Bronkaid, containing ephedrine, has been explored for its potential weight loss effects. While it can provide relief from mild asthma symptoms, its use for weight loss is controversial due to safety concerns. This article delves into the effectiveness, risks, and alternatives associated with using Bronkaid for weight loss.
What is Bronkaid?
Bronkaid® Max caplets provide temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma: wheezing, tightness of chest, and shortness of breath. It is available without a prescription at your local drugstore behind the pharmacy counter. Bronkaid is viewed as an outdated asthma treatment option, providing only minimal impact on symptoms and facing concerns over its adverse effects.
How Bronkaid Works
Bronkaid® Max Caplets contain the active ingredient ephedrine sulfate. Ephedrine is a bronchodilator, which works by opening the airways of the lungs, making it easier to breathe. It also acts as a stimulant, raising the metabolic rate of the body. This can increase fat loss and suppress appetite, which are the primary reasons it is sometimes used for weight loss.
Ephedrine binds cell receptors together. These cell receptors are the ones that respond to the chemicals known as catecholamines. These include dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline. When the molecules connect to the cells, they will trigger fight-or-flight responses. Ephedrine pills also help with reducing the storage of fat that would naturally have more resistance to moving than the others. This is what is commonly known as stubborn fat. This medication does this by raising the cellular receptor activity. The beta-receptors will trigger increased energy flow to help get rid of the storage of fat cells.
Ephedrine, Caffeine, and Aspirin (ECA) Stack
An ECA stack is a combination of ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin tablets. When taken together, these ingredients are said to promote weight loss and boost athletic performance. Aspirin prevents norepinephrine levels from decreasing, helping maintain the stimulation effects that the caffeine and ephedrine help provide.
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Effectiveness of Ephedrine for Weight Loss
Over the short term (four to six months), ephedrine, ephedrine plus caffeine, and supplements containing ephedra or ephedra plus caffeine promoted modest increases in weight loss, about two pounds per month more than the weight loss of persons taking the placebo. Products containing caffeine seemed to promote slightly more weight loss than those containing only ephedrine.
A study investigated the safety and efficacy of a mixture of ephedrine (75-150mg), caffeine (150mg) and aspirin (330mg), in divided premeal doses, in 24 obese humans (mean BMI 37.0) in a randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial. Energy intake was not restricted. Overall weight loss over 8 weeks was 2.2kg for ECA vs. 0.7 kg for placebo (p < 0.05).
Another paper describes a 24-week open follow-up trial with reduced obese patients all receiving an ephedrine/caffeine combination (20 mg/200 mg) three times a day. The study was a continuation of a previous 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled study where the ephedrine/caffeine mixture had shown superior weight-reducing properties when compared with either ephedrine alone (20 mg) or caffeine alone (200 mg) three times a day. Of 127 patients included, 99 completed the follow-up treatment, which resulted in an additional weight loss of 1.1 kg (P = 0.02). We conclude that the ephedrine/caffeine combination is safe and effective in long-term treatment in improving and maintaining weight loss.
Research has also shown that combining these two drugs when bodybuilding has the possibility of increasing metabolic rates by around five percent. This is equivalent to losing another one-third of a pound each week for most people. Ephedrine has also shown to become more efficient the longer someone takes it.
Risks and Side Effects of Ephedrine
Ephedrine is a stimulant that raises the metabolic rate of the user’s body. This increases fat loss. Ephedrine binds cell receptors together. These cell receptors are the ones that respond to the chemicals known as catecholamines. These include dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline. When the molecules connect to the cells, they will trigger fight-or-flight responses.
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Just as with every other stimulant out there, ephedrine has some commonly known side effects too. These are just some of the most common side effects with ephedrine use:
- Anxiety, nervousness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Tremors or shaking
- Trouble sleeping
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions-skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Heart rhythm changes-fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Increase in blood pressure
- Seizures
There have been some deaths from people who have taken this drug. Since a 2004 incident, the FDA has banned use of ephedrine in supplements.
Who Should Avoid Bronkaid?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Mental health condition
- Prostate disease
- Seizures
- Thyroid disease
- An unusual or allergic reaction to ephedrine, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
Interactions with Other Medications
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
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- MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Caffeine
- Certain medications for depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions
- Other medications for allergy, cough, and cold
- Stimulant medications for ADHD, weight loss, or staying awake
Legal Status and Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of Ephedra-containing dietary supplements in 2004. However, ephedrine itself is still legal in the United States. Ephedrine sales are highly regulated, requiring the buyer to present a valid photo ID and sign for the purchase. There’s also a limit to how much ephedrine you can purchase. Depending on the state you’re in, you may only purchase up to 9 grams within a 30-day period.
Alternatives to Bronkaid for Weight Loss
Since the ban on Ephedra-containing products, many Ephedra-free supplements have appeared on the market. Many manufacturers substitute other botanicals, such as bitter orange, in place of Ephedra.
Other alternative weight loss supplements include green tea extract (EGCG) and glucomannan. These supplements typically carry more mild side effects, such as bloating or diarrhea.
Synephrine is a type of natural compound that is extracted from a fruit. The fruit is quite bitter. The one thing to note is that synephrine is similar chemically to ephedrine, so there are similar effects. Research shows that one dose of fifty milligrams of synephrine may increase metabolism by about sixty-five calories in seventy-five minutes. Synephrine has been shown to be safer than ephedrine. Many studies show synephrine won’t increase heart rate or blood pressure like ephedrine would.
The only over the counter medication available that has an actual FDA approved indication for weight loss is orlistat (brand name Alli). The prescription strength version of orlistat goes by the brand name Xenical.
Healthy Lifestyle Changes for Weight Loss
If you’re seeking more energy on a daily basis, these are likely better changes to make:
- improve your sleep routine and habits
- increase your intake of fruits and vegetables
- treat iron or vitamin B deficiency
- exercise during the first half of the day
- try an elimination diet
Healthy eating and regular exercise remain the safest way to successfully lose weight and keep it off.
Dosing and Usage
Adults and children 12 years and over: 1 caplet every 4 hours, not to exceed 6 caplets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor. Do not exceed recommended dose unless directed by a doctor. Children under 12 years of age: Consult a doctor.
The most commonly known protocol for ephedrine dosing when it comes to weight loss is three servings at twenty to twenty-five mg each day. This should be taken in the morning, around noon, and in the early afternoon hours.
Addiction Potential
Another question that often arises surrounding ephedrine use is whether someone can become addicted to it or not. The answer, for the most part, is yes. There have been people who have become addicted to ephedrine. There are even some people who have overdosed and died from using it.
If you need treatment for an ephedrine addiction, you can call into a treatment program today. The first step will be to answer questions and talk to them about your addiction. Once you get enrolled into a program, you can start with the detox program. This will help you get the ephedrine out of your system. The facility will make you a plan for recovery.
Military Concerns
Military personnel are particularly vulnerable to using these products and adopting other dangerous weight control behaviors because of their rigorous training regimens and long work hours and the need to reach a certain weight to be eligible for military service. The use of supplements containing ephedrine, which can have similar life-threatening effects, has long concerned the air force and other branches of the military.
In 2012, the US Department of Defense (DoD) created the Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of dietary supplement use. The DoD has prohibited the use of some of these types of supplements because of the associated serious adverse effects.