Pure Ephedrine Tablets – Are They Legal to Buy Online?

Is it legal for dieters and athletes to purchase pure ephedrine in the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom? Ephedrine is a stimulant alkaloid that has been banned by various athletic associations including the WADA, IOC, NFL, NCAA, PGA, and MLB.

Pure ephedrine hydrochloride (HCL) and ephedrine sulfate are the preferred ingredients for use in an ECA (ephedra, caffeine, aspirin) Stack. This combination is popular with bodybuilders who use it to enhance results of their fat-cutting cycles before competitions.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, numerous dietary supplements were sold containing ephedrine extracted from the Ephedra Sinica plant. These products were marketed as fat burners, diet pills, energy enhancers, and appetite suppressants.

However, in 2004, the Food and Drug Administration banned the inclusion of ephedrine alkaloids in dietary supplements that were sold in the United States.

At the same time, restrictions were put in place regarding the sale of over-the-counter asthma and decongestant medications that included this ingredient. While some forms of this herbal alkaloid remain legal, pure ephedrine is illegal to buy in the United States.

This article will review what pure ephedrine is, its legal status in the United States and Canada, how it works, how it is commonly used as well as the potential safety risks associated with improper use.

What is Pure Ephedrine

Pure ephedrine is an alkaloid with the chemical formula C10H15NO. It is found naturally in some species of the Ephedra botanical genus.

Ephedrine was first isolated from this plant in the 1920’s and was subsequently developed and marketed as a pharmaceutical drug for the treatment of breathing conditions.

This compound is approved for use in some over-the-counter antiasthma and decongestant drugs used to treat various respiratory and pulmonary disorders including asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and COPD.

While it was a standard therapy in the 1950’s and 1960’s, its use in many countries around the world has since been supplanted by other medications that have a better safety profile. Ephedrine is a Central Nervous System stimulant and poses a risk of adverse cardiovascular effects.

However, it can still be sold in the USA in low-dose formulations that contain it as one of at least two ingredients.

In the US, medications such as Primatene, Bronkaid, and EPHED Plus are manufactured with either ephedrine HCL or ephedrine sulfate, and another drug ingredient called guaifenesin. [1]

US law states that this stimulant cannot be sold as a single ingredient. It must be combined with at least one other ingredient to be included in a medication used to treat respiratory conditions.

Combining pure ephedrine with guaifenesin makes it legal to manufacture and sell as an OTC decongestant drug. Guaifenesin also acts as an expectorant, helping to relieve mucous buildup in the airways.

While you can still buy oral ephedrine pills in many parts of the United States, you cannot purchase pure ephedrine anymore. This is because the pure ingredient is sometimes diverted for the manufacturing of illegal narcotics.

According to Wikipedia, “Ephedrine is a substituted amphetamine and a structural methamphetamine analog. It differs from methamphetamine only by the presence of a hydroxyl group (—OH).” [3]

Combining this active ingredient with guaifenesin makes it difficult for illicit drug makers to extract the pure alkaloid from.

Ephedrine HCL and Sulfate

Ephedrine is the main active constituent identified in the Ephedra plant. It acts as a sympathomimetic amine, increasing activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS).

There are more than sixty species of Ephedra and not all of them contain this compound or other E-Type Alkaloids. Other related alkaloids that have been identified in this herb include pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, and norephedrine.

Ephedra sinica is the species known to have the highest concentrations of these alkaloids. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), E. sinica is one of the most-prized plant medicines.

In China, it is called Ma Huang and it is commonly used to make an herbal tea.

Ma Huang has been used for thousands of years to treat symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, common cold, flu, headache, low energy, low libido, bone and joint pain, and more. [2]

Most pure ephedrine HCL and ephedrine sulfate made today is not naturally sourced from Ephedra plants. Instead, it is synthetically-derived and manufactured in laboratories.

Technically, only L-Ephedrine (C10H15NO) is “pure”. Both ephedrine HCL and sulfate are commonly referred to as pure, but the active ingredient in these is attached to either a hydrochloride or sulfate salt.

According to one source, ephedrine HCL is about 82% pure ephedrine by weight whereas the sulfate formulation is reported to be 77% pure. [4]

Is Pure Ephedrine Legal?

It is no longer legal in the United States to sell or purchase pure L-ephedrine.

The Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act was passed in the US in 1988. This act made it illegal to manufacture, import, export, or otherwise distribute bulk L-ephedrine powder.

This legislation was intended to make it increasingly difficult for makers of crystal meth to operate. It is estimated to take 1.2 million mg of ephedrine HCL to produce one kilogram of methamphetamine (crystal meth).

After the pure powder became illegal, underground laboratories began using ephedrine HCL from over-the-counter drugs instead. The new laws did not pertain to the sale of oral tablets containing this ingredient sold as cough and cold remedies.

This prompted the government to enact stricter laws regulating the manufacturing, marketing, sale, and purchase of nonprescription medications that contain either ephedrine HCL, ephedrine sulfate, or pseudoephedrine.

In March 9, 2006, the US federal government passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA).

This law introduced restrictions on the retail sale of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine as precursor chemicals in the manufacturing of methamphetamine and amphetamine.

Regulations were put in place to limit the amount of this drug that could be purchased at any given time. The law also introduced record-keeping requirements and guidelines on how the products could be packaged, stored and distributed.

