ECA stack

ECA stack is a jargon term that is particularly used in connection with doping and bodybuilding . It comes from the Anglo-American language area and derives from Stack ( English for "stack") and the acronym ECA for the active ingredients

from.

effect

The combination of these active ingredients is said to have fat-burning ( "fatburner" ) and thermal effects as well as drive and strength-increasing effects.

In controlled studies, a statistically significant weight-reducing effect was largely consistently found in overweight people .

Side effects

Especially the combination of ephedrine and caffeine can cause palpitations , sleep problems, restlessness and a dry mouth , even with small amounts . In higher doses, cardiac arrhythmias , increased blood pressure, loss of appetite and insomnia as well as profuse sweating and increased nervousness can occur, and rarely also delusions.

With long-term use, habituation (development of tolerance ) is to be expected, so that the same effects only occur after increasing doses. In addition, there may be persistent weakness and depression, as well as sleep disorders. Changes in behavior and psychological disorders such as paranoia can occur with long-term use.

In older studies, no significant side effects were found within investigations with a short duration of therapy. In more recent studies, however, there were quite clear side effects. They consisted of a significant increase in blood pressure , heart rate , fasting blood sugar , insulin , free fatty acids and lactate .

Individual evidence

↑ PA Daly et al .: Ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin: safety and efficacy for treatment of human obesity . In: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord , 1993, 17 (1), pp. S73-S78. PMID 8384187 .
^ D Molnar et al .: Safety and efficacy of treatment with an ephedrine / caffeine mixture . In: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord , 2000, 24, pp. 1573-1478. PMID 11126208 .
↑ ECA Stack Study: Ephedrine, Caffeine, Aspirin in the Test - Ephedrine. Retrieved November 14, 2017 .
↑ CA Haller et al .: Enhanced stimulant and metabolic effects of combined ephedrine and caffeine . In: Clin Pharmacol Ther , 2004, 75, pp. 259-273. PMID 15060505 .

[1] PA Daly et al .: Ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin: safety and efficacy for treatment of human obesity . In: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord , 1993, 17 (1), pp. S73-S78. PMID 8384187 .

[2] D Molnar et al .: Safety and efficacy of treatment with an ephedrine / caffeine mixture . In: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord , 2000, 24, pp. 1573-1478. PMID 11126208 .

[3] ECA Stack Study: Ephedrine, Caffeine, Aspirin in the Test - Ephedrine. Retrieved November 14, 2017 .

[4] CA Haller et al .: Enhanced stimulant and metabolic effects of combined ephedrine and caffeine . In: Clin Pharmacol Ther , 2004, 75, pp. 259-273. PMID 15060505 .