Health Canada, Jun 14, 2001
2000-108
June 14, 2001
Advisory
Advisory not to use
products containing Ephedra or ephedrine
OTTAWA --Health Canada is warning consumers not to use products
containing the herb Ephedra, either alone or in combination with caffeine
and other stimulants, for purposes of weight loss, body building or
increased energy. Products containing Ephedra or ephedrine in combination
with caffeine and other stimulants are of particular concern, since
ephedrine may cause serious, possibly fatal, adverse effects in the body
when combined with these ingredients.
Ephedra is a botanical source of the drug ephedrine, and is used in
traditional and cultural medicines. It is authorized by Health Canada for
use as a nasal decongestant in over-the-counter cold products only. All
such products carry a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and should be used
only as directed, for short periods of time.
However, Health Canada is aware that many ephedrine-containing
preparations that are not approved for sale in Canada are being used by
Canadians. They most often contain a combination of Ephedra and caffeine
or some other stimulant. These Ephedra/stimulant combinations are not
commonly promoted in the practice of traditional and cultural medicine.
Instead, they are frequently imported for personal use, or sold in various
retail establishments such as fitness centres and health food stores and
marketed as diet aids, or energy boosters.
Ingredient panels on these products may list ma huang, Chinese Ephedra,
ma huang extract, Ephedra, Ephedra Sinica, Ephedra extract, Ephedra herb
powder, Sida Cordifolia or epitonin, all of which indicate a source of
ephedrine. Sources of caffeine or other stimulants in these products may
include: green tea, guarana, yerba mate, cola nut and yohimbe.
A review of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration database of adverse
event reports collected between June 1, 1997, and March 31, 1999,
identified 10 cases resulting in death and 13 cases resulting in permanent
impairment that were considered to be possibly, probably, or definitely
related to dietary supplements containing ephedra alkaloids. In Canada, a
total of 60 adverse event reports have been received by Health Canada
related to Ephedra or ephedrine, alone or in combination with other
products, previous to October 2000. This total includes two deaths, both
suicides, which may or may not have been directly associated with the use
of these products. Reported adverse events range from episodes that may
indicate the potential for more serious effects, such as dizziness,
tremors, headaches and irregularities in heart rate, to seizures,
psychosis, heart attacks, and stroke.
Health Canada advises all individuals who may have used these products
for weight loss or increased energy to stop consuming them and consult
their health care practitioner if they have experienced any adverse
effects from taking the product.
The text in this article was prepared by Health Canada.