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.