Metabolife Side Effects FAQs
What is Metabolife?
What is ephedra?
If ephedra dangers outweigh the benefits, why is it
still available?
Have any ephedra containing products been removed
from
the market?
Why is there a criminal investigation on Metabolife?
What are ephedra dangers?
How many people have experienced adverse Metabolife
side effects?
What should I do if I am taking Metabolife?
Do I have any legal rights for the Metabolife side
effects experienced?
What is currently being done about Metabolife side
effects dangers?
What is Metabolife?
Metabolife is the nation’s leading maker of ephedra supplements
that is predominantly taken as a means for weight loss. Derived
from the Chinese herb ma huang, Metabolife stimulates the nervous
system and speeds up metabolism, but at a deadly risk. Metabolife
is also used to enhance athletic performance, although the National
Football League, International Olympic Committee, and the National
Collegiate Athletic Association has banned its use due to the high
number of reported deaths associated to Metabolife side effects
and other ephedra-based products.
Top of Page
What is ephedra?
Ephedra is an herb derived from the plant ma huang. A chemical cousin
to speed, ephedra is used to increase energy, build muscle mass,
or lose weight. The all-natural labeling on ephedra-containing products
led many consumers to believe the herb is safe.
Top of Page
If ephedra side effects and dangers outweigh
the benefits, why is it still available?
Due to deregulation of supplements like ephedra, the FDA has been
unable to remove ephedra-containing products from the market. The
FDA is unable to subject Metabolife to the same strict clinical
testing standards as prescription and most over the counter drugs
due to the 1994 federal law exempting ephedra-based products. Metabolife
is currently under criminal investigation for providing falsified
information to the FDA about possible Metabolife dangers in the
past.
Top of Page
Have any ephedra containing products been removed
from
the market?
Due to deregulation, the FDA has only been able to remove ephedra-containing
products that have been sold as an alternative to street drugs.
All other ephedra-containing products that have not been associated
to illegal claims have continued to be sold and can continue to
be sold unless it is proven that the supplement is harmful by the
FDA.
Top of Page
Why is there a criminal investigation on Metabolife?
The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation per the
FDA’s request to determine if Metabolife International lied
to the FDA when saying they had not received any reports of adverse
health effects caused by their popular diet pill Metabolife. The
FDA has been unable to regulate Metabolife although they have been
trying to obtain records from the company since 1997. Due to ephedra’s
classification as a food, the FDA can only regulate Metabolife if
they can prove the products and dangerous, information they had
been unable to obtain due to Metabolife’s uncooperative behavior.
Top of Page
What are ephedra dangers?
Metabolife has been linked to death and other serious side effects,
including seizures, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure,
irregular heart rate, insomnia, nervousness, tremors and headaches.
Top of Page
How many people have experienced adverse Metabolife
side effects?
The FDA has now collected reports of over 100 deaths related to
Metabolife and other ephedra-based products. Metabolife provided
the FDA with 14,700 reports Metabolife adverse effects.
Top of Page
What should I do if I am taking Metabolife?
If you are currently taking Metabolife you should contact your physician
and contact us to learn your legal
rights and options.
Top of Page
Do I have any legal rights for the Metabolife
side effects experienced?
Metabolife has now had 145 personal injury cases filed against the
company. Due to the long controversy regarding safety and ephedra,
in addition to the criminal investigation that is underway involving
Metabolife, the number of Metabolife legal battles are expected
to continue being filed. If you have taken, or are still taking
Metabolife or any other ephedra-based products, please contact
us to learn your legal rights and options.
Top of Page
What is currently being done about Metabolife
side effects dangers?
Currently, a criminal investigation on Metabolife is underway and
the reports of consumer calls to Metabolife’s toll-free help
number, consisting of 14,700 in all, have been submitted to the
Rand Corporation to be evaluated. Reports on these Metabolife danger
reports is anticipated by the end of November 2002.
Top of Page
|
