Ephedra in Canada
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Health Canada warns consumers not to use products containing ephedra, either alone or in combination with caffeine and other stimulants, for weight loss, body building or increased energy in a June 14 advisory. Agency notes it authorizes ephedrine only for use as nasal decongestant in OTC cold products. Health Canada has been contemplating the advisory for some time, Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association of Canada says; agency's last action was about three years ago and addressed ma huang use in diet aids. Health Canada based recent advisory on review of FDA's AER database and 60 AERs, two of which were deaths, related to ephedra use in Canada before October 2000