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"Pain, is just weakness leaving your body"

"...damn you for not giving my TEST" - Metallica

"After this show i'll be fat and happy again.....If i make it to the show...." - Lee Priest

"Lets put some weight on the bar.." - Shawn Ray

Ephedrine's role as a lipolytic agent (one that breaks down body fat to be used as energy) has been known for some time. It has been shown that ephedrine when taken in therapeutic doses is mildly effective in the management of obesity. The problem was that the initial lipolytic effects of ephedrine were soon diminished as other steps in the pathway were reduced in a negative feedback cycle. In an effort to enhance these steps that were being downregulated due to negative feedback, scientists added caffeine and aspirin to the regime. The result was a very effective combination in the management of obesity (dosages given were 20mg ephedrine, 300mg caffeine, and 80mg aspirin, roughly equivalent to one typical ephedrine tablet, a cup of coffee and one aspirin). In fact, not only did the results (lipolysis) not decrease over time as with most drugs, but they actually increased with time. The effects of the combination of ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin were categorized into desirable and undesirable effects. The desirable effects were lipolysis and protein sparing (subjects on the drug combination retained more muscle mass while dieting than the subjects on placebo). Again, these desirable effects did not diminish over time. The undesirable effects, increased heart rate and muscle tremors, lasted only a few days and never returned. In fact, after 1 year of supplementation subjects were experiencing no side effects but were still experiencing the desired effects of lipolysis and protein sparing. To date it has not been determined if the ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin combination can enhance muscle growth and fat loss in healthy, exercising adults. However, based on what we know about the �-agonist system, it is certainly possible. It is important to note, however, that a small handful of subjects among the large subject pool had to drop out of the study due to an intolerance to the supplementation regime. So it appears that most people can use the ephedrine, caffeine and aspirin combination with no problems, while a small handful of people may be intolerant. A consultation with a physician is suggested before beginning this supplementation regime.

Aspirin as an anti-prostaglandin

Aspirin or aspirin-like substances have the potential to reduce some of the side effects such as pain associated with PGF2 administration. However I tend to consider that the use of aspirin along with PGF2 weakens the overall anabolic effects without effectively fighting the side effects. This is true for the aspirin you can find in medication as well as the aspirin hidden in some ephedrine-caffeine stacks. I suggest that you avoid both of them. Several hypotheses could be advanced about the inhibiting effects of aspirin. Some research has shown that aspirin could block prostaglandin receptors. It may also impair the conversion of PGF2 to PGE2 which seems important for a maximal muscle building effect. I know that PGE2 is considered as a muscle enemy in the bodybuilding magazines, but the fact is that several studies have pointed out its usefulness in the bodybuilding process as a growth agent for the muscles. One last hypothesis is that PGF2 stimulates the subsequent natural release of muscle PGF2 or PGE2 which could further enhance the anabolic process. Aspirin would prevent this secondary anabolic secretion.