No matter how hard you train, how dialed in your diet is, or how smartly you supplement, losing weight is a pain in the ass.
The leaner you get, the more you have to deal with hunger and cravings, the harder your workouts become, and the less you have to eat to keep the needle moving.
That’s why many people turn to drugs like ephedrine for help, which has a special place in the hearts of bodybuilders everywhere.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the gym, you’ve undoubtedly heard that it’s as close to a weight loss “magic bullet” as you can ask for.
Ephedrine purportedly kills your appetite while also dramatically increasing your metabolic rate and fat burning, which means you’ll not only lose fat faster but will also have an easier time of sticking to your meal plans, as well.
Even better, we’re told, ephedrine is just as safe as caffeine but, unlike the world’s most popular drug, gets more effective the longer you use it.
Poke around online, though, and you’ll find the opposition party, who claim that ephedrine is middling at best as a fat burner and not nearly as safe as many people think. The more strident critics even claim that it can significantly raise the risk of anxiety attack, heart attack, and stroke.
And so, like with many things related to building muscle, losing fat, and getting healthy, you’re stuck in the middle, wondering whom to believe.
How effective is ephedrine, really? How serious are the side effects and health risks? And if it’s safe, how should it be dosed and how long should you take it for?
Well, you’re going to get answers to all of those questions and more in this episode.
You’re going to learn exactly how ephedrine works, how good of a “fat burner” it really is, what the literature has to say about its safety, and more.
Let’s get to it.
TIME STAMPS:
3:34 – What is Ephedrine and how does it work?
8:54 – Is Ephedrine safe?
9:25 – Why is Ephedrine labeled dangerous?
12:00 – How much Ephedrine should I take?
14:16 – Is Ephedrine legal?
15:03 – Is there another product similar to Ephedrine?
What did you think of this episode? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!
Scientific References +
- Gougeon, R., Harrigan, K., Tremblay, J. F., Hedrei, P., Lamarche, M., & Morais, J. A. (2005). Increase in the thermic effect of food in women by adrenergic amines extracted from citrus aurantium. Obesity Research, 13(7), 1187–1194. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2005.141
- Sale, C., Harris, R. C., Delves, S., & Corbett, J. (2006). Metabolic and physiological effects of ingesting extracts of bitter orange, green tea and guarana at rest and during treadmill walking in overweight males. International Journal of Obesity, 30(5), 764–773. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803209
- Haller, C. A., Benowitz, N. L., & Jacob, P. (2005). Hemodynamic effects of ephedra-free weight-loss supplements in humans. American Journal of Medicine, 118(9), 998–1003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.02.034
- Stohs, S. J., Preuss, H. G., & Shara, M. (2011). The safety of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) and its primary protoalkaloid p-synephrine. In Phytotherapy Research (Vol. 25, Issue 10, pp. 1421–1428). Phytother Res. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3490
- Verpeut, J. L., Walters, A. L., & Bello, N. T. (2013). Citrus aurantium and Rhodiola rosea in combination reduce visceral white adipose tissue and increase hypothalamic norepinephrine in a rat model of diet-induced obesity. Nutrition Research, 33(6), 503–512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2013.04.001
- Gougeon, R., Harrigan, K., Tremblay, J. F., Hedrei, P., Lamarche, M., & Morais, J. A. (2005). Increase in the thermic effect of food in women by adrenergic amines extracted from citrus aurantium. Obesity Research, 13(7), 1187–1194. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2005.141
- Brown, C. M., McGrath, J. C., Midgley, J. M., Muir, A. G. B., O’Brien, J. W., Thonoor, C. M., Williams, C. M., & Wilson, V. G. (1988). Activities of octopamine and synephrine stereoisomers on α‐adrenoceptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 93(2), 417–429. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1988.tb11449.x
- Stohs, S. J., Preuss, H. G., Keith, S. C., Keith, P. L., Miller, H., & Kaats, G. R. (2011). Effects of p-synephrine alone and in combination with selected bioflavo-noids on resting metabolism, blood pressure, heart rate and self-reported mood changes. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 8(4), 295–301. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.8.295
- J M O’Donnell. (n.d.). Behavioral effects of beta adrenergic agonists and antidepressant drugs after down-regulation of beta-2 adrenergic receptors by clenbuterol - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1973194/
- T J Horton 1, C. A. G. (n.d.). Post-prandial thermogenesis with ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin in lean, pre-disposed obese and obese women - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8646257/
