Are All Ephedrine Supplements Banned? Menu Verywell Fit Nutrition Weight Management Nutrition Facts Nutrition Basics Diets Meal Plans Meal Delivery Services View All News Fitness and Nutrition What to Buy How We Test Products Fitness Gear Nutrition Products Tools Recipe Nutrition Calculator Weight Loss Calorie Goal BMI Calculator Body Fat Percentage Calculator Calories Burned by Activity Daily Calories Burned Pace Calculator About Us Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Search Supplements Are All Ephedrine Supplements Banned? By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 10, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN Medically reviewed by Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN Melissa Rifkin is a Connecticut-based registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience working in the clinical setting. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Imagemore Co Ltd./Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Effectiveness Dangers Legal Uses Ephedrine is a drug derived from the plant Ephedra equisetina. It has been used for hundreds of years as both a stimulant and decongestant. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of supplements containing ephedrine after a number of deaths and cases of adverse effects related to their use were reported. That said, ephedrine can be legally obtained for certain medical purposes where the benefits are believed to outweigh the risks. Effectiveness of Ephedrine Ephedrine has long been found in many diet pills and sports supplements and embraced by athletes and non-athletes alike for its reported benefits, including: Improved athletic performance and enduranceImproved concentrationIncreased weight and body fat loss Despite the widespread popularity of ephedrine in sports and diet supplements, a 2003 review showed that the benefits of their use are questionable. Among the findings: There is also no evidence that ephedrine improves athletic performance either by increasing strength, endurance, reaction time, anaerobic capacity, or recovery time after prolonged exercise. While ephedrine can increase the likelihood of short-term weight loss, there is no evidence that it will offer any gains over the long term. Dangers of Ephedrine Ephedrine is among the list of banned substances issued by the International Olympics Committee and practically every other major professional or amateur athletics association. The dangers of ephedra were first reported in 2000 when a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that a number of people had died of cardiac arrest after taking an ephedra-containing product. The deaths were not always associated with either high intake or overuse. By 2003, more than 40 such deaths had been reported including that of Steve Bechler, a pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles. Among some of the more dangerous side effects associated with ephedra/ephedrine use are: Elevated blood pressureHeart attackIrregular or rapid heart ratePsychosisSeizureStroke Many products found containing caffeine and ephedra/ephedrine were not found to be effective for their intended purpose and were found to increase the rate and severity of the above side effects. Legal and Non-Banned Uses While ephedrine is banned in diet and sports supplements, it still is commonly used to treat allergic disorders such as bronchial asthma. It is also used in certain medical procedures involving anesthesia to prevent dangerous drops in blood pressure. However, the use of ephedrine even for these purposes is strictly regulated with drug control laws that vary from state to state. Many states will require merchants to obtain proof of identity and maintain records of all sales. Products There are many sports supplements marketed as containing "safe ephedra extracts." In a great many cases, however, they are made with other plant-based substances, such as Caralluma fimbriata, and contain no ephedra at all. The one ephedrine-containing product that can be legally sold over the counter is the Chinese herbal medication known as Ma huang. It is the raw, natural tea made from E. equisetina or E. sinica. A legislative loophole allows the tea to be sold without restriction so long as it is not marketed as an appetite suppressant or added to any other supplement of any sort. A Word From Verywell Supplements remain unregulated, so it is best to use them with caution, investigate your source, and interrogate health benefits claimed by manufacturers of the product. Consult with your doctor before taking ephedrine and related products and make sure you understand the legality of the drug in your state. 6 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ephedra. Shekelle P, Morton S, Maglione M. Ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement: clinical efficacy and side effects. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. 2003. Haller, C. A., & Benowitz, N. L. Adverse Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra Alkaloids. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000. 343(25), 1833–1838. doi:10.1056/nejm200012213432502 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Ephedra. 2016. Oshima N. Efficient Preparation of Ephedrine Alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb Extract and Its Antitumor Effect and Putative Marker Compound. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2017;137(2):173-177. doi:10.1248/yakushi.16-00233-3 Lee MR. The history of Ephedra (ma-huang). J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2011;41(1):78-84. doi:10.4997/JRCPE.2011.116 Additional Reading Haller, C. A., & Benowitz, N. L. Adverse Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra Alkaloids. New England Journal of Medicine. 2000. 343(25), 1833–1838. doi:10.1056/nejm200012213432502 Manore, M. Dietary supplements for improving body composition and reducing body weight: where is the evidence? Int J Sports Nutr Exerc Met. 2012. 22(2):139-54. doi:10.1123/ijsnem.22.2.139. Shekelle P, Morton S, Maglione M. Ephedra and ephedrine for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement: clinical efficacy and side effects. Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. 2003. By Elizabeth Quinn Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Related Articles Why Do Athletes Take Sports Supplements? Why Was Androstenedione Banned? Anabolic Steroids Used in Sports, Bodybuilding, and Athletics Clenbuterol: Uses, Side Effects, Risks, and Legal Status Do Pre-Workout Supplements Improve Your Strength and Performance? Is the Illicit Weight Gain Supplement Apetamin Safe to Use? The Best Creatine Supplements of 2022 for Strength Training The 5 Best Greens Powders of 2022, According to a Dietitian Are Prohormones Safe to Use for Muscle Building? Why Anabolic Steroids Are Banned in Bodybuilding and Weightlifting An Overview of Supplements in Sports Nutrition Cornstarch Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits Boost Your Athletic Performance With Baking Soda 5 Evidence-Backed Supplements That May Improve Your Fitness Is That Gatorade You’re Sipping Actually Harming Your Health? Tribulus Terrestris: Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, and Interactions When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cookies Settings Reject All Accept All