Is Ephedrine still illegal?
Yes, ephedrine is illegal. Ephedrine is a stimulant drug that was commonly used in over-the-counter decongestants and weight loss supplements. However, in the United States, the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids was banned in 2004 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to concerns about their safety and efficacy.
Reasons For the Ban.
One of the reasons for the ban was the potential for abuse and misuse of the drug. Ephedrine can have serious side effects, including high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke, and has been linked to several deaths. Additionally, ephedrine is one of the key precursor chemicals used in the production of crystal methamphetamine, a highly addictive and illegal drug. Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines, are used as the primary ingredients in the production of meth.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is made by chemically altering ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance. It has a high potential for abuse and has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
The Ban
The FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids due to their use in the production of methamphetamine. The ban aimed to combat illegal meth production by making precursor chemicals harder to obtain. The FDA’s ban follows the trend of state legislation restricting the sale and use of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids.
In 2006, the FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in the US.
Feeback
Many consumers of ephedrine contend that the ban was the result of the pharmaceutical companies lobbying efforts. Do you agree? Share your thoughts below.
Reference:
- Ephedra-containing dietary supplements: evaluation of FDA’s analysis of the risk of ephedra-associated adverse events, National Academies Press (US) (2004)
- FDA final rule on dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids, (2006)
- The Methamphetamine Epidemic: An Overview. Congressional Research Service (2020)
