A stimulant that, used mainly with caffeine, produces modest short-term fat loss of one to two kilograms over a few months while helping preserve muscle. It reliably raises heart rate and can raise blood pressure, and is rarely linked to strokes, heart attacks, and deaths. Long-term effects are unknown, and the benefit-versus-risk trade-off stays genuinely contested. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | <120/80 mmHg | Primary safety signal; ephedrine can raise it |
| Resting heart rate | 50–70 bpm | Tracks sympathetic stimulation and arrhythmia risk |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG) | Normal sinus rhythm | Detects arrhythmia or pre-existing conduction issues |
| TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) | 0.5–2.5 mIU/L | Excludes hyperthyroidism, which compounds stimulant risk |
| Fasting glucose | 70–90 mg/dL | Ephedrine can modestly raise blood glucose |
| Lipid panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) | HDL >50 mg/dL; LDL <100 mg/dL; TG <100 mg/dL | Tracks metabolic effect of weight loss |
| Body composition (% body fat) | Individualized | Defines success better than scale weight alone |
Cadence: Baseline, then ~1–2 weeks after starting, again at 4–6 weeks, then every 1–3 months while use continues, with immediate reassessment if symptoms arise.