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Ephedra Side Effects May Be Linked To Respiratory Depression Lawsuits

Ephedra | Lawsuits, Lawyers |Side Effects: Strokes, Heart Attacks, Palpitations, Hypertension, Coma, Tachycardia, Respiratory Depression, Death

Ephedra is a plant consisting of six ephedrine alkaloids and has been linked with serious side effects including:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Palpitations
• Hypertension
• Coma
• Tachycardia
• Respiratory depression
• Death

Ephedra, derived from an Asiatic shrub, contains ephedrine, a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system to relax bronchial tubes. A synthetic form of ephedrine is used in bronchodilators and over-the-counter medications like Sudafed and Actifed, which fall under the FDA's watch. Before being banned, Ephedra was used in over the counter weight loss supplements, asthma remedies, cold and allergy remedies, and sports energy drinks. According to a study commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ephedra can seriously harm or kill somebody who uses it who is unaware of the associated hazards.

On December 31, 2003 Government officials announced plans to ban dietary supplements containing Ephedra due to continued health concerns about the product, and warned consumers not to take products containing the stimulant. The government has determined that products containing Ephedra "present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury," said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan.  On February 6, 2004 the Government finalized its ban of Ephedra.

Unlike drugs, dietary supplements do not have to be proven safe before going on the market, but federal authorities can act to take them off the shelves if they are shown to be unsafe. The FDA also issued a consumer alert warning the public to immediately stop buying and using Ephedra. The government issued a regulation making it illegal to sell products containing Ephedra.

The Annals of Internal Medicine reported that, although products with Ephedra make up less than 1% of dietary supplement sales, it has accounted for 64%of the serious side effects that have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in association with dietary supplements. A second study published in the journal Neurology found that the rate of strokes among Ephedra users was higher than in nonusers. The supplement users in the study took more than 32 milligrams a day; some Ephedra labels recommend almost 100 milligrams daily.

Legal Help For Victims Affected By Ephedra

If you or a loved one took Ephedra and suffered side effects, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified drug side effects attorney or call us at 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).