Ephedra, a psychoactive substance with stimulant properties, is found in many herbal products. Often perceived by the lay public as benign, the potential health-related dangers of using these products are beginning to be recognized. We review four cases associated with ephedra-containing herbal products and report three additional cases. Unlike the previously reported cases, the patients presented in this report developed persistent psychosis that required psychopharmaceutical management.
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College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
Introduction: Despite the widespread use of ephedra in various forms, including food supplements and herbal prescriptions, comprehensive studies reviewing its efficacy and safety across different countries are lacking.
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Hypertensive Urgency Associated With Xenadrine EFX Use.
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Several supplements and herbal products have been shown to increase catecholamines and subsequently mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Since ephedra-containing products have been removed from the market, manufacturers of weight loss herbal supplements must produce ephedra-free formulations. Xenadrine EFX is an ephedra-free weight loss product containing a mixture of caffeine, guarana, and bitter orange (standardized to synephrine).
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