Click here to compare prices on ephedra >>>

After reports of many Ephedra pills side effects, such as death, heart attacks, and strokes, the consumer advocacy organization Public Citizens Health Research Group called for a ban of Ephedra pills in 2001, and the American Medical Association asked for a ban in October 2002.

The FDA’s ban has been challenged in various federal courts, and a Federal District Judge in the Central District of Utah ruled on August 29, 2005 that the FDA failed to prove that Ephedra pills was dangerous and lifted the ban.

Contraindications and possible side effects should be listed on the bottle. Contraindications include general weakness, poor digestion, high blood pressure, nervousness, sleeplessness, cardiac arrhythmia's and heart disease. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing.

In February 2003 the FDA proposed a rule to put a black box warning label on Ephedra pills products, the FDA’s most serious level of warning.

This ruling applies only to that area of Utah and has been appealed by the FDA. In the meantime, at least one company, the Wyoming-based American Generic Laboratories (AGC), has begun manufacturing products in Utah containing Ephedra pills, including Superdrine RX-10, Ripped Power, Metabothin, and Super Ephedra pills.

Known as Ma Huang, (Ephedra pills) is a member of the family of herbs known as the Ephedra pillscae. It has been used in China for more than 4000 years to treat symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections.