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Ephedra Addiction
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.
quote" i was up to 100 pills a DAY OVER A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS. yes your going to be psychologically effected forever. they changed your whole brain chemistry. all the wiring is different now. now comes depression, anxiety, stress etc."
I agree with this and your situation sounds similiar to my own,, BUT, I tapered down to 3 pills a day over the course of about a year, noticed I was still having 'overload' symptoms even though I knew my body could not be saturated and I was doing it a huge favor by giving my lymphs/adreanals a rest,, continued to cut down as I neared the end of the last pack just before 08 to one pill then half a pill per day.... and havent touched the stuff since Dec 31st.
Im calmer, not feeling shakey all the time now (people used to comment on that all the time lol) and find even caffine makes me feel 'icky' speedy now. So there is hope,, I just think even though I took it for years, the addiction only applies at large quantities and even then is more psychological than physical. The body craves the energy,, but that can be corrected by a gradual taper,,, the lack of focus and energy was for me far harder to deal with until the effects became more negative then positive.
*bows in respect and apprication for my peers here*
I agree with this and your situation sounds similiar to my own,, BUT, I tapered down to 3 pills a day over the course of about a year, noticed I was still having 'overload' symptoms even though I knew my body could not be saturated and I was doing it a huge favor by giving my lymphs/adreanals a rest,, continued to cut down as I neared the end of the last pack just before 08 to one pill then half a pill per day.... and havent touched the stuff since Dec 31st.
Im calmer, not feeling shakey all the time now (people used to comment on that all the time lol) and find even caffine makes me feel 'icky' speedy now. So there is hope,, I just think even though I took it for years, the addiction only applies at large quantities and even then is more psychological than physical. The body craves the energy,, but that can be corrected by a gradual taper,,, the lack of focus and energy was for me far harder to deal with until the effects became more negative then positive.
*bows in respect and apprication for my peers here*
do NOT take Yombine with a stimulant unless you want to take a huge risk of seretonin syndrome which is where the blood pressure drops low enough to kill you. Yombine is an herbal MAO inhibitor and combined with many things, stimulants as well as depressants and even SSRI's , can lead to sudden death, BAD idea! :-(
Do your research before putting anything into your system seriouse, dont take anyones word for it.
Do your research before putting anything into your system seriouse, dont take anyones word for it.
WOW,,, I took ephedrine for 10+ years , same reasons as everyonelse,, plus after a horrible experince with an anti-depessant, I discovered the ephedrine worked soooooo much better in my body than those pills from the doctor for giving me energy and getting rid of the blues. It made me feel excited to wake up and start each day!
HOWEVER...... in 2004 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma,, which is a cancer of the immune/lymphatic/blood system. ANYTHING that goes through your body goes through the lymphatic/adreanal system and boy do these HCI chemicals do a number on the body. I wont say I KNOW ephedrine had something to do with the lymphatic cancer... but since its generally caused by toxic chemical overload, and I was soaking/pickling my body in 6-10 pills a day for years.. I strongly suspect it played a big roll.
After going through chemotherapy for 5 months, loosing my hair and almost dying a couple of times from the treatments and ensuing infections... I survived obviousely. I had NO energy during chemo, so naturally once it was over and done I started taking just the recommended dosage of ephedrine of 3 pills a day,,, until I started feeling achy and just generally crappy when on the stuff. I was afraid I wouldnt be able to feel good again if I totally quit again (I didnt take any during chemo) but finally made the decision to stop as my new years resolution..... and much to my amazement I had no withdrawls at all really. so I think most of my 'addiction' was in my head.
The med had helped me during a depressive state, but since Im no longer depressed and the pills seemed to make me feel worse now,, quitting was a positive experince. Its now been a month,, I take B-6 wihch seems to boost my energy a little,, OH but I recently had a boute of pnemonia (ephedrine keeps the lungs liquidy and open which is a boon for smokers but also makes it hard to rid ones self of mucus when your NOT on it) and the doctor did a CBC that showed my body is dumping potassium for reasons unknown. For those unaware, potassium plays a big roll in heart/nerve function,,, and Iv noticed palpatations which were frightening. I was worried Id done permanant damage,, but Iv since found if I go easy on caffine (I only drink mabey 1 small coffee a day now) they dont seem to happen near as much.
Best wishes to all,,, and thankyou for sharing your experinces here with ephedrine,,, it REALLY helped me feel Im not alone and thats the hardest part of any addiction.. the solitude of no one understanding what your going through or why.
