Entries from June 2009 ↓

Many users mistakenly believe that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take Adderall at much higher doses than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because administering a drug in this manner permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.

Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible.

Snorting Adderall

In addition to weight loss, Adderall is frequently taken as a study drug because of its ability to enhance concentration and mental focus for long periods of time.

The reason that snorting some drugs causes a greater buzz than taking them orally is because of rapid absorption through the blood-rich mucous membranes of the nose.

Many users believe that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take it in very high doses, much higher than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because snorting or injecting drugs allows direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous. Snorting Adderall can also damage nasal membranes and cartilage.

Snorting Adderall effectively accelerates its passage into to the brain. The resulting sudden blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible. Combining Adderall with alcohol further increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. Like other amphetamines, snorting Adderall can lead to tolerance and addiction. Withdrawal effects may be experienced if Adderhall is suddenly discontinued after continuous use.

Adderall: Weight loss pill of the stars?

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) or Adderall XR (extended release version) is currently classified as a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Weight loss is a common side-effect of taking Adderall. Indeed, losing weight is one of the reasons why so many people abuse Adderall.

According to a recent report in the New York Daily News, a number of female celebrities have used prescription Adderall as a weight loss supplement. Reports even suggest that some of these celebrities have resorted to crushing and snorting these pills as a way to deliver a quicker effect.

Symptoms of Adderall overdose

Taking too much Adderall or Adderall XR could lead to symptoms that could include:

• Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
• Fast breathing
• Confusion
• Fever
• Muscle pains
• Shakiness
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations

If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Coming down from Adderall

When coming down from Adderall a number of adverse effects such as exhaustion, tension, radical mood swings, depression and even strong violent tendencies may be experienced.

Long-term effects of Adderall

Long-term effects of repeated use of amphetamines such as Adderall can include:

• High blood pressure and a rapid and irregular heartbeat
• Chronic sleeping problems
• Potential loss of appetite
• Anxiety, tension and sudden aggressive outbursts
• Amphetamine psychosis, where symptoms of paranoid delusions, hallucinations and bizarre behaviour may be exhibited (symptoms usually disappear a few days after stopping use of amphetamines
• There is also some evidence that brain cells can be damaged

Adderall side-effects that need to be reported

There are a number of serious side-effects in taking Adderall that need to be reported to a healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

• Suicidal tendencies
• Mental confusion
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Depression
• Strange or more aggressive behavior than normal
• Hallucinations
• Agitation or restlessness
• Fainting
• Seizures
• Unexplained rash
• Hives
• Uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, mouth, arms, or legs (known as tics)

Related article: Adderall: Celebrity Weight Loss Pill

Disclaimer: This website and its contents are intended for information purposes only, and are not meant to diagnose any disease or recommend treatments.

More and more women are using Clenbuterol, which is commonly called “Clen”, to lose weight quickly. Fore some, this could be a potentially life threatening decision. Even short-term usage of Clenbuterol is known to produce side-effects such as headaches, muscle tremors, insomnia, restlessness, palpitations, increased perspiration, muscle spasms, increased blood pressure, and nausea. Long-term consumption of Clenbuterol may lead to serious health problems. Permanent side effects, such as left-sided cardiac atrophy, can occur very quickly; in as little as one month in some cases when Clenbuterol is taken in high doses.

See also related article: Clenbuterol and Weight Loss

What is Clenbuterol?

Recently, the media have been reporting on the revelation that, for well over a decade, celebrities have been using Clenbuterol. Clenbuterol HCL, also known as Clenbuterol Hydrochloride, Ventipulmin, Spiropent, Novegam and Oxyflux, is a drug that is growing in popularity as an illegal diet pill.

Clenbuterol was initially developed to alleviate asthma symptoms in horses by relaxing the muscles in the airways. Its stimulant effect on the heart and central nervous system is comparable with adrenalin or amphetamines.

Clenbuterol is illegal in the US for human use. This is due to the fact that the drug has side-effects, such as palpitations and arrhythmia [irregular heartbeat], and has been linked to several cases of poisoning. In the US and most countries in Europe, Clenbuterol is prohibited for use in animals that will enter the food chain.

Although many dieters would like to use Clenbuterol for weight loss indefinitely, the drug is rarely taken for more than a month at a time. This is due to progressive loss of effectiveness. It is believed that this reduction in efficacy is due to a drug induced decline in the number of beta-2 receptors in the body over time, making Clenbuterol less potent. If the dose is increased, little additional benefit is achieved and side-effects become a major problem.