- Diepvens, K., Westerterp, K. R., & Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. (2007). Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea. In American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology (Vol. 292, Issue 1). Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00832.2005
- A Astrup 1, L Breum, S Toubro, P Hein, F. Q. (n.d.). The effect and safety of an ephedrine/caffeine compound compared to ephedrine, caffeine and placebo in obese subjects on an energy restricted diet. A double blind trial - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1318281/
- P Shekelle, ML Hardy, SC Morton, M Maglione, M Suttorp, E Roth, L Jungvig, WA Mojica, J Gagné, S Rhodes, and E. M. (n.d.). Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement: Clinical Efficacy and Side Effects: Summary - AHRQ Evidence Report Summaries - NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11897/
- Astrup, A., Breum, L., & Toubro, S. (1995). Pharmacological and clinical studies of ephedrine and other thermogenic agonists. In Obesity research: Vol. 3 Suppl 4. Obes Res. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1995.tb00224.x
- D S Weigle. (n.d.). Contribution of decreased body mass to diminished thermic effect of exercise in reduced-obese men - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3235273/
- Martin, C. K., Heilbronn, L. K., De Jonge, L., DeLany, J. P., Volaufova, J., Anton, S. D., Redman, L. M., Smith, S. R., & Ravussin, E. (2007). Effect of calorie restriction on resting metabolic rate and spontaneous physical activity. Obesity, 15(12), 2964–2973. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2007.354
- A Astrup, C Lundsgaard, J Madsen, N. J. C. (n.d.). Enhanced thermogenic responsiveness during chronic ephedrine treatment in man - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4014068/
- Pasman, W. J., Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S., & Saris, W. H. M. (1997). The effectiveness of long-term supplementation of carbohydrate, chromium, fibre and caffeine on weight maintenance. International Journal of Obesity, 21(12), 1143–1151. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800528
- A Astrup, C Lundsgaard, J Madsen, N. J. C. (n.d.). Enhanced thermogenic responsiveness during chronic ephedrine treatment in man - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4014068/
- D Molnár. (n.d.). Effects of ephedrine and aminophylline on resting energy expenditure in obese adolescents - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8384181/
- K J Acheson, B Zahorska-Markiewicz, P Pittet, K Anantharaman, E. J. (n.d.). Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7369170/
- Diepvens, K., Westerterp, K. R., & Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. (2007). Obesity and thermogenesis related to the consumption of caffeine, ephedrine, capsaicin, and green tea. In American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology (Vol. 292, Issue 1). Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00832.2005
- Bogacka, I., Gettys, T. W., De Jonge, L., Nguyen, T., Smith, J. M., Xie, H., Greenway, F., & Smith, S. R. (2007). The effect of β-adrenergic and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ stimulation on target genes related to lipid metabolism in human subcutaneous adipose tissue. Diabetes Care, 30(5), 1179–1186. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc06-1962
- D L Ballor 1, V L Katch, M D Becque, C. R. M. (n.d.). Resistance weight training during caloric restriction enhances lean body weight maintenance - PubMed. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3337037/
- Pasquali, R., Casimirri, F., Melchionda, N., Gross, G., Bortoluzzi, L., Morselli Labate, A. M., Stefanini, C., & Raitano, A. (1992). Effects of chronic administration of ephedrine during very-low-calorie diets on energy expenditure, protein metabolism and hormone levels in obese subjects. Clinical Science, 82(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0820085
- Toubro, S., & Astrup, A. (1997). Randomised comparison of diets for maintaining obese subjects’ weight after major weight loss: Ad lib, low fat, high carbohydrate dietv fixed energy intake. BMJ, 314(7073), 29. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.314.7073.29
- Shekelle, P. G., Hardy, M. L., Morton, S. C., Maglione, M., Mojica, W. A., Suttorp, M. J., Rhodes, S. L., Jungvig, L., & Gagné, J. (2003). Efficacy and Safety of Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance: A Meta-analysis. In Journal of the American Medical Association (Vol. 289, Issue 12, pp. 1537–1545). JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.12.1537
- Pasquali, R., Casimirri, F., Melchionda, N., Gross, G., Bortoluzzi, L., Morselli Labate, A. M., Stefanini, C., & Raitano, A. (1992). Effects of chronic administration of ephedrine during very-low-calorie diets on energy expenditure, protein metabolism and hormone levels in obese subjects. Clinical Science, 82(1), 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0820085