Stacker 3 Health Risks

Stacker 3 is a brand of fat burner. It is a supplement to food, one that should be used in conjunction with consistent workouts. Its rate of success depends on maintaining a good diet, exercising and other factors specific to the individual, such as age, body structure and general health. Although it is composed mainly of herbal ingredients, at one time Stacker 3 also used ephedra, a substance that has been the cause of all the issues associated with this product. The problems faced by users in the initial stages of its release were so great that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the substance until changes were made. Although the company says that, chitosan, a non-steroidal substance, has replaced ephedra, the side effects associated with this substance continues.

Serious Risks

• According to the Nutritional Supplement Bible website, Stacker 3 products with ephedra can cause severe problems. The Nutritional Supplement Bible website points to a December 2000 study in "The New England Journal of Medicine," which concluded that the use of ephedra-based compounds could cause high blood pressure, stroke, rapid heart rate, seizures or death. The Mayo Clinic also reports that these dangers are a result of ephedra-based products. As a result of these findings, the FDA banned the substance.

Heatstroke or CNS Excitation

• According to Consumers Union, Stacker 2 and Stacker 3 are among the brands involved in a lawsuit based on the production of ephedra-based products. This lawsuit follows a ban on ephedra prompted by numerous deaths, including the death of Steve Bechler, the 23-year-old pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Bechler died of heatstroke. Consumers Union reports that the medical examiner listed ephedra as a contributing factor to the death. The Mayo Clinic also confirms the risk of ephedra based products, reporting that they can cause central nervous system (CNS) excitation, among other serious dangers.

Other Side Effects

• The Nutrition Supplement Bible website also reports that some individuals experienced psychiatric upset, insomnia, palpitations, tremors, headaches and lightheadedness after using Stacker 3 supplements.