A controlled trial using ephedrine in the treatment of obesity

A double-blind controlled study was performed in unselected obese outpatients to assess the effects of ephedrine on weight loss. Patients were treated for 3 months with placebo (group I), 25 mg t.i.d. or 50 mg t.i.d. of ephedrine hydrochloride orally administered (groups II and III, respectively). Dietary treatment consisted of 1000 kcal/day for females and 1200 kcal/day for males. The three groups were matched for age, sex, body mass index and pre-treatment spontaneous caloric intake. Weight loss was similar in all groups. Patients in group III (ephedrine 150 mg/day) showed significantly more side effects than the placebo group. These results do not seem to favour the hypothesis that ephedrine, a thermogenic agent, may be effective in the therapy of unselected simple obesity. On the other hand, it cannot be excluded that the drug may be useful in obese patients in whom defective thermogenesis may be clearly demonstrated.