By MARK THIESSEN, Associated Press Writer

SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge Thursday struck down the FDA ban on ephedra, the once-popular weight-loss aid that was yanked from the market after it was linked to dozens of deaths.


The judge ruled in favor of a Utah company that challenged the Food and Drug Administration's ban. Utah-based Nutraceutical claimed in its lawsuit that ephedra "has been safely consumed" for hundreds of years.


Supplements that included ephedra have been widely used for weight loss and bodybuilding, but have linked to 155 deaths, including that of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler. The FDA ordered the substance off the market in April 2004.


Judge Tena Campbell's ruling sends the matter back to the FDA "for further rulemaking consistent with the court's opinion" and keeps the agency from enforcement action against the companies.


FDA officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.


Company president Bruce Hough said the decision is about "protecting the public's access to safe and effective dietary supplements."

I'm actually rather happy about this ruling. I'll be glad when Xenadrine WITH Ephedra is back on the market! Of course it still needs to go back to the FDA... so it might be awhile.

 

IMO, putting uneeded chemicals into your body is never a good thing.

 

Yes!!! Now we can take pills and get amped again! w00t!

Come to think of it, has also been consumed safely for hundreds of years. Hmmm....

 

This is the best news I heard all day. One of the best and safest agents is back I hope. By safest I mean it doesn't need to be cycled to or taken with other supplements concurrently like Cytomel or Clenbuterol.

Usually the bottles go for like 30 bucks, I'd gladly pay quadruple or quintuple because ephedrine is that effective.

 

I don't know about THAT much but the $30-$40 dollars it cost for Xenadrine with Ephedra is well worth it. It's been hard to find another pill that works the same. I've tried Xendadrine without Ephedra, TrimSpa, and Zantrex 3. Only one to work a little is Zantrex.

 

Cool, just in the nick of time My supply was down to 3 pills good news to me yay..

 

Dude you can and always have been able to buy ephedrine over the counter at any drug store.... look in the asthma medications aisle.

Combine that with caffeine and aspirin and you've got a homemade ECA stack.

 

Is the HCL type you can get now the same as the ephedrine that was in the Xenadrine and Hydroxycut? I heard it wasnt the same and I haven't thoroughly researched it either.

 

no no!! Dymatrine Xtreme is the good stufff...

 

ahhh the jitter pills.. glad to hear they're back!