Ephedrine is a stimulant, a sympathomimetic, used in bodybuilding to suppress appetite and burn fat. In medicine, it is used to treat bronchial asthma, hypotension and some other diseases. Ephedrine is similar in structure and action to CNS stimulants such as amphetamines and methamphetamines. Chemically, ephedrine is an alkaloid found in various plants in the genus Ephedra (family Ephedraceae). The most common forms are ephedrine hydrochloride and ephedrine sulfate.
Legal status
Ephedrine is under prohibition. The legal status of ephedrine is governed by the government’s Narcotic Drugs Ordinance.
Be careful! Many popular ECA-based fat burners (cloma pharma, innovative labs and others) claim ephedra as their main substance, the most important component. Sale, production, transportation, and possession of preparations containing ephedrine should be considered a criminal offense.
Legislatively, ephedrine is placed on two restrictive lists: 1) The list of completely banned substances. “Artificially manufactured preparations of ephedrine (pseudoephedrine) or of preparations containing ephedrine (pseudoephedrine)” Any artificially manufactured preparation of ephedrine (whether solo or complex) is equated with drugs and is subject to criminal liability as for full narcotic substances. 2) The list of substances significantly restricted in public circulation.
Ephedrine can be produced only legally (with all certificates and licenses) under the guise of a drug (almost the only example is bronholitin) and with a mandatory concentration of ephedrine of up to 10%. Ephedrine with a concentration of more than 10% is prohibited for any participation in civil circulation, even if it does not fall under the definition of “artisanal production“.
Liability for the seller and the manufacturer, a real term is possible. The criminal responsibility of the seller comes in case of detection of a large volume (according to article 228.3 of the Criminal Code of the RF). For the producer it is actual art. 228.4 of the Criminal Code of the RF. When imposing a punishment, the detected volumes should be taken into account in a mandatory manner. If you have detected a large volume and there are interested parties, then your situation can be qualified as very “heavy”. In the artisanal manufacture large volume is 10gr or more, and very large volume is 500gr or more. In case of illegal trafficking of ephedrine with a concentration of up to 10 per cent: big – 25gr, very big – 5000gr. Exceptions: a) legal sale with all certificates and documents of ephedrine with a concentration up to 10% (practically the only drug – bronholitin). A consumer shall face administrative liability, except for purchase of large amount of ephedrine (from 25 g).
How much ephedrine is in a jar? What does a large volume look like in practice?
The active dosage is recognized as 50-100mg. Jars usually contain 60 capsules (servings). Accordingly, 1 can of a real ECA fat-burner contains about 3-6 grams of ephedrine. Accordingly, having 5 to 8 cans of real ECA fat expander with 50-100 mg of ephedrine would be considered a large amount.
Additional comments from the expert:
Ephedrine, from a legal point of view, is quite a dangerous additive and can lead to real criminal liability for the participant of civil circulation. The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides punishment of up to life imprisonment. If there is a person concerned, the likelihood of being held liable increases greatly.
Among the sellers of sports nutrition there is a myth about the legality of supplements with a concentration of up to 10%. The source of this myth is unscrupulous manufacturers and importers. The myth is actively promoted in major magazines. On the Russian market there is a high percentage of home-made ECAs disguised as Western production.
There is some doubtful theory about the ephedrine content in ECA fat fighters. According to one of the theories, instead of ephedrine the producers add ephedra extract into the mix. If it is true, then there are two conclusions: a) manufacturers deceive consumers, because popular fat-increasing agents (cloma pharm and others with ECAs) obviously contain powerful stimulant (for example instead of desired ephedrine there can be an unknown component of DMAA, AMP citrate, or something else legal in Russia). b) if popular fat-increasing agents contain ephedra extract, it will contain ephedrine in any case. The doses for obtaining the desired effect of ephedrine will be low, but for legal responsibility it will be quite sufficient.
The production, purchase, and sale of ephedrine are quite questionable actions with an increased legal risk. You should consider a relatively legal and equally effective analogue with similar effects – dmaa (geranium).
Ephedrine action
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic, which means that its action is realized through the release of catecholamines (noradrenaline) from nerve endings, which in turn interact with adrenergic receptors. The action of ephedrine is generally manifested by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Ephedrine itself does not interact with adrenoreceptors. The action of ephedrine on the central nervous system is limited because it does not penetrate well through the blood-brain barrier.
