The ECA Stack Guide
Posted: Tuesday, July 04, 2006
by mansigup
Mansi gupta
The ECA stack is a popular drug combination, which is used
as an energy booster and for weight loss. ECA is an acronym for ephedrine,
caffeine and aspirin.
Ephedrine is the
main ingredient in the stack for both fat burning and energy enhancing.
Although it’s very effective on its own, combining it with caffeine makes it
even more so. How effective is it? When
used properly and can greatly speed up the fat burning process and you’ll loose
those unwanted pounds. But before you go out and buy ECA stack there are a few
things you need to know about.
Along with fat
burning ephedrine will attempt to burn off your hard earned muscle as well. The
best way of combating this fat loss is to supplement with protein throughout
the day – not just once or twice a day, as is usually the case.
Ephedrine also
acts as an appetite suppressant. How this works is not fully understood, but
this aids in weight loss also. Unfortunately, these effects only last for a
couple of weeks if the stack isn’t cycled because the body become tolerant of
ephedrine to some extent.
Ephedrine acts to
increase energy by acting on the brain to increase the release of nonadrenaline
into the synapic cleft, and also works as a nonadrenaline reuptake inhibitor
due to the shared action between the two terminals.
In most cases the
ECA stack is taken two or three times daily in a 1:10:10 or 1:10:15 ratio of
ephedrine: caffeine: aspirin. These ratios vary across studies and across
users, but in spite of the differences they seem to be effective. No more than
25mg of ephedrine, 200mg of caffeine and 325 mg of aspirin should be taken in a
single dose and because ECA stack can contribute to insomnia it should not be
taken past late afternoon.
Although
ephedrine and aspirin are not addictive caffeine is, and users can develop a
tolerance to lowered adenosine levels and this can lead to withdrawal symptoms
from adenosine sensitivity if caffeine use is stopped too quickly. It is also
possible to develop a psychological addiction to ephedrine and aspirin.
The most serious
risk factor of the ECA stack is the effect ephedrine can have on a pre-existing
heart condition. It has been linked to death in people with valve damage,
cardiac hypertrophy, and other heart problems. Stimulants should not be taken
by anyone with a heart condition. Evidence also exists that show that the
long-term use of amphetamines can lead to heart damage, but this has not been
shown for ephedrine use.
The use of
ephedrine and caffeine can also raise blood pressure, so users who already have
hypertension need to be careful that the stack doesn’t raise their blood
pressure to dangerous levels – especially during exercise. The good thing is
that the presence of aspirin in the stack does thin the blood and counteracts
this partially.
Insomnia, dry mouth irritability, stress,
headache, dizziness, irregular heartbeat and increased thirst are some of the
other side effects of the ECA stack. Ephedrine has been linked to death causing
many countries to outlaw or control it. The risk of ephedrine has caused many
people to try “ephedrine free" stack formulas. There is no proof that any of
these formulas are effective, but a great deal of evidence exists to support
the effectiveness of the ECA stack, but with risks.
Mansi Gupta recommends Fat Loss Pills.