Ephedra

From the 1990's until its use was banned by the FDA in 2004, ephedra was the main effective ingredient found in a number of weight loss, bodybuilding, and energy supplements. Ephedra can quicken a person's heart rate and cause their blood vessels to constrict, it may increase the risk of heart attack, seizure, stroke and sudden death. This section contains health and legal information on ephedra.