Ephedrine must now be sold in unit dose blister packs or as a liquid dose. It cannot be sold as a single ingredient substance and must be included in multi-ingredient formulations with other active substances like guaifenesin.

In addition to the federal laws, some US states also have their own regulations regarding the sale of products that contain this ingredient. In many states, it is illegal to purchase more than 9 grams of the active ingredient in a given month. [5]

How much ephedrine can you buy under these guidelines? Consider the oral Primatene tablets product, which is indicated for the treatment of intermittent asthma symptoms.

Each tablet contains 12.5 mg of ephedrine HCL with 200 mg or guaifenesin. If you were to purchase a 60-count package of Primatene tablets, you would be purchasing the equivalent of 750 milligrams of the active ingredient.

If your states monthly purchasing limit is 9 grams of the active ingredient, then you could legally purchase twelve 60-count packages in one month. That would be 720 tablets in 30 days, averaging 24 tablets daily.

Another over-the-counter medication available in the United States is Bronkaid, which is also intended for relief of mild intermittent asthma symptoms. Each Bronkaid caplet contains 25 mg ephedrine sulfate and 400 mg guaifenesin. [6]

One box of Bronkaid contains 24 caplets, which means that each package provides 600 mg of ephedrine base. Under US law, you could purchase 15 packages of Bronkaid per month without exceeding the maximum purchase amounts.

In order to legally buy ephedrine in the United States, you must be at least 18 years old, show photo identification and sign a log book. It can only be distributed behind a pharmacy counter and there are restrictions on who can legally dispense this medication.

Pure Ephedrine in Canada

Canada is one of a small number of countries that still allows the sale of pure ephedrine hydrochloride or sulfate.

Brand names such as Kaizen, 4EverFit and Synergenex are available from local Canadian stores such as Popeyes, GNC, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Rexall and other health product retailers.

In Canada, non-prescription medications that contain this ingredient are limited to a maximum of 8 mg per dose. These products also cannot be labelled with a maximum recommended dosage of greater than 32 mg/day.

Products that contain this ingredient may not be marketed for weight loss, appetite suppression, fat burning, or other similar purposes. These products are only permitted for personal use as nasal decongestant drugs.

If you attempt to order pure ephedrine pills online from Canada and have it shipped to the United States, your order will be canceled by the vendor.

Websites for Canadian retailers clearly state that their merchandise cannot be shipped to locations in other countries due to export restrictions.

How Ephedrine Works

Ephedrine is sold as a medication for treating symptoms of various respiratory disorders.

It has vasopressor (constricts blood vessels) and bronchodilator (opens up bronchi) properties. Ephedrine is also a central nervous system and peripheral nervous system stimulant. [7]

This drug acts as a sympathomimetic amine, which means that it mimics the effects of natural substances that activate the sympathetic nervous system.

It works by mimicking endogenous agonists that stimulate alpha, beta-1, and beta-2 adrenergic receptors throughout the body.

Ephedrine increases the activities of a hormone and neurotransmitter called norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in the brain. This causes a fight or flight responses, much like what someone experiences during an adrenaline rush or period of high stress.

By affecting the sympathetic nervous system, ephedrine influences various physiological processes including: [7]

• Narrowing of arteries, thereby increasing blood pressure;
• Increasing heart rate and heart muscle contractility;
• Opening up the major airways in the lungs to make breathing easier;
• Dilating smooth muscle tissue that lines the nasal passages;
• Increasing oxygen intake and delivery through circulation;

Ephedrine is sometimes used off-label for enhancing athletic performance and promoting weight loss. It has been shown to increase mental focus and physical stamina, suppress the appetite, boost wakefulness, and enhance metabolism. [7]

Research shows that this ingredient can increase short-term weight loss in obese and overweight individuals. [2] However, taking it for this purpose poses an unreasonably high risk of severe side effects.

The FDA banned ephedrine from being used in dietary supplements due to the potential for serious side effects including stroke, seizure, heart attack and death.

Dangers and Side Effects

Modern herbalists point out that ephedra plants have been used for many centuries in TCM and other traditional medicine systems. They claim ephedra extract is safe when used appropriately according to traditional practices.

However, medications that contain pure ephedrine HCL or sulfate can cause dangerous side effects if they are used improperly or taken by people with certain medical problems.

Most people do not experience adverse effects when they use this drug according to label directions or as instructed by a doctor. But it can cause adverse effects in those who are sensitive to stimulants or who have pre-existing health conditions.

Even in healthy adults, standard dosages have been known to cause nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, anxiety, heart palpitations, and excessive perspiration. [8]

Other possible side effects include diarrhea, dry mouth, insomnia, nervousness, irritability, and agitation.

Combining this drug with other stimulants like caffeine, synephrine or amphetamine will increase the risks of serious side effects. Long-term or excessive use can put strain on the cardiovascular system and lead to heart complications.

Ephedrine can interact with hundreds of different prescription drugs including Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), antidepressants, anticoagulants, antidiabetes drugs, and drugs that are metabolized by liver.

It is best to seek medical advice before beginning to use any over-the-counter medication that contains ephedrine. This is especially true if you have been diagnosed with heart disease or if you use any type of prescription medications.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take medications that contain this ingredient. Do not give these products to children under 12 years of age, unless instructed to do so by a physician.

Discontinue using any pure ephedrine products at least 14 days before undergoing a scheduled surgery.

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