Judge strikes down FDA ban on ephedra

[Nimloth]

Text

SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge Thursday struck down the FDA ban on ephedra, the once-popular weight-loss aid that was yanked from the market after it was linked to dozens of deaths ? including that of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler.

The judge ruled in favor of a Utah company that challenged the Food and Drug Administration?s ban. Utah-based Nutraceutical claimed in its lawsuit that ephedra ?has been safely consumed? for hundreds of years.

Supplements that included ephedra have been widely used for weight loss and bodybuilding, but have been linked to 155 deaths. The FDA ordered the substance off the market in April 2004.

Judge Tena Campbell?s ruling sends the matter back to the FDA ?for further rulemaking consistent with the court?s opinion? and keeps the agency from enforcement action against the companies.


FDA officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Company president Bruce Hough said the decision is about ?protecting the public?s access to safe and effective dietary supplements.?


Bechler was 23 when he died after a spring training workout on Feb. 17, 2003, sent his body temperature to 108 degrees.

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy said the pitcher had a history of borderline high blood pressure and an abnormal liver. The medical examiner also said that ephedrine ? the active substance in the plant ephedra ? played a major role in the pitcher?s death.

In an effort to quickly shed the weight he gained during the offseason, Bechler took over-the-counter diet pills containing ephedra. The drug had been banned by the NCAA, NFL and International Olympic Committee, but not by Major League Baseball.

I used original Hydroxycut for a month to jump start my fat loss, but gave it up because it affected my sleep pattern.

 

[pclstyle]

yay for xenadrine rfa-1

 

[ribbon13]

As long as they don't try and prevent people from buying the raw plant in bulk.

 

[Afrotech]

whoohooo come back dymetadrine extreme!

 

[BRObedoza]

stacker 2 w ephedra was the best. hope it comes back!

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
As long as they don't try and prevent people from buying the raw plant in bulk.

yes, because every athlete wants to spend hours on end in the lab refining it for use :roll:

 

[edro]

w00t! Not that I ever used it... but I hate when the FDA says I cannot take a drug.

It's ok if the ATF does (ie...cocaine, weed, heroine)...

 

[jpeyton]

It's about fvcking time!

Ephedra was a great, safe supplement until that Darwin Award candidate Bechler OD'd (with a history of serious health problems in his family). You can OD on a million things the FDA has approved for OTC use, but the retards banned ephedra.

Most people I know who were using it safely all commented that it boosted their energy and cut their appetite better than anything else they have tried since it was banned.

 

[RagingBITCH]

The hype surrounding ephedra was ridiculous. Never should have been banned in the first place.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

Glad to hear this. My fiancee uses it to treat her seasonal allergies, oddly enough.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: pclstyle
yay for xenadrine rfa-1

that stuff works!

 

[Eli]

Nice.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
The hype surrounding ephedra was ridiculous. Never should have been banned in the first place.

 

[BigJ]

Score one for the good guys.

 

[Conky]

Ugg, that stuff gives me a headache.

 

[ribbon13]

Originally posted by: RaynorWolfcastle

Originally posted by: ribbon13
As long as they don't try and prevent people from buying the raw plant in bulk.

yes, because every athlete wants to spend hours on end in the lab refining it for use :roll:

Grinder + Rotavap at 28inhg 3200rpm == 25 minutes.

Besides for those with a lab, benzaldehyde and candida utilis in a biobomb is far easier, faster, and more efficient.

 

[Insane3D]

I found it interesting they classify ephedra as a food, not a drug.

Judge Tena Campbell agreed, saying federal law places more restrictive rules on the FDA in determining whether to ban foods as opposed to drugs. The judge said the law requires the FDA to prove that a dietary supplement is harmful, rather than having the manufacturer prove it is safe, as is required with drugs.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
It's about fvcking time!

Ephedra was a great, safe supplement until that Darwin Award candidate Bechler OD'd (with a history of serious health problems in his family). You can OD on a million things the FDA has approved for OTC use, but the retards banned ephedra.

Most people I know who were using it safely all commented that it boosted their energy and cut their appetite better than anything else they have tried since it was banned.

QFT.

 

[Gurck]

Bout time. Interesting how when it was "banned" any thread here about it would get comments about how wrong & dangerous it was to use... "banned" quoted because I had no trouble buying it regardless.

 

[clamum]

Saw this a few hours ago on the NY Times site. I support the ruling... it makes sense. Just because some people are idiots and abuse it, it should be illegal? Then again you gotta question the reason of the common person. Ah, fvck it.

 

[AndrewR]

Wow, some commonsense in the judiciary on an inflammatory issue? I'm shocked!

But glad that it could come back. It was a useful supplement, even though I generally took the minimum dose.

 

[zixxer]

so where can it be bought now?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Glad to hear this. My fiancee uses it to treat her seasonal allergies, oddly enough.

that is it's "purpose" in Traditional Chinese Medicine . . . not as a "energy booster"

Aspirin is more "dangerous" than Ephedra

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Glad to hear this. My fiancee uses it to treat her seasonal allergies, oddly enough.

that is it's "purpose" in Traditional Chinese Medicine . . . not as a "energy booster"

Aspirin is more "dangerous" than Ephedra

Really? I'm just short of going in to see an Allergy Specialist, because Allegra, Tylenol Allergy, etc don't get the job done. What kind of allergies does it help?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Mr N8

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
Glad to hear this. My fiancee uses it to treat her seasonal allergies, oddly enough.

that is it's "purpose" in Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] . . . not as a "energy booster"

Aspirin is more "dangerous" than Ephedra

Really? I'm just short of going in to see an Allergy Specialist, because Allegra, Tylenol Allergy, etc don't get the job done. What kind of allergies does it help?

it supports the bronchial and "Lung function". An allergy specialist will use drugs - perhaps related or manufactured from Ephedra (or not). A TCM practicioner will use the crude herb [ma huang] in combination wiht other herbs to restore the "balance."

it's hard [for me] to explain TCM