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10 things you have to know before taking DMAA(2)
10 things you have to know before taking DMAA(2)............................................................................... 1 Are DMAA Supplements Safe?......................................................................................2 What do you need to know before taking DMAA supplements?.............................. 4
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Are DMAA Supplements Safe? This should be a concern for anyone participating in competitive games. The drug has been listed among the drugs that are unsafe for use by the world’s doping organization. Many other bodies have the restricted the use of DMAA in particular jurisdictions. However, this is a topic that has drawn wide varying views. The United States’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency considers DMAA supplements to be unsafe for human consumption. The agency argues that there is no information regarding the action of DMAA that qualifies it to be a safe drug for use. On the agency’s website, the body advises people to avoid using the drug at all costs as it is capable of getting them at risk of health hazards. One of the primary concerns of FDA is the ability of the drug to cause vasoconstriction. This they argue is a precursor of high blood pressure which can ultimately lead to death if not handled early enough. Other respiratory tract effects that are likely to be experienced with the use of DMAA include difficulties in breathing, heart attack and a high likelihood of seizures. According to FDA, the use of the drug is also likely to cause neurological disorders as it mainly operates through influencing the central nervous system. This can be dangerous as it can result in paralysis as well as other fatal complications. FDA has been so resilient in ensuring that DMAA containing supplements are eradicated from the market in entirety. Key among the various steps that they have undertaken is issuing drug chemists with letters that warms them from selling DMAA containing supplements. If they happen to find such supplements on the shelves, the agency asks the sellers to destroy them and refrain from making another order from the manufacturers. So far, many firms have been compliant. This campaign began in 2012, and it has taken full effect as there is the current very low sale of DMAA supplements. There have also been cases whereby some firms continue to produce DMAA even after being asked to stop by FDA. Such cases were witnessed in 2013 when a firm called USPLabs refused to stop manufacturing the supplements. FDA stopped their operations, and the 2
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firm in question had to destroy the products that were already in the market. Their projected retail value was about $8 million. This shows how far the agency is willing to go in ensuring that production of DMAA supplements is brought to a halt and not a single drug of the same finds its way to the country’s citizens. FDA has gone a step further and listed the various names that manufacturers can use to prevent consumers from knowing that they are consuming DMAA. This was after the agency realized that many companies were producing the drug in disguised names to prevent the consumers from directly identifying the banned drug. Some of the blacklisted names include Geranamine and Methylhexanamine. Other companies indicate that the supplement contains Geranium plant extracts. This is an indicator of the presence of DMAA. FDA warns consumers to be wary of any supplement that contains extracts from Geranium. The restrictions are similar in other countries such as Canada and New Zealand and many others in the world. The main concern all over is its effects on the respiratory system. The world’s anti-doping agency has also listed DMAA powder among drugs that are unsafe for human use. This means that it is banned for use by athletes who are involved in competitions such as the World Cup. It is however allowed for use in some competitions especially in low dosages that are within the allowed levels. However, it is always good to be certain concerning the restrictions of the competition that one participates in before taking the drug to avoid landing in trouble. The topic of whether DMAA is safe took another twist after various lawsuits between FDA and other companies. The companies still insisted that there was no harm concerning selling the narcotic supplement. One investigation yielded that DMAA was truly a product of the Geranium plant and this was opposed by FDA. However, the agency didn’t give any supporting evidence to back its claims that the drug was artificially obtained. According to a doctor who investigated the claims of unsafety of using the supplement, no adverse effect would be expected in a normal healthy person who used the supplement correctly. The medic argued that the amount of DMAA found in the pre-workout supplements was way below what is considered to be toxic for human use.
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In another probe, young people who were using DMAA as a stimulant during parties were found to develop a common ailment, cerebral stroke. This further strengthened FDA’s claim concerning the safety of using DMAA in supplements. However, another investigation shredded FDA’s supporting evidence to pieces after it was found that the young people in question had used an extremely high dosage of the drug. It was revealed that they took pills that each contained around 600mg of the active substance. This was relatively high as in a normal scenario, and the most expected amount is around 60mg in one supplement pill. This means that these young people consumed ten times of what they were supposed to take. In a nutshell, from a scientific point of view, the drug can be considered as a safe pre-workout drug provided that the appropriate doses of the drugs are taken. If DMAA is taken in dosages of higher than 75mg, there are chances of elevation of blood pressure to unwanted levels, and thus that should be considered. The drug should only be used by individuals who have had no history of high blood pressure in the past as its use can worsen the situation. Also, although FDA has been disapproved by many companies who are producing the drug, they have a point about the safety of DMAA use. It is therefore not advisable to discredit their concerns and continue purchasing the supplements from the black market. Consultations with a doctor before the use of DMAA pre-workout powder are imperative. This will ensure that the desired results are achieved without bleaching the health safety of the user.
What do you need to know before taking DMAA supplements? There are numerous facts that any performance enhancing athlete should come to terms with before settling down on DMAA as the pre-workout drug of choice. Some of these things include the side effects that one is likely to encounter as well as the benefits you will reap from its use. Primary among the things that you need to know is that the effects of using this drug are similar to what can be experienced after the use of cocaine and methamphetamine. This means that the probability of developing an addiction is very high as it ranks top among the most powerful known stimulants. You should be aware that you might be opening up your body to one of the strongest addictions as you try to improve your workout. 4
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To avoid chances of addiction, you should ensure that you strictly follow what your doctor believes is most safe for your health. It is also imperative to understand that the use of the drug is going to impact the central nervous system directly. DMAA acts similarly to caffeine by alleviating the reception rate of the CNS making your body highly alert. The drug is stronger than caffeine and will give your body an energy gush that you need to begin your workout session on a high note. It is therefore again important to check on the dosage that you consume as the drug directly influences one of the most sensitive body parts. In a case reported in 2012, a group of young people resorted to using the drug during a party session. They consumed ten times more than what is necessary for a one-time dosage. The intention was to get ‘high’ rapidly, and this turned to be their undoing. The drug affected their central nervous system, and most were found to have a cerebral stroke which is a terminal illness. Users also ought to understand that unlike many other pre-workout supplements that contain nitric oxide, DMAA causes vasoconstriction of veins. This means that an individual who has taken DMAA pills will have shrunk blood vessels than another who hasn’t. This situation can be fatal if it happens to someone who has a problem of high blood pressure as it is likely to extend the severity of the ailment. Therefore, an individual who suffers from high blood pressure should refrain from using DMAA. Use of the drug is likely to cause increased blood flow and a feeling of high energy. Coupling the supplement with other performance enhancing drugs can be dangerous as this can cause your body to have immense energy that you can’t possibly handle. It is advisable to understand that DMAA is primarily a pre-workout supplement that shouldn’t be used for any other purposes. Some people have in the past used it as a sex enhancement drug, but this is so wrong. It can lead up to passing out into a coma if abused and this should always be considered during use.
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