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This may be a silly question on my part, but does anyone have any experience in using EPH200, an herbal version of ephedrine used for weight control? My daughter ordered some off the internet (she's 18), and I'm afraid she doesn't know what she's getting herself into. I've always heard that ephedrine can be dangerous, altho this is the herbal equivalent, and does not contain ephedrine itself. It does contain caffeine and other natural stimulants, tho. I know teens are worried about their weight, especially girls, and am concerned for her health.
She is by no stretch of the imagination overweight whatsoever (can you say former cheerleader/soccer player/gymnast?). I am wondering if this may be a prelude to any other stuff...i.e. drugs. She has experimented in the past with marijuana & alcohol (who knows if anything else).
I guess I'm afraid she may like the "speed" feeling she gets from using this. Has anyone ever tried this EPH200 or anything similar? I'm wondering what kind of effects anyone felt who may have tried this before. I don't want to worry myself (LOL too late for that), but I had a genetic heart irregularity where my heart would start racing on it's own and not slow down. (I had to have surgery in my 30's to fix it). Doc said my daughter has a 50/50 chance of having the same thing. My mom even has heart problems, from a childhood illness (rheumatic fever 3 times).
Alcoholism/addiction runs rampant in both her dad's family and mine. My daughter is going thru some emotional problems concerning her dad pretty much disowning her, and I'm afraid she's developing some weight issues. Even her boyfriend is saying she is acting differently (needy) and he has even noticed how she treats me and talks to me if I ask her anything when they are on the phone together (even in person).
She and I had an almost knock-down-drag-out argument last nite over her behavior towards me. She hit her bedroom door HARD after she shut it, and then either kicked or hit her walls HARD a few times. I told her, if she is going to treat MY house that way, she will have to pay for damages as well as move out. This behavior is beginning to scare me, and I'm wondering, if she starts taking this EPH stuff, how will she act towards me then???
This shouldn't be this hard for me! I gave birth to this monster, altho she was cute as a button once! What happened to my loving daughter???!!! AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
I thought the heartache was over (rofl, hahaha, LOL) when my husband went into treatment and came clean with all his lovely deeds. God help me survive the next few years of college with this stranger!
I am not familiar with the EPH200, but over the last two years I have found and thrown away easily 700 empty bottles of ephedra/ephedrine. It is nasty stuff. I do not know who my husband is anymore. While using it he displyed similar personality traits you have discribed. Someone was always out to get him or even just annoy him, people at work, me, his family ... somebody. Normally his blood pressure is so low that nurses worry, the last time he went to the doc it was so high they sent home a little card with him to bring back so they could keep track of it. After watching his decline I would not want to try it not even an herbal version. I hope this is a passing thing with your daughter, and all goes well. Take care of you.
All I can say is I am sad about what the media perception of what beauty is has done to so many of us women here in the USA.
I have worked in the medical field as a Surgical Technician, a Medical Assistant, and other medically-related jobs. New 'herbal remedies' that they come out with as 'replacements' to other drugs for dieting are never 100% safe, and often have not had enough testing if they are 'new' to discover what kind of psychological effects they can deliver. But adults will do what they are going to do. I think it may be good to note, too, that some people have these types of 'personality changes' for a period of time, and it is not related to diets, drugs, alcohol, medications, etc. at all. Some people just react to the 'pains of growing up' a little differently.
As to her issues with her dad, is she receptive to counselling, perhaps? A lot of colleges offer free counselling for students.
No, Joni, she certainly is NOT receptive to counseling. I tried that a few years back, along with having her go to Alanon, and she was very much against it. She is soooo like her dad (my ex), in that she does not see that she has a problem, and would not go to counseling. She told me, in regards to going to Alanon with me, that she doesn't want to sit there listening to depressed people talk about their problems. And of course, she is not depressed (yeah sure).
One thing my sponsor told me a while back, was that in order for her 30-ish year old son to live at home while he got back on his feet during a job change, he had to attend Alanon meetings with her and her A husband. (Her son was not an A and they were very close.) I'm thinking...should I require that of my daughter if I continue to let her live here rent-free while she goes to college? The jury's still out on that decision...hmmm....does sound good tho, but it will be hell enforcing it. She doesn't go down quietly, it's with arms flailing and voice shouting!
Straight from the hubby, who manufactured pharmaceticals, talk to your doctor before using them. There is a reason why the FDA took the pure version of it off the market, it was killing people. All people react different to ephidrine. However, I've always been leary of ordering vitamins/herbal suppliments from the internet. You never know what they are putting in them. The purity of the them is always in question. Ephedrine makes caffeine seem like decaf. I would be worried too about the irregular heart beat.
She's lucky to have you. Hang in there Mom you're doing great. Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
If you are at all possible I would try hard to discourage her. I know two of my best friends started taking the diet pills thinking that they were safe. Both eventually fell into using meth.
Please warn her to be careful. She could be playing with fire.
Yours in recovery,
Dolphin123
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"Today's problems can not be solved if we still think the way we did when we created them" -Albert Einstein
You and your family are in my prayers. Sorry I can't help you with the weight medecine. I would just keep a close eye on her, watch her changes closely, and keep open contact with her about my fears on the drug/medecine.
You are right to be concerned, as EPH means Ephedra, which is the herbal Ephedrine. Kids used to take it in a pill called "Herbal Ecstasy" and many have died from it. I tried looking it up on diet pill sites, but most of them say the product has been pulled...I'm not certain it's legal any longer. Is she getting it from E-Bay or something? Herbal does not mean "safe" and yes, it can give folks a very hyper, buzzed feeling like speed.