Side-effects of Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is usually only effective for around 4 weeks. Thereafter, the body develops resistance to the drug. Short-term usage of Clenbuterol is known to produce side-effects. These side-effects are usually short-lived and often subside after 8-10 days, despite continued use of the drug. Side-effects of Clenbuterol are dose-dependant and include:

• Headaches
• Light-headiness
• Dizziness
• Pallor
• Heartburn
• Weakness
• Paradoxical bronchospasm
• Dysuria
• Dry mouth
• Muscular tremors (especially hand shakes)
• Muscular cramps
• Nervousness
• Insomnia
• Facial flushing
• Sweating
• Increased appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Tachycardia
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Possible cardiac hypertrophy
• Heart muscle necrosis has been demonstrated in animal studies

After ingestion, Clenbuterol remains in the body for up to 39 hours. As a result of its long residence time, the adverse effects of Clenbuterol can be prolonged. Long-term consumption of Clenbuterol may lead to serious health problems. Permanent side effects, such as left-sided cardiac atrophy, can occur very quickly; in as little as one month in some cases when Clenbuterol is taken in high doses.

Clenbuterol overdose

Other side-effects can develop rapidly when overdosing on the drug: sudden racing heart beat (tachycardia), irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), depleted phosphate levels, potassium depletion, taurine depletion, headaches, tremors, vertigo and even stroke. Liver damage is also possible. Sudden death is possible at very high doses of Clenbuterol.

Symptoms may begin within minutes of ingestion of Clenbuterol at high doses, and last for hours/ days leading to prolonged toxicity due to the long-half life of the drug.

Because Clenbuterol can increase muscle definition and reduces fat, livestock are often dosed with the drug. In Spain in 1994, 140 people were hospitalised after they consumed meat tainted with Clenbuterol. They suffered dizziness, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, shakes and headaches. In China recently, the newspaper People’s Daily reported that 336 people in Shanghai had been poisoned after eating pork contaminated with Clenbuterol. The drug had been banned by the Chinese government in the 1990s.

Clenbuterol interaction with other drugs

Caution is advised when using Clenbuterol in combination with other adrenoceptor agonists, as side effects are likely to be cumulative. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to use ephedrine/ephedra (or ma huang) or the ECA stack (ephedrine-caffeine-aspirin) whilst taking Clenbuterol.

Clenbuterol studies in rats

Researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia recently gave Clenbuterol to laboratory rats at a dose of 2 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
After only 4 weeks, Clenbuterol-treated rats were unable to maintain the activity levels of normal untreated rats. The hearts of the Clenbuterol-treated rats increased dramatically in size compared to untreated rats, but unfortunately heart growth was probably due to the infiltration of collagen fibres into the heart walls, not to an increase in heart-muscle cell size and density. Collagen is a tough connective tissue which stiffens the organs in which it grows. In the case of the heart, the presence of collagen fibers would lead to a decrease in cardiac output. Increases in collagen may also result in cardiac arrhythmias. Clenbuterol treated rats also suffered from noticeable cardiac-cell degeneration.

Clenbuterol and Weight Gain

Despite the fact that the list of potential side-effects induced by Clenbuterol is extensive, there is one side-effect that is probably of key interest to slimmers. In the long-term Clenbuterol is known to suddenly lose its efficacy and can cause rapid weight gain - possibly due to a sudden slowing in the body’s metabolic rate.

Clenbuterol dosage

Clenbuterol can be administered as an inhaler spray, orally and intravenously. It is usually taken orally by slimmers and bodybuilders in dosages ranging between 20 and 60 micrograms a day. Users who have never taken Clenbuterol before, or users who have been off the drug for several weeks or months, typically start with one 20 milligram pill. Starting Clenbuterol at higher doses may induce noticeable side-effects.

Generally, Clenbuterol is gradually increased, depending on how well it is tolerated. The highest typical daily dose range is two to four tablets (40-80 micrograms) for women and two to eight tablets (40-160 micrograms) for men.

The information presented in this article is strictly for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice or attention of healthcare professionals.

Adderall (amphetamine-dextroamphetamine) or Adderall XR (extended release version) is currently classified as a stimulant medication used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Weight loss is a common side effect of taking Adderall. In fact, losing weight may be one of the reasons why so many people abuse Adderall.

Many users mistakenly believe that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take Adderall at much higher doses than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because administering a drug in this manner permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.

Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible.

