Lipodrene
Pros
- High Stim for Stim Lovers
- Effective
- Very Popular
- Hi-Tech Fight The Power!
Cons
- Too Edgy for Some
- Had Its Claws Trimmed (DMAA removed)
- Expensive
Lipodrene – it’s manufacturer, Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, is known for its brushes with the FDA, and constant desire to push the boundaries of the supplement industry.
Most supplement companies are happy to sit well within the comfort zone, making no fuss and keeping all the authorities happy. Not Hi-Tech though, and it’s one of the reasons I like them.
Ephedrine, DMAA, and I’m willing to bet some other performance enhancers, have featured in their products in the past.
They’ve had multiple slaps on the wrist, but they are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Lipodrene is a fat burner – “weight loss aid” in Hi-Tech’s words – that sort of embodies the whole boundary-pushing ethos they work by. It also flips the bird at people who call the company out for making “dangerous” products.
From the yellow hexagon tablets, that remind us of illicit PEDs, the immediately recognizable transparent bottle, to the cheap looking label, and the scientifically technical ingredient names
…Lipodrene is as recognizable as it is unique and exciting.
You’ve probably got some questions about the product though.
You might be looking to take on an intense fat burner, but you’re a little concerned about what you’ve heard in various media.
- Is it safe?
- It contains ephedra, so is it even legal?
- Does it even work?
Let’s look at it objectively, and answer your questions.
Lipodrene – What Does It Do?
Lipodrene is basically a proprietary blend that mostly consists of central nervous system stimulants.
These stimulants don’t all use the same receptors and pathways, the theory being that the combination of them all has a cumulative effect on burning fat.
As you probably know, the product has in the past contained such controversial stimulants as DMAA and Ephedra/Ephedrine.
These days it contains a stripped-down Ephedra extract that Hi-Tech have developed to exclude the ephedrine alkaloids the FDA has banned.
According to research, the remaining ephedra extract – called Thermo-Z – can still have some bioactive effects related to fat reduction.
Is Lipodrene Safe?
The ephedra aspect of Lipodrene is no longer an issue since the FDA put their foot down on ephedrine alkaloids.
In fact, Hi-Tech’s stock of Lipodrene was seized after they released the stripped-down version of ephedra in the form of their Thermo-Z compound.
Once they proved the chemical makeup of Thermo-Z was in fact absent of ephedrine alkaloids, the product was returned to them. They have been selling it in the current formula for a while now.
To that end, an ephedra extract sans ephedrine is mostly only tannins, polyphenols, and catechins with a dab of citric acid and a dash of malic acid.
Safer than ephedrine that’s for sure. Ephedrine has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and seizures in the past, particularly for people pre-disposed to such medical problems, and particularly when taken in conjunction with other stimulants.
The initial crack-down on ephedrine forced Hi-Tech to look for replacement ingredients that were potent enough for their loyal customer base to stay with them – because, let’s face it, ephedrine burns fat!
The replacements were DMAA and some PEA (Phenylethylamine) alkaloids, both of which are highly stimulatory.
In 2016, DMAA went the way of Ephedrine in the US, and Hi-Tech went back to the design board to replace DMAA.
A compound called Theophylline (aka 1,3-dimethylxanthine) has been added to the label, and is in the current (I’m writing this in June 2018) Lipodrene recipe.
Theophylline is a methylxanthine – the same family as caffeine – and can be isolated from green tea extracts and coffee arabica.
It promotes vasodilation, stimulates the nervous system, and can be used as a bronchial dilator (for asthma sufferers) amongst other things. It reminds me of clenbuterol, though Theophylline is safer.
Senegalia Berlandieri Extract is the second added ingredient. It replaces Acacia Rigidula as the source of PEA alkaloids.
All of this to say, yes, the current Lipodrene formula is the safest it’s ever been. Ephedrine and DMAA were fine if used responsibly and by people who are not pre-disposed to the potential medical issues they can cause, but they are gone, and that appears to be that.
Is Lipodrene Legal?
Yes, currently it is, in the USA. Some countries have a problem letting some of the ingredients through.
Even Yohimbine and Therefore, I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to get hold of Lipodrene in any of its forms (or any other Hi-Tech products for that matter) if you are not in the USA.
What’s The Verdict – Does Lipodrene Work?
This is probably the most important question, considering a fat burner’s point is to burn fat, whether or not it is the subject of controversy over the ingredients.
Keep in mind here that the most potent fat loss tool at your disposal is your diet, and your control of it. Lipodrene is not going to burn the consistent 500 kcal per day that you can consistently achieve with a calorie controlled diet.
However, if you’re accustomed to stimulant-heavy fat burners and you are looking for the additional kick in the metabolics, then it might be right up your alley.
I don’t use Lipodrene if my workouts are fast-paced or particularly strenuous because some of the CNS stimulants can increase my heart rate. Not to dangerous levels, but nonetheless, I don’t want that feeling if I’m going for it.
It’s worth mentioning that Yohimbine and other ingredients can’t be taken with some medication and they can cause an anxiety response in some users.
Lipodrene might have had a few set-backs but it still contains the most potent stimulants that are legally available, so I definitely advise running it by your doctor if you are on medication or have a medical condition.
One day I’ll get around to giving you a full ingredient breakdown of Lipodrene’s formula.
For now at least, this article should help you with some of your queries on Ephedra and the latest iteration of the world’s most popular Ephedra containing weight loss aid.
It works, just take it steady at the beginning.
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