Case Study Says Ephedra Can Cause Colitis

Case Study Says Ephedra Can Cause Colitis

ATLANTA--Ephedra may cause colitis, according to a case studypresented at the American Academy of Family Physicians (www.aafp.org)meeting here in early October. Courtney Ryan, M.D., an Andrews Air Force Basephysician, reported a case study of a 26-year-old woman complaining of stomachcramps, dizziness and a 10-hour bout of severe diarrhea, which Ryan diagnosed astransient ischemic colitis. Ryan suspected the ailment arose due to thepatient's ingestion of two weight loss supplements (non-concurrently) containing36 to 40 mg ephedrine.

When the patient stopped taking the supplements, the condition reverseditself within 10 hours of onset, and the abdominal pain was gone by the nextday. Doctors advised the patient to discontinue use of herbal diet medications,as well as avoid any ephedrine or pseudoephedrine-containing cold remedies orother combinations.