With the removal of obesity drugs fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine from the shelves of pharmacies, a more natural product, herbal fen-phen, may seem attractive to Consumers wanting to get an edge on weight problems. The herbal supplement contains a potentially dangerous stimulant, ephedrine, along with St. John's wort, a plant with an anti-depressant substance that may also control appetite.
Ephedrine causes the most concern.
This is an amphetamine-like substance that can cause hypertension, heart conditions and neurologic disorders. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed to limit ephedrine in dietary supplements to no more than 24 milligrams per daily dose, and to require product labels to provide information about health risks associated with consumption of ephedrine. There is much less concern about St. John's wort. This plant has been studied extensively and has long been used in Germany as an antidepressant. In fact, Commission E of the German Federal Health Agency, which oversees herbal remedies, does not consider the plant to be toxic.