Back when ephedra was legal I used it occasionally when dieting to get past the really tough initial hunger pangs. It worked great and would clamp appetite very effectively.
Anything like that still around?
Despite all the times you’ve slammed me…sigh…you can try Bronkaid and caffeine.
I think this post is within SDMB guidelines. Not a doc and all. But this isn’t illegal, either.
Well, there’s always nicotine.
The active ingredient in Sudafed and it’s generic cousins was originally derived from epheda. It’s called “pseudoephedrine” and it can suppress your appetite and it is legal. It can also be hazardous in larger than recommended doses, if you have high blood pressure, and so on. In most US locations you are limited as to how much you can buy in one day as well as for longer time spans (around here it’s a 90 day limit) and exceeding it will get you in legal trouble. Also, you usually have to show your driver’s license or equivalent ID at the pharmacy counter, it’s not exactly OTC even if you don’t need a prescription.
It’s not a wonder diet drug, though. More consistent in dosage than the herb ephedra, but that’s about it.
I suppose you could also grow your own ephedra if doing so is still legal in your area.
Ephedrine + guaifenesin (expectorant) tablets are generally available from behind the prescription counter in the same way as Sudafed. The amount you can buy is limited, and you have to sign a log book or let them swipe your driver license. That’s how it is in my state (California), but I would expect you do need a prescription in those states that also require one for Sudafed.
Based on my own observation I don’t think most people would care to take more than the amount allowed by law anyway. It’s a strong drug.
No, most states still do NOT require a prescription for actual pseudoephedrine, and do not require you to combine it with anything else. They just make getting it a hassle for honest people.
The reason for the limitations is that it can be made into speed/crank/meth/whatever amphetamines are called these days, but it takes a lot of the little red pills to do it.
Pseudoephedrine works great, it was the main ingredient in Dexatrim in the old days. I always forget when I’m taking it for a cold that it does this then I get impressed with my willpower when in reality I just don’t feel like eating. Watch your caffeine intake though when you’re taking it.
Primatene tablets contain ephedrine and are OTC in the USA, if they still sell them I’m not sure. They are sold for asthma but contain the active ingredient in ephedra.
Its not a stimulant but hoodia cactus herbal supplements claim to supress appetite.
Be careful taking pills which contain both ephedra and guaifenesin—the latter is quite prone to causing nausea if taken in more than the recommended dose.
Yes, they do sell them; see my post #5 supra. Ephedrine is a fine vasodialator (sp?), which is why it works to relieve athsma symptoms.
Ephedrine is not a vasodilator, fine or otherwise. It is a brochodilator and a vasoconstrictor. People who take medical advice from faceless strangers on the internet are, of course, foolish, but giving advice that might kill people is kind of irresponsible. Again, NOT a vasodilator.
Sorry about that. I did mean bronchodialator.