At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania filed a Complaint for Forfeiture against Lipodrene, a dietary supplement that contains ephedrine alkaloids. The U.S. Marshals, seized the dietary supplement Lipodrene located at ATF Fitness Products, Inc., in Oakmont, PA.
The U.S. Marshals seized five unlabeled boxes containing various quantities of Lipodrene bottles from ATF Fitness Products, Inc. Each bottle of Lipodrene contains 100 tablets and is labeled with the recommended daily dose of 50 mg of ephedrine alkaloids. The seized products are valued at approximately $16,000.
Ephedrine alkaloids are adrenaline-like stimulants that can have potentially dangerous effects on the heart. Recent studies have confirmed that ephedrine alkaloids raise blood pressure and otherwise stress the circulatory system, effects that are linked to adverse health effects like heart attacks and strokes. Based on this and other evidence in the scientific literature, FDA issued a rule in 2004 declaring that dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury.