Ephedrine symptoms and conditions

Have had two bad experiences with this drug. Once about a year ago, and another this past Monday. Had four carpules in preparation for a root canal, almost immediately started feeling dizzy, nausea, sweating, etc. (similar to others in this post). After 1.5 hours still not able to move and was taken to ER by ambulance. Tried 3 days later on the root canal, had different drug (no ephedrine) and had similar reaction (but much less severe). At a loss for what to do, still need a root canal!

Immediately after took the Levaquin and my throat began itching like 40 ants were crawling down my esophagus. My chest started physically burning like I'd drank alcohol. I stopped being able to talk within 30 seconds and within a minute I couldn't breath through my nose and I started coughing and couldn't breathe. My face swelled up like I had Down's Syndrome. One of my eyes couldn't see from the swelling. I turned beet red and had welps all over my body. When I got the hospital I thought I was going to die in the hallway..I felt like I was underwater and couldn't breathe. They shot me full of ephedrine in me and started breathing again. I asked if I could have more to take home and they said it was illegal for me to have. If I didn't live close to the ephedrine, I don't know how long I would have lasted.
The doctors said I needed to quit doing drugs(I was in my 20's). I was too weak and drained to disagree with him. He said the drug wasn't the cause. I can't believe this drug is on the market. I can't believe people are still taking it without any warnings. I talked to 2 lawyers , but they said my hospital bills wouldn't justify this going to court. I am glad this forum is here to warn people.

To all women who have suffered from Yasmin,

I stopped taking that pill early July 06 after taking it for 4 years. Before I stopped I was suffering from:
- anxiety, irritability, irrationality (nearly split up with boyfriend)
- ear problems (damaged eardrums, constant ear blocage (none of the ephedrine medication worked)
- Severe muscle cramps (feet and calves)
- Pains in my right shoulder and arm
- Regular faintings (I found myself a few times in ER/ none of the tests they did show any abnormalities)
- Pain in my lower stomach
- Complete lack of energy
- No enthusiasm about what I used to enjoy doing
- Felt sick everytime I did some hiking (going up a hill for ex)
- Heart palpitations especially in the mornings when getting up
- Shortness of breath
- Swollen and aching gums (even the dentist thought they were strange and could not understand why as I had a perfect mouth hygiene)

At the time, I did not think at all about Yasmin as a poison, but slowly I realised I was sick because of it. Everytime I took it I felt disgusted like my body was saying: 'ENOUGH, I HAD ENOUGH OF THIS STOP IT!!'
I stopped early July 06 and since then slowly, I am becoming myself again. I suffered when I stopped especially of muscle weakness and ear problems but after 7 months off it, the muscles are becoming strong again (I have been doing light excercises since I stopped the pill) and my ears start to feel normal again.

The only new thing at the moment is that I gained 2kgs (about 4lb) in weight only around my tummy !!
Has anybody out there got the same problem? Is this normal ?
Does the weight go down once your body has completely recovered? How long does it take?

Thank you for your comments. I simply want to add :
IF YOU TAKE YASMIN AND FEEL BAD STOP IT NOW ! YOU WILL FEEL WORSE FOR A WHILE AFTER STOPPING IT BUT YOU WILL RECOVER SOONER OR LATER!! IT IS JUST A MATTER OF PATIENCE

This stuff is like kiddy-coke! Not something I would recommend for the children. With all the new information comming out about ephedrine, I am not sure I would feel comfy with an adult taking this much less a child.
Spaced, pupils like saucers, unable to sleep or going unconcious randomly, irritability, and can be addictive... yeah... what a huge step forward for science.
Now, how many meds do you have to take to take care of the side affects from taking this one? When does your pill bottle have to become a suitcase???

Now I know why I've been so moody - after reading these posts it must be common after taking this drug. (like ephedrine) I feel like I haven't talked in a week! Not to mention my shortness of breath. I had a phone interview - EMBARRASSING! I could hardly breath! Get this stuff off the shelves. It hasn't even really helped.

Don't read all of these posts. I personally have not had much of a problem, let me explain...

I think most of these people exaggerate, and their problems are caused by dehydration. When taking this medication you have to drink excess water, not just the daily amount you should already be drinking. The people with serious problems probably drink lots of coffee or soda with caffeine instead of water. This product basically has ephedrine in it, so it increases your heart rate, and caffeine will compound that problem and the dehydration as caffeine has diuretic effects. A lot of these people probably also took a diet pill and didnt tell their doctor, and that will increase the problems substantially, especially if people are also on a low calorie intake diet. It also constricts blood ways, so if you smoke or you have heavily clogged blood ways already you will most likely have a problem.

You can expect to lose weight though, how about that as a positive side effect.

I would bet that 90% of the problem people on here did not follow the directions with the medication.

I run a lot so that makes me tired after I have already taken the medication twice, so I have not noticed much sleep loss, but you should take this with breakfast and lunch not with dinner.

When I took this with the antibiotic I would occasionally experience abnormal heart beats, but when I stopped taking the antibiotic that stopped, probably because I wasn't supposed to be exposed to a lot of sun, and I live in SO CAL. Read the warnings on all of your medication and tell your doctor about all of the over the counter stuff you take including diet pills.

My doctor did not inform me this is a psuedo-ephedrine drug. Which means you should NOT consume caffienated products while on the medication. It could increase the side-effect of dizzyness. The psuedo-ephedrine is also the reason you could feel like "your on speed" or the loss of appetite. Ephedrine isn't for everyone. If you experience those feelings it's best to take a half dose or to stop taking it all. Ephedrine/ephedra are used in many diet pills- most of which are being pulled from the shelves.

When used correctly; modifed to fit an individual, Guaifen can work beautifully.

Been taking this for 3 days now. Side effects to me are similar to taking ephedrine .... makes you a little hyper for a few hours and ur heart beat faster, but also the loss of appetite. Other then that no problems. I take one in the morning be4 I go to work(around 5:30am) and one after I get home(2:30-3pm). I sleep fine(go to bed around 10-11pm). Seems to be working ... drains me out good ... only thing that sucks is my nose is super dry from blowing it all the time lol. My doc paired it with Nasacort AQ that I spray twice in each nostril right after i take the Guaifen pills and so far it's worked great, only 1 nosebleed that just happened today at work but thats because I blew a little to hard heh.

My 6 year old daughter was prescribed sulfatrim for a urinary tract and after the seventh day she developed a rash all over her body and her joints began to swell and ache. After a trip to the er and a shot of ephedrine and some other various allergy meds she bagan to get a little better and now after about eighteen hours and the drugs have worn off, she is in full rash and horrible pain. I have called th ER again and they have called in some Dexadron for her. I have given her her first dose of it and she has no change at the moment. After reading some of the horror stories, I am scared to death and not sure where to turn at this point.