GNC Stores to Stop Selling Ephedra

by Mario Lozano on May 2, 2003 · 163 comments

General Nutrition Centers, the largest U.S. specialty retailer of nutritional supplements, said it would discontinue the sale of all products that include ephedra, a weight-loss chemical that has been linked to serious side effects.

“We believe that ephedra-based products are safe when used as directed,” said GNC President and Chief Executive Michael Meyers. “Nonetheless, the current business climate dictates that we move in a different direction.”

The American Heart Association in April urged for a ban on all ephedra products.

“There is no such thing as a magic weight loss pill and anyone who takes these products looking for a quick fix is misleading themselves,” said Dr. Robert Bonow, Heart Association president, at the time.

(via Reuters)

{ 163 comments }

← Previous Comments

1 Graciemay October 4, 2005 at 5:45 pm: Has anyone tried Hi-Tech’s Stimerex-ES yet? It’s supposed to be stronger than Lipodrene and just became available. If anyone reading this has tried it, your comments are appreciated!

Thanks,

Graciemay
2 Angela October 5, 2005 at 8:30 am: In response to Gail B’s comment about General Nutrition Direct selling Ephedra…….I would recommend that you check out their customer reviews BEFORE you order anything from their company……http://shopping.yahoo.com/merchrating/user_rv.html?merchant_id=1010625 It looks like it’s not a reliable “company” and most people end up losing their money!
3 mike smith October 5, 2005 at 12:15 pm: stacker 2, the original yellow pills work the best. I have been taking it for 2 months now, went from 200 to 150.

Amazing stuff!!!!

dont buy the pills w/o 25 MG EPHEDRA THEY DONT WORK!!!

email me if you need a palce to buy some
4 Gail B October 7, 2005 at 6:01 pm: Thanks Angela for responding to my email on General Nutrition Direct, i was able to check their reviews and it really doesn’t seem like that company is reliable.
5 A Walsh October 10, 2005 at 11:43 am: Looking for Trim Spa with Ephedra
6 Meghan October 21, 2005 at 4:45 am: Hey Guys,

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS ONE OUT!!! FiReLeAn. I haven’t eaten in 3 days and feel fine. The best appetite suppressant I have ever taken. And yes, it does have ephedra!!!
7 Jenn October 23, 2005 at 7:25 pm: Meghan, where did you find firelean? And have you lost any weight using it?
8 Fernanda October 31, 2005 at 8:49 pm: Mandy, thanks for your answer.

I’m going to try Stimerex-ES, everything that you said sounds really good. I just ordered in the wholesale website. :0
9 Edward marines November 13, 2005 at 11:22 am: Well i guess theyr’re putting ephegra back out on the market so I heard. I really hope that GNC starts selling it again. I used to buy alot of things from GNC. But when they quit selling stackers with ephedra. I had to start going online, along with the other 1000’s of marines. I really hope they get it back on the shelf. Take it safey and there should be no problem. The idiots that take 12 at a time. Well thats just plain stupid.
10 BJ November 14, 2005 at 12:03 pm: Has anyone taken both lipodrene and the new stimorex ES to compare the differences in weight loss. I have taken all ephedra products under the Sun. Have currently been on LIpodrene for about 4 months. In total with all Stacker products, Lipodrene and a few others I have lost 40 pounds since last year. I like Lipodrene but don’t want to switch to Stimorex if there is no need. I do want to say that after being on ephedra products for so long it is very hard to get off and maintain the weight. I was off them last month for only two weeks and could not control my appetite which made me eat way to much and to often and gain back 10 pounds in that two weeks. After I returned to teh LIpodrene I lost all the weight I gained but realized that I really can’t get off these pills and maintain the weight. Sad but true.
11 LC November 16, 2005 at 11:22 am: I am so glad i found this site, it is so nice to see you all feel the same way i do about the ephedra ban. Has anyone heard of taking bronkaid tablets because their main ingredient is ephedrine and it contains 25 mg of it.
12 samantha November 25, 2005 at 6:36 am: has anyone here taken maxadrine w/e – did it work for you??
13 Tiana December 11, 2005 at 6:15 am: Just ran across this site yesterday. My story is about the same, ephedra worked wonders for me. I was 49, five kids, couldn’t get the weight off, our athletic club where I worked started selling an ephedra product, I tried it, lost 40lbs, went to a size 8, started running and lifting, (now had the energy ) Loved it. Then they banned it, I had a shoulder injury, moved to another job, guess what? the weight poured back on…. can’t handle it, ya know?

I’ve read most of the postings here, and since it is now December, I’m wondering how you’re all doing with the products you’ve tried, I want to order but am not sure which to try. My finances are limited so am hoping for a good referral.

Good luck to all, and hope to hear back.