Sincerely, Jennifer
HOWEVER...... in 2004 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma,, which is a cancer of the immune/lymphatic/blood system. ANYTHING that goes through your body goes through the lymphatic/adreanal system and boy do these HCI chemicals do a number on the body. I wont say I KNOW ephedrine had something to do with the lymphatic cancer... but since its generally caused by toxic chemical overload, and I was soaking/pickling my body in 6-10 pills a day for years.. I strongly suspect it played a big roll.
After going through chemotherapy for 5 months, loosing my hair and almost dying a couple of times from the treatments and ensuing infections... I survived obviousely. I had NO energy during chemo, so naturally once it was over and done I started taking just the recommended dosage of ephedrine of 3 pills a day,,, until I started feeling achy and just generally crappy when on the stuff. I was afraid I wouldnt be able to feel good again if I totally quit again (I didnt take any during chemo) but finally made the decision to stop as my new years resolution..... and much to my amazement I had no withdrawls at all really. so I think most of my 'addiction' was in my head.
The med had helped me during a depressive state, but since Im no longer depressed and the pills seemed to make me feel worse now,, quitting was a positive experince. Its now been a month,, I take B-6 wihch seems to boost my energy a little,, OH but I recently had a boute of pnemonia (ephedrine keeps the lungs liquidy and open which is a boon for smokers but also makes it hard to rid ones self of mucus when your NOT on it) and the doctor did a CBC that showed my body is dumping potassium for reasons unknown. For those unaware, potassium plays a big roll in heart/nerve function,,, and Iv noticed palpatations which were frightening. I was worried Id done permanant damage,, but Iv since found if I go easy on caffine (I only drink mabey 1 small coffee a day now) they dont seem to happen near as much.
Best wishes to all,,, and thankyou for sharing your experinces here with ephedrine,,, it REALLY helped me feel Im not alone and thats the hardest part of any addiction.. the solitude of no one understanding what your going through or why.
Sincerely, Jennifer
Hello everyone
All the post I've just finshed reading make me so upset. I have never been drunk, smoked or have done any type of drug in my life but I was
addicted to Ripped fuel for 8 years. I'm a 6.1 200 bodybuilder and it
turned me into a monster. I lost my girlfriend of 8 years. had many
panic and rage attacks. I became a danger to myself and to anyone
that crossd me. Now the truth is you can fully recover from it with
a high fat diet which will rebuild all of the hormes and damaged nervs
that took place from it. I never took more then 2 per day but just those
2 scares me now when I look back...any questions on how to reverse effects or problems email me at>***@****. God bless and good luck.
All the post I've just finshed reading make me so upset. I have never been drunk, smoked or have done any type of drug in my life but I was
addicted to Ripped fuel for 8 years. I'm a 6.1 200 bodybuilder and it
turned me into a monster. I lost my girlfriend of 8 years. had many
panic and rage attacks. I became a danger to myself and to anyone
that crossd me. Now the truth is you can fully recover from it with
a high fat diet which will rebuild all of the hormes and damaged nervs
that took place from it. I never took more then 2 per day but just those
2 scares me now when I look back...any questions on how to reverse effects or problems email me at>***@****. God bless and good luck.
My wife of 14 years, died at age 38, this past August from a heart attack brought on by her long term use of ephedra. She leaves behind a husband, and four beautiful children. Before, she started taking this "drug", she was the most wonderful person I had ever met in my life. She had high morals, high integity, high character. She cared for people, she loved people. She would do anything for anybody. At the height of her addiction, she was mean, she was callous, she was selfish and self-centered. She treated the kids horribly. She was mean to them. She neglected them. She lied, she cheated on me many times. She became a completely different person. She became someone I didn't even like anymore. I could go on, and on about the destruction she brought on herself and the family. So, if you want to continue taking this stuff, you're playing with fire. You could end up destroying your life and the lives of everyone who loved you.
i have been in the nutrition field/supplement study for many years.
i work one day a week in a health food store that sells ephedra.
ephedra/ephedrine, basically the same stuff.
long-term use has been shown in studies to cause *permanent*
nerve damage, and adversely affects adrenal glands. not a good
thing to burn yourself out on. it is over stimulating the CNS, and
while i agree, short-term in young people are generally safe, but
long-term or use in people over 40 i regularly discourage, it's like
a time-bomb you're holding. gain now for pain later.
i work one day a week in a health food store that sells ephedra.
ephedra/ephedrine, basically the same stuff.
long-term use has been shown in studies to cause *permanent*
nerve damage, and adversely affects adrenal glands. not a good
thing to burn yourself out on. it is over stimulating the CNS, and
while i agree, short-term in young people are generally safe, but
long-term or use in people over 40 i regularly discourage, it's like
a time-bomb you're holding. gain now for pain later.
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