Can ephedra cause a somach virus?

Question

Just curious to see whether some side-effects could in fact cause a person to have a stomach virus that consisted of loss of appetite due to vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea.

Answer 1

Only a virus can cause a viral infection.

However, ephedra side effects include irritability, nervousness, dizziness, trembling, headache, insomnia, profuse perspiration, dehydration, itchy scalp and skin, vomiting, hyperthermia and can also cause irregular heartbeats.

Ephedra the herb has been used for thousands of years. However, manufacturers have prepared products that have concentrated ephedra and have lead to serious side effects and in rare instances, overdose.

Dietary supplements that contain ephedra have been banned in the United States since April 2004. FDA banned the products after it determined that ephedra posed an unreasonable risk to those who used it.

Ephedra, also called Ma huang, is a plant or herb that contains ephedrine, a substance that is regulated by FDA as a drug when created chemically in the lab. As such, it is subject to strict federal standards for safety and effectiveness. However, ephedra has generally been marketed as an ingredient in dietary supplements, which are not bound by the same strict standards as drugs. Nevertheless, under a 1994 law, FDA can remove a dietary supplement from the market if it creates an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.

FDA has long regarded ephedra-based dietary supplements as potential health hazards. Substantial evidence of harm emerged in 2003, when a major study reported more than 16,000 adverse events associated with the use of ephedra-containing dietary supplements, including heart palpitations, tremors and insomnia. The study also found little evidence that ephedra is effective in boosting physical activities and weight loss -- as claimed by its promoters. FDA subsequently determined that ephedra presents an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. On April 12, 2004, the agency's final rule prohibiting the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra went into effect.

Use this product with caution.

Hope this helps.

Rick the Pharmacist

Answer 2

I have got some sites for you to help you know much more about this supplement. What I've seen is yes it could. See below.


http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/ephedra
http://www.umm.edu/features/ep_overview.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://www.mbmc.org ***1 of the best ones******
http://healthresources.caremark.com/ *** good 1***
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov ***ditto***
http://www.fda.gov/ ***ditto****
http://www.medicinenet.com/ ** tells where it's been banded***
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/ephedra/cons **good 1****

After looking these over I don't know why anyone would take this. Looks like it won't be too much longer and it will be off the market. These sites are great & will give you so much infotmation, the ones I made note beside look at 1st..I do hope this helps you.