the author was compensated as a consultant to the us food administration for evaluation of sympathomimetic agents in food supplements .
sympathomimetic agents have a poor history of long - term success in the treatment of obesity 
 .   from earlier experiences with amphetamine and its analogs , to more recent drugs with direct effects on adrenergic receptors or indirect effects from release of catecholamines or inhibition of reuptake , cardiovascular toxicity ( strokes and cardiac arrhythmias ) has been the major concern . 
 these concerns also extended to food supplements containing ephedra alkaloids and may require consideration for current supplements containing the sympathomimetic drug , synephrine .