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EphedraNavigation: Home > Class Action Law> Ephedra
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Ephedra, derived from an Asiatic shrub, contains ephedrine, a stimulant that acts on the central nervous system to relax bronchial tubes. Ephedrine acts on the appetite control center of the brain, the hypothalmus, suppressing the desire to eat. Ephedrine stimulates the heart and causes blood vessels to constrict, increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Ephedra can produce the following adverse reactions: heart attack, stroke, tachycardia, paranoid psychosis, depression, convulsions, coma, fever, vomiting, palpitations, hypertension, and respiratory depression. The Department of Health and Human Services reported that dietary supplements containing ephedra may present significant or unreasonable risks as currently marketed, and announced a series of actions designed to protect Americans from these risks. In May 2003,
a class action lawsuit was launched against approximately 16 ephedra manufacturers across the United States, possibly
the first such suit in the supplement industry. The complaint names Metabolife International, Twin Laboratories, Rexall
Sundown and Cytodyne, in addition to other ephedra power players such as Herbalife, Next Protein, EAS and Bioplex
Nutrition. The widow of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler has also sued
the manufacturer and the distributor of a dietary supplement containing ephedra for $600 million. |
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