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Key Findings

1. Ephedra and ephedrine promote modest shortterm weight loss; their long-term effect is unknown.
2. Ephedrine plus caffeine boosts immediate physical performance for fit young men; there is no evidence that ephedra or ephedrine improves long-term physical performance of athletes or would work for the general public.
3. Ephedra and ephedrine increase the risk of nausea, vomiting, jitteriness, and palpitations.
4. These products may be linked to catastrophic events such as sudden death, heart attack, or stroke.

Products that contain the herb ephedra have been promoted and used in the United States since the 1980s to increase weight loss and enhance athletic performance. Yet despite manufacturers' claims, little research has been done to assess whether the products are safe, and the research studies that have been done have been too small to allow any firm conclusions to be drawn.