Ephedrines dilates the bronchial muscles, contacts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure and is a cardiac stimulant. Further these compounds often cause psychological side effects such as depression, nervousness, insomnia, and rapid heart rate. When taken in combination with caffeine, ephedrine can over-stimulate the central nervous system, leading to potentially life-threatening results. The herbal stimulant, Ephedrine has sickened or killed 273 users in US.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized a truckload each of a controlled chemical, Ephedrine at two places on January 14 and January 17 in Chennai and Gurgaon respectively. This was Ephedrine, a key precursor for manufacturing amphetamine stimulants such as the ecstasy drug.
In December 1999, NCB declared this chemical as one of regulated substances, which implies that manufacturers and traders need clearance from NCB to transport it.
According to United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India is a licit manufacturer of 15 precursor chemicals, including acetic anhydride, ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrine, anthranilic acid and n-acetylanthranilic acid. There are 228 manufacturers, with a combined production of more than 3 million tonnes. The government of India has made significant progress in controlling the production and exports of chemicals, which could be used for production of drugs. The system of control of precursor manufacturing includes a voluntary code of conduct drawn up by the companies that produce precursors for the industrial purposes.
According to US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Intelligence Brief, for India, May, 2002-India’s large chemical industry produces a wide variety of precursor and essential chemicals, including acetic anhydride (AA), potassium permanganate (PP), ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and other chemicals used to produce amphetamine-type stimulants.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ephedrine, Ephedra or Ma Huang and other products containing these extracts have caused hundreds of illnesses, including heart attacks, seizures, strokes and even 15 reported deaths. They are amphetamine-like compounds with powerful and potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and the heart. These compounds act as stimulants that can cause rapid or irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias) Ephedrines act in a similar way as that of adrenaline. It dilates the bronchial muscles, contacts the nasal mucosa, raises the blood pressure and is a cardiac stimulant. Further these compounds often cause psychological side effects such as depression, nervousness, insomnia, and rapid heart rate. When taken in combination with caffeine, ephedrine can over-stimulate the central nervous system, leading to potentially life-threatening results. The herbal stimulant, Ephedrine has sickened or killed 273 users in US.
Trend Pharma, a Chennai based company was illegally dealing in the trade of this chemical. Chennai unit of DRI seized 1, 014 kg of it was which brought from a trader in Karnataka. A similar truck had left for Delhi and DRI’s Delhi unit intercepted 1, 000 kg of the drug in Gurgaon.
Ephedrine (e-fed’rin) a-methylamino-l phenyl-l propanol, is an alkaloid from the leaves of Ephededra equisetina, E. Sinica, and other species (family Gnetaceae). It is also called Ephedra & Ma Huang, the plant source for the Alkaloid ephedrine. Indigenous to China, India and parts of Southeast Asia.
Since early 1990, the FDA has issued numerous warnings to consumers of diet products and supplements containing Ephedrine, Ephedra or Ma Huang. In fact, in November 1994, the FDA informed Alliance U.S.A. that its Nature’s Nutritional Formula One posed a potential health hazard and was in violation of federal laws designed to protect the public health and even issued a recall of their products due to their combination of Ma Huang and caffeine containing Kola Nut. Alliance later removed the caffeine containing Kola Nut and was allowed to continue to sell its new product.
Recently, the FDA has called for strict limits on the recommended dose and proposed new labeling of products containing ephedrine. The FDA’s proposal would prohibit the marketing of dietary supplements containing 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving, with warnings against using more than 24 mg per day and using the product for more than seven days. Any such product with claims encouraging short-term excessive intake would be required to list the following statement on its label: “Taking more than the recommended serving may result in heart attack, stroke, seizure or death.”
According to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), there are more than 30 million amphetamine addicts in the world. It is estimated that 0.5 percent of the world’s population is addicted to some form of amphetamine.
Earlier UNODC had convened a meeting of India, China and Myanmar in Bangkok where amphetamine was discussed and fears about illegal trade in it were expressed.
It is believed that the drug was on its way to Indo-Myanmar border. Duty Free Replenishment Certificate (DFRC) is issued only in respect of export products covered under the provision as notified by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). However, DFRC is not issued in respect of provisions, which are subject to "actual user" condition or where the input is allowed with prior import condition or where the norms allow import of Acetic Anhydride, Ephedrine and Pseudo Ephedrine in the Handbook.
However DFRC is be issued for provisions allowing import of Acetic Anhydride, Ephedrine and Pseudo Ephedrine provided these items are specifically deleted from the list of import items.
Ephedrine is a banned substance in the list of drugs and can disqualify a cricket player.