Dangerous Side Effects of Xenadrine

Xenadrine is one of the thousands of weight loss supplements in the market. The manufacturers claim that few other supplements match the efficiency of this product. Xenadrine works by raising the temperature of the body and causes it to burn calories in the process. Xenadrine is facing a lot of controversy over the use of dangerous ingredients, the side effects of many of which are still not known. (Reference 2)

Controversial History

• Cytodyne, the maker of Xenadrine, was fined due to the false claims that the product Xenadrine EFX could expedite weight loss and burn fast without diet and exercise. Since this is not possible, the FDA fined Cytodyne $100,000 in 2005. Xenadrine RFA-1 is a reformulated form of the original Xenadrine.

Dangerous Ingredient

• Xenadrine is among the very few products sold in the market that contains ephedrine. Ephedrine has been long banned by the FDA due to its very dangerous side effects.

What is Ephedrine

• The list of ingredients on Xenadrine does not say Ephedra but "Ma Huang." Ma Huang is a Chinese medicinal plant also known as Ephedra and is heavy in Ephedrine. Upon ingestion Ma Huang or Ma Huang, extract is metabolized by the body into the chemical equivalent of Ephedrine.

Side Effects of Ephedrine

• According to the FDA, Ephedrine is highly addictive and can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, seizures, heart attack or death. Other side effects include nausea, headaches, irregular heartbeat and sleeplessness. It is a dangerous heart stimulant similar to speed.

Other Names for Ephedrine

• Other names used for Ephedrine on many product labels are epitonin, ma huang, sida cordifolia and sinica.