Effects of ephedrine
- Fat burning
- Appetite reduction (pronounced)
- Mental stimulation
- Increase in heart rate
- Metabolic Boost
- Increased efficiency and training performance
- Moderate diuretic effect
Combinations of Ephedrine
Most often ephedrine is combined with caffeine and aspirin – ECA (ephedrine, caffeine, aspirin), sometimes aspirin is replaced with salicin, which has almost the same effect as aspirin. Many producers of sports nutrition used to produce ESA-based fat burners. Currently, fat burners with ECAs (Asia Black, China White and Metyldrene 25) are illegal in Russia and many countries around the world, but continue to be manufactured in countries such as China, India and others.
Ephedrine side effects
Side effects associated with ingestion of ephedrine:
- Cardiovascular side effects: tachycardia, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, increased blood pressure
- Skin side effects: hot flashes, sweating, acne
- Gastrointestinal: appetite suppression, nausea
- Genitourinary system: difficulty urinating (very rare)
- Central nervous system: anxiety, insomnia, euphoria, aggressiveness
- Other ephedrine side effects: dizziness, headache, tremor (trembling), hyperglycemia, dry mouth
Most of the unwanted reactions disappear 2 to 3 days after starting the course.
Preventing the side effects of ephedrine
Many side effects can be prevented if the following rules are followed:
- Ephedrine can overload the cardiovascular system, especially with initial use, but this side effect can be prevented with beta-blockers. Take Metoprolol at a dose of 50-100 mg 1-2 times a day, this will normalize your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, and eliminate chest discomfort. Metoprolol will protect your heart by blocking the effects of ephedrine on the myocardium. To choose an adequate dose of beta-blockers, check your pulse rate 2-3 hours after taking a serving of ephedrine and 50 mg of Metoprolol. If your pulse rate is between 60-80 beats per minute at rest, the dosage is adequate. If the pulse rate is lower, reduce the Metoprolol dose by half; if the pulse rate is higher, increase the dosage by 1.5-2 times.
- Drink sufficient fluid – at least 2.5 liters per day (total amount), otherwise dehydration occurs, which threatens numerous complications. The drug suppresses the feeling of thirst and increases fluid loss, so control the amount of water you drink.
- To prevent insomnia, do not take the drug in the afternoon.
- If other marked side effects occur, reduce the dose of ephedrine or cancel it completely.
- Do not take this medication if you have contraindications.
- For complete safety, taking ephedrine should be coordinated with your doctor.
Contraindications to ephedrine
- Do not take ephedrine together with antidepressants (MAO inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and some others).
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system (IBS, history of heart attack, arrhythmias, etc.)
- High blood pressure
- Closed-angle glaucoma
- Prostate hypertrophy
- Pheochromocytoma
- Pregnancy and lactation
- Under 18 years of age (relative contraindication).
- If you have any medical conditions or are taking medications, you should consult your doctor before use.
Preparations containing ephedrine
BRONCHOLYTIN is the most popular cough syrup because it is still available over-the-counter in private pharmacies. One bottle of Broncholytin contains: ephedrine hydrochloride 100 mg, glaucine hydrobromide 125 mg, and basil camphor oil 125 mg.
According to many athletes, Broncholitin is the ideal source of ephedrine. The average serving of Broncholitin is 0.5-0.25 vial (50-25 mg ephedrine) and non-toxic accompanying ingredients. Basil oil is perfectly safe, but gives bronchodilator a nasty taste. Glaucine – a single dose can be 80 mg (2/3 of a bottle of Broncholitin), it is a non-toxic compound that has a sedative effect. In combination with ephedrine, glaucine eliminates many of its side effects: anxiety and restlessness are reduced, chest discomfort is less frequent, etc. At the same time, glaucine does not reduce the fat-burning effect of ephedrine.
However, there is a significant disadvantage – sugar. 1 bottle of bronchodilator contains 43 g of sugar (about 14 g in one serving of syrup). In fact, it is only two teaspoons, which will not create a significant obstacle during drying and will quickly “burn off” in the process of training.
Ephedrine replacement
As you know, ephedrine is prohibited for free distribution and release in Russia (except for drugs with certificates and licenses). The drug containing ephedrine – bronchodilator contains a lot of sugar and has a bad taste, causing nausea and other unpleasant effects in some people. The most suitable alternative is DMAA. There are other substitutes for ephedrine such as thyroxine, the main thyroid hormone. Other alkaloids such as caffeine, yohimbine, synephrine, and, the left-handed amphetamine isomer (L-amphetamine)
