What do the products like Metab-a-Life and Stacker II do? (Do they even work!?)

Factual Questions
1

I’m interested in this, as I’ve been wondering if they actually help. I’m wanting to get into better shape, and want to drop a few pounds (like 15-20) and I hear that these “fat burners” are out there, but I want to ask you guys what you think of them, so…

…what are they, what do they do, do they even work, and which ones are REALLY the best?

2

AFAIK those both contain ephedrin. Someone smarter than me will be along shortly to give you more info, some pro, some con. Ephedrin has (probably?) been the cause of a few deaths and lots of rapid hearts. There are other Bad Things that can happen to. On the other hand, from what I’ve read and heard and experienced first hand, there is nothing better than it to: speed up your matabolism, lower your appatite and pump you up to high heaven for working out. Back in my gym days we used to take a “stack”, one asprin, one (i forget the amount) caffine pill, and one (again i forget the amount) ephedrin. You could lift for a longer and do more reps. It would also make you horny and sometimes mean. Do they work? yes. Which ones are best? AFAIK they are all pretty much the same. I’m sure the extra crap in them are different by a bit, but ephedrin is the main ingrediant in those “fat burners”.
dead0man

3

I used to work for a company that made this type of product. The main ingredients are ephedra and caffeine - and lots of them - combined with small amounts of various herbs that make it look like a sophisticated, well-researched blend. But really, it’s just ephedra and caffeine. Sometimes they’re listed in the ingredient list as extracts of the plants they get it from. Guarana, and, dang - I can’t remember the other one. They speed up your metabolism. People I’ve talked to say that your heart is always racing when you’re taking them. They can be safe when used properly, but they can be very dangerous when abused. Ephedra, in particular, can lead to dehydration.

4
      • Yes, they work… -Of course, the main thing they’re supposed to do is line the pockets of the reptiles selling them.
        ~
  • Let me know when your doctor recommends using the stuff… - DougC
5

Warning: Ephedrine and similar products do not speed up your metabolism, and any vendor who tells you they do lies like a rug! They are alpha-adrenergic nervous system stimulants, and do nothing for altering the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid hormone axis. My advice: Leave that stuff alone.

QtM, MD

6

I asked the same thing in March but got no answers
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=104431

Enuff of my whining tho, I really mention it because it links to an “Amen thread” for Qadgop’s poat … like he needs one):

My experience was they cut my appetite a bit. I lost no more weight than I would have, but it was a little bit easier. Given the risk and expense I will not do it next time “Time to Lose weight” month rolls around for me