Ephedra Side Effects

There are serious side effects to ephedra, and we do not recommend it to anyone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has collected thousands of reports of serious adverse effects (including over 100 deaths) from the use of various products containing ephedra or ephedrine.

Side effects include abdominal discomfort (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, constipation), anxiety, dizziness, headache, tremor, insomnia, dry mouth, delirium, or fainting. Ephedra may also cause irritability, euphoria, hallucinations, seizures, or stroke, as well as low potassium levels in the blood, exaggerated reflexes, weakness, muscle aches, muscle damage, depression, mania, agitation, suicidal ideas, or Parkinson's disease-like symptoms. Persons with prior strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs/"mini-strokes"), tremor, or insomnia should avoid ephedra.

Ephedra can cause chest tightness, irregular heart rhythms, damage to the heart muscle, high blood pressure, heart attack, inflammation of the heart, fluid retention in the lungs, breathing difficulties, dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, coronary dissection, thrombosis, or cardiac arrest.

Other side effects may include liver damage, kidney stones, difficulty passing urine or pain when urinating, increased urine production, or contractions of the uterus. These potential effects may limit the use of ephedra by people with kidney disease or enlarged prostate. Individuals with thyroid gland disorders or glaucoma should use ephedra cautiously. In theory, ephedra may lower blood sugar levels. (source)

Is Ephedra safe?

We do not believe ephedra-containing supplements are safe due to the side effects and issues above. Elite, trained athletes may consider using caffeine + ephedrine.

PricePlow and ClutchWave LLC take no responsibility for the statements and links on this page. Consult your doctor before using any supplements. These statements have not been approved by the FDA.