Adderall: Celebrity weight loss pill?

According to a recent report in the New York Daily News, a number of female celebrities have used prescription Adderall as a weight loss supplement. Reports even suggest that some of these celebrities have resorted to crushing and snorting these pills as a way to deliver a quicker effect. And this is probably just the tip of the iceberg of Adderall abuse.

Side effects of Adderall

Amphetamines like Adderall are often abused. Taking amphetamines for long periods of time can lead to dependence.

As with any prescription drug, there are side effects in taking Adderall at the recommended doses. When side effects do occur, they are often minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by a healthcare provider.

Adderall has been extensively evaluated in clinical trials. Headaches (including migraines) have been reported in up to 26% of adults taking Adderall XR (data for Adderall is not available). Headaches were not as common in children taking Adderall XR.

For people taking Adderall, depression is a reported side effect, although the specific frequency has not been determined. Depression has not been recorded as a common side effect in short-term studies of Adderall XR. However, about 1% of children stopped taking the medicine because of depression. At this time, it is difficult to say how common it is for people taking Adderall or Adderall XR to experience depression.

The most common side effects of Adderall include:

• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Depression
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Dehydration
• Hot flashes
• Stomach pains
• Nausea
• Heavy sweating
• Involuntary movements

You should talk with your healthcare provider before taking Adderall or Adderall XR if you have:

• Heart problems of any kind
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Mental illness, including bipolar disorder and psychotic disorders (such    as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder)
• Seizures
• Tourette syndrome
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
• Glaucoma (a condition of the eye)
• Any allergies
• Are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Drink alcohol regularly

Symptoms of Adderall overdose

Taking too much Adderall or Adderall XR could lead to symptoms that could include:

• Hyperactivity (trouble sitting still)
• Fast breathing
• Confusion
• Fever
• Muscle pains
• Shakiness
• Aggressiveness
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)

If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Snorting Adderall

In addition to achieving weight loss, Adderall is frequently taken as a study drug because of its ability to enhance concentration and mental focus for long periods of time.

Many users mistakenly think that snorting or injecting Adderall is safe because it is a prescription drug. They take it in very high doses, much higher than normally prescribed. But even people who snort or inject normal doses of Adderall are putting themselves at higher risk, because snorting or injecting drugs permits direct entry into the bloodstream, making the drug more potent and dangerous.

Snorting Adderall effectively fast tracks it to the brain. The resulting blood pressure increase could cause serious heart rhythm problems. A stroke or an arrhythmia is also possible. Combining Adderall with alcohol further increases the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

Adderall and pregnancy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) utilizes a pregnancy category system to quantify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans, but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Additionally, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

Adderall was given a pregnancy Category C rating because it was shown to cause birth defects and miscarriages in mice. Other studies in rodents have demonstrated that when Adderall was administered during pregnancy it caused problems with brain chemicals. This resulted in long-term learning and memory problems.

Adderall can also cause a temporary slowing of growth in children. This reduction in growth rate is usually minimal (less than an inch in height). In time, children usually catch up to within normal height levels.

Adderall side effects that need to be reported

There are a number of serious side effects in taking Adderall that need to be reported to a healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

• Suicidal tendencies
• Mental confusion
• Chest pain or heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Depression
• Strange or more aggressive behavior than normal
• Hallucinations
• Agitation or restlessness
• Fainting
• Seizures
• Unexplained rash
• Hives
• Uncontrolled movements of the head, neck, mouth, arms, or legs (known as tics)

Less common Adderall side effects

There are other rare Adderall side effects that have been reported. These include:

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Constipation
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Impotence
• Decreased sex drive

If you have seizures, heart problems, or mental problems, Adderall can aggravate the symptoms of these conditions.

Adderall drug interactions

Adderall can potentially interact with many drugs. Some of the drugs that may lead to Adderall interactions include:

• Acetazolamide (Diamox®)
• Amitriptyline (Elavil®)
• Ammonium chloride
• Certain antacids, such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium carbonate (Tums®)
• Certain sleep medications, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®, Tylenol PM®)
• Chlorpromazine (Thorazine®)
• Clomipramine (Anafranil®)
• Desipramine (Norpramin®)
• Doxepin (Sinequan®)
• Ethosuximide (Zarontin®)
• Haloperidol (Haldol®)
• Imipramine (Tofranil®)
• Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)
• Lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®, Lithonate®)
• Medications for high blood pressure
• Meperidine (Demerol®)
• Methenamine (Hiprex®, Urex®)
• Norepinephrine (Levophed®)
• Nortriptyline (Pamelor®)
• Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
• Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
• Propoxyphene (Da rvocet®, Darvon®)
• Protriptyline (Vivactil®)
• Reserpine
• Selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®, Zelapar®)

Several herbal and nutritional supplements can also interact with Adderall. Examples of these include, but are not limited to:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Glutamic acid
• Guarana
• Melatonin.

