Dangers of Ephedra Effects

Ephedra was a popular herbal stimulant sold in health food stores.  It was commonly used as a weight loss aid, energy booster, and athletic performance enhancer.  Ephedra is the herbal form of Ephedrine, which is an FDA-regulated, over-the-counter asthma medication.

Ephedra Addiction

Ephedra addiction is known to result from prolonged use of the product.  Ephedra addiction occurs with prolonged use because, much like alcohol and other drugs, the body builds up a resistance to its effects, making it necessary for a user to ingest larger and larger amounts of the drug in order to achieve the desired effects.  Therefore, frequent and prolonged users have a greater likelihood of becoming addicted. 

Ephedra Effects

On April 12, 2004, after determining that it poses a health risk to those using it, the FDA banned Ephedra.  The FDA found that the negligible weight loss benefits associated with the use of Ephedra did not outweigh the substantial cardiovascular risks it posed.  In addition to being associated with heart attacks and strokes, Ephedra has also been associated with:

• Fever;
• Vomiting;
• Irregular heart rhythms;
• Seizures;
• Psychosis;
• Depression;
• Coma; and
• Death.

According to some reports, there have been at least 155 deaths linked to Ephedra use.  One of the most publicized Ephedra deaths was that of professional baseball player Steve Belcher.

Ephedra Lawsuits

There have been a number of lawsuits, both individual and class actions, filed as a result of Ephedra injuries and Ephedra death.  The typical issues in Ephedra lawsuits are related to questions of how the product was marketed, including overstatements and misstatements about its safety and effectiveness.

Ephedra lawsuits fall within the legal specialty known as “toxic torts”.  A toxic tort lawsuit is a kind of personal injury claim in which the plaintiff claims that he was injured as a result of exposure to a toxic substance.  Toxic tort cases are very complex and often difficult to win because proving the link between the plaintiff's injuries and his exposure to the toxic substance can be elusive.  However, that's where an experienced toxic tort or Ephedra attorney comes in.

An experienced Ephedra attorney will evaluate your case and advise you of your options including whether you should file an individual case or opt-in to a class action lawsuit.  If you choose to opt-in to a class action, your case will be handled by a team of class action lawyers and you will be one of many plaintiffs, known as the class.  Any award or settlement is divided between the members of the class based on the severity of their respective injuries.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of Ephedra use, you have only a limited amount of time to file a legal claim.  That time limit varies from state to state.  Therefore, you must seek legal advice immediately.  When you meet with an Ephedra attorney, you should be prepared to provide him with information about the type of Ephedra drug you took, the name of the manufacturer, and how often, how much, and over what period of time you took it.  You should also be prepared to give the attorney a detailed description of your Ephedra-related injuries, when they occurred, and whether you were still taking Ephedra at the time the injuries occurred.