Use of Ephedra-containing products and risk for hemorrhagic stroke

• Published in: Neurology Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 132 - 135
• Main Authors: MORGENSTERN, L. B, VISCOLI, C. M, KERNAN, W. N, BRASS, L. M, BRODERICK, J. P, FELDMANN, E, WILTERDINK, J. L, BROTT, T, HORWITZ, R. I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 14-01-2003
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Causality; Comorbidity; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ephedra - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Intracranial Hemorrhages - chemically induced; Intracranial Hemorrhages - epidemiology; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Odds Ratio; Phenylpropanolamine - adverse effects; Phytotherapy - adverse effects; Plant Preparations - adverse effects; Risk Assessment; Stroke - chemically induced; Stroke - epidemiology; United States - epidemiology; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; United States; Vascular disease; Human; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Central nervous system disease; Risk factor; Cardiovascular disease; Phytotherapy; Hemorrhage; Cerebrovascular disease; Cerebral disorder; Medicinal plant
• ISSN: 0028-3878; 1526-632X
• DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000042092.20411.5B

This case-control study examined the association between Ephedra use and risk for hemorrhagic stroke. For use of Ephedra at any dose during the 3 days before the stroke, the adjusted OR was 1.00 (95% CI 0.32 to 3.11). For daily doses of < or =32 mg/day, the OR was 0.13 (95% CI 0.01 to 1.54), and for >32 mg/day, the OR was 3.59 (95% CI 0.70 to 18.35). Ephedra is not associated with increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke, except possibly at higher doses.