Future

Since the ban on dietary supplements containing ephedra took effect on April 12th 2004, the FDA has been monitoring and compiling data on the plethora of new "ephedra free" products touted for energy and weight loss which contain potentially just as dangerous substances. At the top of that list is bitter orange, an ephedra mimic that some studies show can interact dangerously with certain medications.

A publication in August of 2004 concerning a case of exercise-induced syncope in a healthy 22-year-old woman that occurred 1 hour after she took the second dose of Xenadrine EFX, an ephedra-free weight-loss supplement, is supportive of the FDA's concerns with such products.

Of note, after the ephedra recall, a court ruling favored the FDA to act against other supplements in the future.