Ephedra is a banned weight loss supplement made from the ephedra plant, while ephedrine is an alkaloid found in ephedra and used in over-the-counter medications. Both have similar side effects, but ephedra has more pronounced risks and requires the use of the entire herb. Ephedrine is weaker and mixed with other ingredients depending on the condition being treated.
Many people are confused about the difference between ephedra and ephedrine. Ephedra is a dietary aid that has been banned for use in the United States by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Ephedrine is present in ephedra naturally or as ephedrine alkaloids. On its own, ephedrine hcl is sold over the counter in products used to treat asthma and congestion.
Ephedra is a weight loss supplement. It is made directly from the ephedra plant species. In most cases, the herbs are dried and made into supplements. Some forms of ephedra are capsules, but it was originally made into a tea by boiling sections of the herb.
Ephedrine is an alkaloid from the ephedra plants. This means that it is the active ingredient of the dietary supplement. It is also known as pseudophedrine. These alkaloids are chemically constructed to create decongestant and respiratory treatments. Ephedra and ephedrine have different standards to follow with the FDA. For example, the federal ephedra guidelines state that the entire herb must be used.
Since ephedra and ephedrine are similar, their side effects are also similar. Rapid heart rate, dizziness, nausea, and headaches are common. For weight loss, ephedra has thermogenic properties, which means it has the ability to burn fat. Ephedrine, on the other hand, is present in over-the-counter medications in small amounts. Side effects are often less intense because there are minimal doses in the drugs.
The misuse of ephedra led directly to the ban imposed by the FDA. These weight loss supplements were found to have dangerous health risks associated with the stimulant properties of the plant. The side effects of ephedra are much more pronounced and frequent than the recommended dosage. The FDA believes that even a change in the warning label cannot negate serious side effects and risks.
While ephedrine is the result of the extraction process, ephedra and ephedrine have different purposes, end goals, and regulations that must be upheld, and the dosage for each is different as well. Ephedra is the purest form of the herb and therefore does not require large amounts to be effective. Ephedrine is weaker because it is an extract and is also mixed with other ingredients. The type of additional ingredients that are used to create ephedrine medications depend on the condition for which it will be treated. For example, an asthma treatment will have ingredients that differ from an allergy treatment, even though the main ingredient is ephedrine.
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