Toxicological Perspective

The FDA instituted a ban on ephedrine alkaloids in 2004. The ban prohibited the marketing of ephedrine containing alkaloids in dietary supplements and other substances not intended for prescribed medicinal use. The Federal District Courts ruled that the FDA did not provide adequate evidence that low dosages of ephedrine were harmful and the ban was withdrawn in April of 2005. The FDA appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver and the courts ruled in favor of the FDA in August of 2006 and the ban on ephedrine containing alkaloids was upheld.