Silverstone released from hospital

David Silverstone promises to never again take pills, called "Charge", following Tuesday's scary incident.

By KATRINA WAUGH
THE ROANOKE TIMES

It may be a little late, but David Silverstone has made a New Year's resolution that will probably stick.

Silverstone was released from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital early Wednesday morning after a frightening reaction to a dietary supplement.

Silverstone had taken "some pills" he said, then collapsed in the Express locker room after Tuesday's 3-2 win over Atlantic City.

"I felt terrible all game so I took those things," he said. "I felt good for a few minutes, then I felt bad. I sat down on the couch and then that was it, I just lost it.

"That's the last time I ever take something like that."

Silverstone's heart raced and he fell into semiconsciousness. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

"I couldn't move my hands until about 1:30 [in the morning]," Silverstone said. "I was itchy all over but I couldn't move my hands to scratch. It was very scary. I've never felt anything like that before. Honestly I felt like I was dead."

Silverstone said he thought the pills, called "Charge," were "caffeine or something like that."

According to the Web site for Labrada (www.labrada.com), makers of Charge!, the pills contain both ephedra and caffeine and can be used for "rapid weight loss" and an "energy booster". The "serving size" on the label reads "1 capsule."

Use of caffeine and ephedrine-like substances like ephedra (ma huang) and pseudoephedrine (like Sudafed) is not rare in hockey, says Express coach Perry Florio.

"Guys drink coffee or drink Red Bull [a high-caffeine drink] and take these over-the-counter supplements," Florio said. "I've been around pro hockey for almost 15 years. Its common in all locker rooms, the use of ephedrine, usually Sudafed.

"I played in Hershey with a guy that had a pill box like senior citizens with a whole array of stuff he was taking. And I've never seen anything like that [Silverstone's reaction]."

Silverstone was home resting Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm O.K.," he said. "Slow and tired, but I feel fine."

Florio put Silverstone on the seven-day injured reserved list - activating Frank Novock from the IR - and made him promise not to take the pills again.

ECHL president Brian McKenna was traveling Wednesday afternoon. Neither Florio nor ECHL director of communications Jack Carnefix knew if the ECHL had a policy on players taking stimulants.

"I don't think there's anything," Florio said. "Maybe there should be after this. ...