Warning issued about slimming drugs containing ephedrine

The Danish Medicines Agency and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration have issued strong warnings about the Therma Power slimming drug following the death of a 36 year old man. The man died as a result of a blood clot in the heart. Therma Power is available in two varieties, red and blue. The red variety contains very high concentrations of ephedrine and caffeine and can be extremely harmful to health. Blue therma power is sold as a food supplement and it contains a combination of synephrine and caffeine which has been linked to serious health problems. Both products can be purchased via foreign websites. Therma Powder is primarily used for fitness and training purposes as well as by people wishing to loose weight.

In addition the MHRA have received a report of a female patient suffering respiratory arrest after taking Grenade Fat Burner. The reaction occurred after taking only three tablets. The Grenade Fat Burner is a slimming aid imported which contains Ma Huang (Ephedrine), Coleus forskohlii and citrus aurantium (synephrine). The product was purchased from the internet.

Ephedrine is typically listed as ephedrine, ephedra or Ma Huang. In the UK Ephadrine can only be sold or supplied in licensed medicinal products through pharmacies. Concerns about the safety of Coleus forskohlii can also be found on the MHRA website:

› Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) slimming aids
› Poisonings from Coleus forskohlii-containing products