Ephedra Works
Ephedra Evidence
Evidence suggests that a combination of ephedra and caffeine can aid weight loss, and help keep it off for up to 6 months. However, the benefits are modest unless combined with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 180 overweight individuals were placed on a weight loss diet and given either ephedra product with caffeine (ephedra herb yielding ephedrine 20 mg/200 mg), ephedrine alone (20 mg), caffeine alone (200 mg), or placebo, 3 times daily for 24 weeks. The results showed that the ephedra and caffeine treatment significantly enhanced weight loss: a weight loss of over 36 pounds as compared to only 29 pounds in the placebo group, a seven pound difference.
Neither ephedra nor caffeine alone produced any benefit. Contrary to some reports, participants did not develop tolerance to the treatment. For the whole 6 months of the trial, the treatment group maintained the same relative weight-loss advantage over the placebo group.
A few side effects were seen in this study, primarily insomnia, dizziness, and tremor, but they tended to fade away after a few weeks. Keep in mind that participants were screened prior to the study and were eliminated if they had high blood pressure or any other serious disease, or if they used medications or illegal drugs that might interact with stimulants.
Another study compared ephedrine/caffeine with the no-longer-available drug dexfenfluramine (Redux), related to fenfluramine of fen-phen fame. A total of 103 overweight individuals were enrolled in this 15-week, double-blind trial. All were placed on a weight-loss diet. Half were given ephedra and caffeine at the usual dose, while the others were given 15 mg of dexfenfluramine. The results showed comparable weight loss in both groups.
Finally, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 225 heavy smokers who wanted to quit but were afraid of gaining weight. At 12 weeks after quitting smoking, individuals taking ephedrine and caffeine had gained significantly less weight. At that point, the dosage was gradually reduced, and the difference between the groups declined.
Benefits have also been seen in smaller studies using herbal sources of ephedrine.
We don't know exactly how ephedra and caffeine works. However, caffeine has actions that cause fat breakdown and enhance metabolism. Ephedrine suppresses appetite and increases energy expenditure. The combination appears to produce synergistic effects, with appetite suppression probably the most important overall factor.
Try Metabadrine One a day with 10 mg of ephedra.