Dietary Supplements Containing Epehdrine and Herbal Products

Rules for Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedrine

Many Americans view herbal and dietary supplements as useful therapeutic agents for treating a wide variety of ailments. Indeed, many potent and effective prescription drugs are derived from plant and animal sources. Yet, so are familiar poisons such as hemlock, strychnine, and belladonna.

Many people assume that "natural" products are inherently safe and that they may be taken without risk. However, natural products come with a full range of potential benefits and risks as do synthetic products. Most dietary supplements are safe when consumed as directed, while others are potentially harmful.

Currently, herbal and dietary supplement products are for the most part unregulated and there are few federal or state standards for manufacturing or quality controls. Consumers who wish to rely on herbal or dietary supplements should educate themselves about the potential benefits and risks associated with the products. Always try to check out sources of information independent of promotional literature used to market the products. And, develop a healthy skepticism for information on the Internet, which is virtually unregulated. Because of recent changes in federal law, numerous new supplements with significant physiological effects (such as hormones) have entered the market without any safety studies (see related news release below).

Here are a few guidelines to consider:

1. "Natural" does not necessarily mean "safe."

2. Herbs and dietary supplements are not miraculous "cure-alls." They may have been used for centuries, but substantial data on effectiveness and safety of long-term use are often lacking. If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of sensational names, claims, and other misinformation.

3. If you eat a normal diet, following the Department of Agriculture's food Guide Pyramid, many people probably don't need extra vitamins, minerals, or dietary supplements. However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that women of child-bearing age (15-44 years) consume a 400 mcg folate supplement every day in addition to a well balanced diet.

4. Herbal medicines can interact with OTC and prescription drugs to cause harmful effects.

5. Don't use herbs to self-treat serious or persistent medical conditions. Herbs generally have mild effects and there are no proven herbal cures for cancer or AIDS, nor are there herbs that act as aphrodisiacs.

6. Don't use herbs or dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing or give to infants or young children without consulting your doctor.

7. Do not confuse herbal medicine with homeopathy, which utilized products containing few or no active ingredients.

8. Do not exceed the recommended directions. If you have an adverse reaction to a product, stop it immediately and consult a healthcare professional. Report adverse reactions to the Drugs and Medical Devices Group by leaving a voice mail message at 1-888-839-6676 or by speaking with a representative at (512) 834-6755. Adverse reaction can be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's in the FDA's MEDWATCH Program (see the Adverse Event Monitoring System link below).

9. If you have questions about herbs or dietary supplements, feel free to call Karen Tannert, R.Ph., Drugs and Medical Devices Group, at
(512) 834-6755.

Related Topics and Associated Links

New Bodybuilding, Sleep Inducing Products Contain Floor Stripper Chemical.
Visit the DSHS News Release web site and a recent Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Talk Paper to read the complete information on these products.

Herbal and Dietary Supplements that Consumers Frequently Inquire About.
Follow this link to visit an FDA site containing information on several supplements about which consumers frequently have questions, including ephedrine, DHEA, melatonin, Dieter's Teas, L-tryptophan, and folic acid.

An FDA Guide to Dietary Supplements.
Visit this informative site for consumers which defines dietary supplements and discusses topics such as safety monitoring, health claims, and information about fraudulent products.

Adverse Event Monitoring System.
This FDA site contains information about the Adverse Event Monitoring System. The site can be used to search for adverse events by product name, manufacturer, or ingredients. There is also information on how to report an adverse event to FDA.

FDA Page Containing General Information about Dietary Supplements.
Follow this link to an FDA page containing several additional links to various Dietary Supplement topics including FDA warnings, federal guidelines, and consumer information.

Office of Dietary Supplements
Visit this site from the National Institute of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Here you will find assorted information on herbal and dietary supplements. You can directly access their new International Bibliographic Information on Dietary Supplements at (IBIDS)Database. This database is free to the public and contains an index of published articles on dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, and botanicals.