Ephedra Addiction

[meishu]

I have been taking ephedra products since 2000. They helped me with weight loss/maintenance and energy. I have not taken them for a month now and seem to be doing fine although I do crave them often. My question is the side effects of ephedra - and long term issues I may have. My digestive system has been 'out of whack' since I started taking them. Psychologically I believe they had major effects. I feel as though I was 'crazy' for that time frame. I developed a temper. I made irrational decisions. Often felt paranoid about everything. Over hyper and active... 'spaz'ish. I was completely emotional and over reacted to just about everything. Relationships with family and friends and men were constantly breaking.I can't seem to find much information out there about those types off problems - although I have seen some studies that discussed the psychological issues associated. It is almost as though I became a different person. I am wondering if the drug has permanent effects or am I probably screwed up for life. I have considered taking Lexapro temporarily - but, I just do not want to put any more drugs into my body as I no longer trust pharmaceuticals or herbals. My doctor seems to know nothing about this drug and its issues... only very little about the cardiac effects.

[worried878]

post a new question as this is an old post..ephdra speeds u up..so i am thinking it may be like amphetamines..anyway..post a new question to draw more attn to ur post

[concernedi65]

I have been on ephedra on and off mainly on except when i was pregnant for 8-10 yrs.I want to quit sooo bad, but it is the hardest thing i have ever done and havent been able to do so without starting back!..I cant stand being soo tired and now i have two children.I am scared to death this is gonna kill me. I am going to quit and i hope everyone will pray for me please!..This willl be the last time...No more starting back. I am so scared of gaing alot of wt. it is soo hard and esp. when u are coming off those pills, u dont even feel like breathing!I am soooo scared is all i can say. I dunno the best way to quit.Any suggestions?

[worried878]

you need to make a new post to bump this up to the top...I had a friend with an ephedra problem

[aphrodite20g]

I just read all these responses on here... I have been taking ephedra since 2006.. and have ALL of the same symptoms. My boyfriend basically thought I was psycho at the peak of it all, because my moods were soo sporatic..angry/paranoid to crying over absolutely nothing the next!  I stopped taking supplements in January.. I crave it still soo bad, but also have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, to boot. my T3 is way low on the charts and my one porcelin complexion broke out soo bad. I did a hormonal panel and keep in mind i am 20 years old.. my testosterone level was 2,147! Thank god I never had any male features or anything from that.. I have since been told to do a liver/colon detox, once a month for the next 6 months.. my weight still yo-yos extremely because you know with ephedra it kills your appetite an is like a diuretic...so i just binge!. I just do not feel like the same person anymore. Friends would say I was depressed, i'm just tired and when i was taking the ephed/caffiene stacks , despite the jittery part, i could concentrate, didnt need much sleep and my work outs in the gym were not nearly as long and the weight just peeled off.. i went from 143-126 in 2 months... I made even more friends and life seemed like it couldnt be any better... now I feel as though i've hit rock bottom...

does anyone have ANY advice? I feel like absolute sh*t!!!!

[aphrodite20g]

I just read all these responses on here... I have been taking ephedra since 2006.. and have ALL of the same symptoms. My boyfriend basically thought I was psycho at the peak of it all, because my moods were soo sporatic..angry/paranoid to crying over absolutely nothing the next!  I stopped taking supplements in January.. I crave it still soo bad, but also have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, to boot. my T3 is way low on the charts and my one porcelin complexion broke out soo bad. I did a hormonal panel and keep in mind i am 20 years old.. my testosterone level was 2,147! Thank god I never had any male features or anything from that.. I have since been told to do a liver/colon detox, once a month for the next 6 months.. my weight still yo-yos extremely because you know with ephedra it kills your appetite an is like a diuretic...so i just binge!. I just do not feel like the same person anymore. Friends would say I was depressed, i'm just tired and when i was taking the ephed/caffiene stacks , despite the jittery part, i could concentrate, didnt need much sleep and my work outs in the gym were not nearly as long and the weight just peeled off.. i went from 143-126 in 2 months... I made even more friends and life seemed like it couldnt be any better... now I feel as though i've hit rock bottom...

does anyone have ANY advice? I feel like absolute sh*t!!!!

[aphrodite20g]

I just read all these responses on here... I have been taking ephedra since 2006.. and have ALL of the same symptoms. My boyfriend basically thought I was psycho at the peak of it all, because my moods were soo sporatic..angry/paranoid to crying over absolutely nothing the next!  I stopped taking supplements in January.. I crave it still soo bad, but also have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, to boot. my T3 is way low on the charts and my one porcelin complexion broke out soo bad. I did a hormonal panel and keep in mind i am 20 years old.. my testosterone level was 2,147! Thank god I never had any male features or anything from that.. I have since been told to do a liver/colon detox, once a month for the next 6 months.. my weight still yo-yos extremely because you know with ephedra it kills your appetite an is like a diuretic...so i just binge!. I just do not feel like the same person anymore. Friends would say I was depressed, i'm just tired and when i was taking the ephed/caffiene stacks , despite the jittery part, i could concentrate, didnt need much sleep and my work outs in the gym were not nearly as long and the weight just peeled off.. i went from 143-126 in 2 months... I made even more friends and life seemed like it couldnt be any better... now I feel as though i've hit rock bottom...

does anyone have ANY advice? I feel like absolute sh*t!!!!