Weight Loss & Metabolic Meds
Ephedra / Ma Huang (Banned Dietary Supplement)
Street names: ephedra, ma huang, ephedra sinica, ECA stack, ephedra diet pills
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Stimulation
- Appetite suppression
- Raised metabolism
- Increased energy for exercise
⚠Key risks
- Linked to heart attacks, strokes, and deaths — the FDA banned ephedra supplements in 2004
- Raises blood pressure and heart rate
- Especially dangerous combined with caffeine (the 'ECA stack')
- Still found in grey-market fat burners
✚Overdose signs
- Chest pain
- Racing irregular heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Stroke signs
Category comparison — Weight Loss & Metabolic Meds
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ephedra / Ma Huang (Banned Dietary Supplement) | Banned in supplements | Linked to heart attacks, strokes, and deaths — the FDA banned ephedra supplements in 2004; Raises blood pressure and heart rate | Banned products still surface online at $30-60 per bottle, often mislabelled. |
| Liothyronine (T3) | Rx-only — not controlled | At abuse doses: cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, bone loss; Muscle catabolism — the 'cut' comes with your muscle | ~$0.50–$2 per tablet grey-market |
| Levothyroxine (T4) | Rx-only — not controlled | Overtreatment = hyperthyroid state: palpitations, anxiety, bone loss; Taking it without hypothyroidism provides little benefit at real risk | ~$0.10–$0.50 per tablet |
| Orlistat (Xenical/Alli) | OTC | Oily stools, urgency, flatulence — the famous GI sides if you eat fatty; Fat-soluble vitamin absorption drops (take a multivitamin) | ~$0.50–$2 per capsule |
| Sibutramine (Meridia) | Withdrawn | WITHDRAWN worldwide for cardiovascular events (strokes, heart attacks in the SCOUT trial); Survives in adulterated supplements — buyers don't know they're taking it | ~$0.50–$2 per capsule illicit |
| Metformin | Rx-only — not controlled | GI upset (diarrhea, nausea) — titrate slowly; Lactic acidosis — rare, dangerous, mostly in kidney disease | ~$0.05–$0.30 per tablet |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Ephedra / Ma Huang (Banned Dietary Supplement) look like?
Dried herb or (historically) diet-pill capsules containing ephedrine alkaloids.
What are the signs of a Ephedra / Ma Huang (Banned Dietary Supplement) overdose?
Chest pain; Racing irregular heartbeat; High blood pressure Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Linked to heart attacks, strokes, and deaths — the FDA banned ephedra supplements in 2004 Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.