Major Pharmacy Bans Ephedra Products

Major Pharmacy Bans Ephedra Products

WOONSOCKET, R.I.--CVS/pharmacy announced July 11 it would bediscontinuing sales of ephedra-based diet products as of Aug. 1. The chain,which has 4,100 stores and 110,000 employees, made the decision in the face ofthe recent bans and proposed bans that have been enacted in cities, counties andstates nationwide.

As of August, all ephedra-based products will be removed from storeshelves and returned to manufacturers for credit. According to a companyspokesman, CVS (www.cvs.com) is not involved inany of the numerous pending lawsuits regarding ephedra products. "Webelieve that ephedra-based products are safe when used as directed," saidChris Bodine, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing."However, with several communities where we have stores taking steps to banproducts with ephedra, we have decided to discontinue the sale of theseproducts."