This list of Adderall drug interaction is not fully comprehensive. Therefore, it is advisable to talk to healthcare provider if taking another drug or compound in combination with Adderall.

Related article: Adderall: Celebrity Weight Loss Pill

Disclaimer: This website and its contents are intended for information purposes only, and are not meant to diagnose any disease.

Considerable doubt remains as to the purity of Zhen de Shou diet pills. The so called original Zhen de Shou diet pills are believed by many to contain Sibutramine, while the fake ones have also been shown to contain Ephedra and other damaging substances.

Sibutramine, also known as Meridia and Reductil, is a licensed prescription drug used for the treatment of obesity. Ephedra containing products are banned in North America and Europe.

What is Zhen de Shou?

Zhen de Shou is a Chinese manufactured weight loss supplement that promises significant weight loss in a short amount of time. Numerous potentially dangerous fake versions can be found on the market. Current reports indicate five known imitations of Zhen de Shou. Its primary promoter and retail agent is Magic Potions (www.magic-potions.com), a company that sells a number of products designed for health and wellness as well as beauty products.

Zhen de Shou is designed to suppress appetite and increase metabolism in order to facilitate weight loss. Zhen de Shou also stimulates thirst, leading to an increased intake of liquids. This is believed to help flush out toxins.

Ingredients of Zhen de Shou

The primary ingredients in Zhen de Shou are said to be sourced from an area of China known as Shennong’s Ladder or Shennongjia. This is a National Reserve forest in which around 1300 medicinal plants grow.

Zhen de Shou contains:

Crataegus Pinnatifida, which is also known as Shenxianye or Fairy Leaves, is believed to increase metabolism and help promote fat loss. Konjac, the active ingredient in this plant, is used to restrict the absorption of fat from the intestinal tract by limiting lipase activity. As a result, more dietary fat is discharged from the body as waste.

Zhen de Shou also contains safflower, gingko-nut, cassia, alga (luoxuanxao) and konjacflour.

Sibutramine in Zhen de Shou

Sibutramine is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is the neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for generating the feeling of satiety. Sibutramine works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. Since the serotonin is not being removed from the body, appetite is effectively suppressed. Elevated levels of norepinephrine, due to the presence of sibutramine, help boost energy.

Side Effects of Zhen de Shou

Side effects in slimmers taking Zhen de Shou diet pills have led to a recall of the product within the US by the FDA. Pills were found to contain sibutramine, an ingredient that is not listed on the product label.

Not declaring sibutramine as an ingredient in Zhen de Shou poses serious health risks. This drug can significantly increase both blood pressure and pulse rate. Some say that the original product does not produce these side effects and that the side effects have been attributed to an imitation brand. This has resulted in appreciable controversy – Does a pure version of Zhen de Shou actually exist? It is difficult to tell because Zhen de Shou diet pills do not carry certified verification of ingredients and purity from a reputable analytical laboratory.

People with the following medical conditions, or taking certain prescription drugs, should not take sibutramine: hypertension; hyperthyroidism; heart/coronary disease; liver/kidney disease; epilepsy/seizures; bleeding/clotting problems; glaucoma; gallstones; bulimia; depression; drugs that affect the serotonin/norepinephrine levels in the brain such as antidepressants (e.g. Prozac).

Recommended dosage of Zhen de Shou

Each pack contains 10 capsules (250 mg/capsule). A single capsule is taken once daily 30 minutes before breakfast.

FDA recall of Zhen de Shou

All lots of Zhen de Shou Fat Loss Capsules sold in 10 count blister cards are being recalled by Fashion Sanctuary, a major retailer of the product, in conjunction with the FDA.

The diet capsules are being recalled because they have been found to contain sibutramine. This makes Zhen de Shou an unapproved drug. Sibutramine is an FDA approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss. However, because the drug is not listed on the package label, there is a potential threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

The capsules are mainly sold in the US, via the Internet. They are packaged in a box with an inner foil pouch. Inside the pouch is a blister pack containing light and dark green capsules. This recall affects all lot codes and use by dates.