popular as a substitute for that appetite suppressant.A new study from the University of California, San Francisco has shown, that in similar doses, bitter orange alone is not as potent as ephedra. In the 10 experimental subjects who tried it, bitter orange increased the heart rates, but not as much and not for as long as...

Citrus Aurantium, Herbal Weight Loss Ingredient, Ephedra Substitute, May Have Risks

Aug 28, 2004 | www.medicalnewstoday.com
People taking ephedra-free weight loss products that contain the herb Citrus aurantium, or Seville orange, may be doing more harm to their body than good, according to a new review published by Georgetown University Medical Center researchers.The review, published in the September issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, found that no reliable scientific evidence supports the use of C. aurantium for losing weight. More importantly, high doses of the herb, which contains synephrine, may not...

Bitter-Orange Products Raise New Concerns

Jul 27, 2004 | Los Angeles Times
Only months after the herb ephedra was pulled from the market, government regulators and scientists have become increasingly alarmed about a new generation of herbal weight-loss products: specifically those containing bitter orange. Like ephedra, the stimulant is used by people seeking to lose weight. Products containing the ingredient have been widely available for a little more than a year, but already bitter orange has been linked to 169 reactions in people who took it, said a spokeswoman...

Herbal Supplements Can Damage Kidneys, Liver

Jul 4, 2004 | www.medicalnewstoday.com
Even with the recent banning of ephedra, consumers should remain cautious about trying other herbal supplements. According to doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, substances such as bitter orange, germander, jin bu huan and usnic acid ingredients in weight-loss products have been associated with kidney and liver problems. A number of herbal preparations have been implicated in causing liver damage, some even leading to the need for a liver transplant or to death, says Dr....

Health Canada Serious Warning Against Use of Thermonex Capsules

Jun 1, 2004 | www.news-medical.net
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Thermonex capsules, which are being advertised for weight loss, water loss and to help boost thyroid output. This product could cause serious adverse effects, including death. Thermonex contains synephrine, which is similar to ephedrine and may have similar adverse effects such as hypertension and cardiovascular toxicity. These adverse effects could lead to stroke, heart attack and/or death. Health Canada has previously advised consumers against the...

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