Question by Mads: Ephedrine?
I know that ephedrine is very similar in structure to methamphetamine, are the effects on the body similar as well? If not, what kind of effects does it have on a body? What is the legal status of ephedrine in the USA?
Why can websites still sell ephedrine diet pills?
Best answer:
Answer by katy22
Ephedrine is illegal in the US. It is like speed to the body. Speeds up your heart rate, metabolism, makes you sort of crazy. Sort of like drinking 10 espresso shots at one time.
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Ephedra (aka ma huang) is illegal in the U.S., but ephedrine, when lab-created, is a controlled substance requiring a prescription from a doctor.
Read more on the FDA website:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/ephedra/february2004/
Both have very similar effects on body ,
they are illegal they have some action of losing apatite , insomnia , diarrhea , nausea , euphoria panic attacks ( all the previous are from immediate use )
wight loss , electrolytes imbalance , mental disorder , teeth decay. ( froom chronic use )
The effects on the body is not like methamphetamine. A small chemical change can change drastically the properties of a substance. Meth is made with a variety of other products and things done to it, such as heat. While Meth is addictive, dangerous and leads to depression, addiction, … ephedrine is more mild and similar to other chemical stimulants such as coffee. Some people abused ephedrine by taking too much or using it as a meth ingredient (but then again so is battery acid and batteries aren’t outlawed) so they stopped selling it. But I think you can still have it- if they pull you over for speeding and you have some, they will probaly not throw you in the slammer.
Ephedrine is still legal as long as it’s not in the form of a diet pill. The FDA had placed bans on the product in the form of diet pills and performance enhancers but alkaloids of ephedrine are present in sinus remedies like Sudafed. The US government now regulates the sale of these products, I recently had to sign out Sudafed from the pharmacist. Reason being, meth can be produced using it, so I’d say it’s effects are similar to meth as well, but probably not as extreme.
You can still buy powdered Ephedra and Ephedra seeds to extract your own tea, but I’m sure it’s not as concentrated as the processed form of ephedrine.
Here’s a fact sheet on Ephedra the plant source of ephedrine…