

Although some studies have shown a modest short-term (one to two hours) effect on athletic performance, more research is needed to determine the long-term effects.Ī 2021 meta-analysis concluded that ephedrine products may be beneficial for weight loss, but patients need to be carefully monitored, particularly in regards to heart rate. Participants taking this combination lost approximately two more pounds per month.Įphedrine’s potential impact on athletic performance hasn’t been well-studied. Long-term use of aspirin, even in small doses, has been associated with an increased risk of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.Ī review of 20 trials found ephedrine to be effective as a tool for weight loss.Īlthough ephedrine was effective when used alone, ephedrine or Ephedra-containing supplements were slightly more effective when combined with caffeine. In other words, its helps maintain the stimulation effects that the caffeine and ephedrine help provide. When taken as part of an ECA stack, aspirin prevents norepinephrine levels from decreasing. Caffeine consumption can increase feelings of alertness, effectively reducing fatigue.īut when taken in large doses, caffeine can also cause:Īspirin is a pain reliever. It’s commonly found in coffee, tea, and soft drinks. CaffeineĬaffeine is also a stimulant of both the CNS and the cardiovascular system. This makes it an important part of the fight-or-flight response during times of high stress.Įphedra also raises heart rate and can also cause constriction of blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure. Norepinephrine is used to get the body ready for action and activity. This extract stimulates the central nervous system (CNS) through release of a compound called norepinephrine. It’s been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is also referred to as “ma huang.” articles/effective-weight-loss-using-stackers.Ephedrine is derived from the Ephedra plant. Have you ever used stackers to lose weight? If so, were they effective in helping you shed pounds? What about side effects? Did you suffer any ill effects from taking them or did you do just fine? Personally, I’d be wary of taking anything that has a potential damaging effect on the heart but I could also see someone saying “yeah, but being overweight puts strain on the heart too.” I suspect there are some strong feelings on either side when it comes to stackers-I look forward to reading what you have to say! And others make their own, purchasing each ingredient separately and then combining them when they take each dose. Some people buy them already stacked, so to speak. In order to avoid sleep problems, many people take their stackers before mid to late afternoon. Most people who use stackers taken them two to three times a day in a ratio of one part ephedrine to 10 parts caffeine and 10 parts aspirin. But it can also cause heart attacks and other problems in young people who had no previous health conditions. Ephedrine has been shown to be especially dangerous for people who have pre-existing heart problems and heart disease. Just as a side note, some ads for stackers claim that they will help with your athletic endurance too, but this has not been proven in medical studies.Īgain, this weight loss can definitely come at a price. A meta-analysis, which is when researchers look at a bunch of similar studies all at once, concluded that using ephedrine in some combination leads to an average weight loss of about one kilogram more a month than just a placebo. Also, plain supplements with just ephedrine and no caffeine have shown the same result. Placebo-based studies have found that ephedrine taken in combination with caffeine can lead to fat loss. The main ingredient in stackers, ephedrine, comes with a pretty hefty laundry list of dangers and potential side effects, especially those involving the heart.įirst, let’s look at the research. The good news? Studies indicate that they might actually work to help you lose weight, which is a relative rarity in the world of diet pills. From my research, it seems like stackers are definitely a “good news/bad news” type of product.
