Those five (or six) hours energy shots.

[JFrankA]

I haven't found anything that actually says something about this product. I'm talking about those five or six hour energy drinks that are sold at gas stations and drug stores, not those caffine and sugar filled cans of water. The claim is that these "shots" have no caffine, no sugar, low calories, and barely 2 oz. If this does deliever as promised it would be nice, but I'm skeptical.

See, I sometimes get sleepy at work between the hours of 1:00 - 2:00pm and 4:00 - 6:00pm. (I work 11:30am - 8:00pm). So I decided to try it. It works...sometimes. There are times when I still feel sleepy during work, and only about an hour after swallowing the foul tasting stuff. This leads me to believe it's only a placebo. Still I would like someone's opinion, or really, knowledge about this stuff. I've searched the web for info but all I can fine are "testimonies".

Any one have any real info?

Thanks.

[SeanDamnit]

I don't have any real info other than my brother telling me he tried one and was throwing up for the rest of the day.

[casebro]

I figured they are just protein?

[blutoski]

I haven't found anything that actually says something about this product. I'm talking about those five or six hour energy drinks that are sold at gas stations and drug stores, not those caffine and sugar filled cans of water. The claim is that these "shots" have no caffine, no sugar, low calories, and barely 2 oz. If this does deliever as promised it would be nice, but I'm skeptical.

See, I sometimes get sleepy at work between the hours of 1:00 - 2:00pm and 4:00 - 6:00pm. (I work 11:30am - 8:00pm). So I decided to try it. It works...sometimes. There are times when I still feel sleepy during work, and only about an hour after swallowing the foul tasting stuff. This leads me to believe it's only a placebo. Still I would like someone's opinion, or really, knowledge about this stuff. I've searched the web for info but all I can fine are "testimonies".

Any one have any real info?

Thanks.


What's the product? I'd start by reading the label.

Different products have different active ingredients, and some have been reported to be adulterated with substances not on the label. Some just relabel their active ingredients to 'hide' them (eg: guarana contains concentrated caffeine, bitter orange contains pseudoephedrine). A few might still use banned stimulants such as ephedrine; many use stimulants that in my opinion should be banned, such as pseudoephedrine; many use hormonal stimulants such as taurine. Many use a combination of stimulants ("stacking").

There's nothing about the legal stimulants that is mysterious or fraudulent: they are known to work. It's just that the public has become increasingly concerned about reports of dangerous side-effects, so renaming them helps sales.

If you're curious about placebo influence, get two colleagues to double-blind the product for you and compare your perception of effect after 20 shots. If you guess 18+ out of 20 shots correct, it's probably working.

[madurobob]

I figured they are just protein?

I think they're more likely heavy on the B vitamins. I think all they really are is concentrated mega-doses of vitamins. Big doses of B vitamins can boost energy quite a bit since they are key in converting food you eat into usable energy.

One of these days I'll check the label of one at the drugstore. The standard FDA DV label should be pretty revealing.

[madurobob]

Here are the ingredients of one of them: http://www.5hourenergy.com/ingredients.asp

Heavy on the B vitamins... but also caffeine and taurine and other stuff.

[blutoski]

Here are the ingredients of one of them: http://www.5hourenergy.com/ingredients.asp

Heavy on the B vitamins... but also caffeine and taurine and other stuff.

Notice that there are no real dosages indicated, so it's still hard to tell. My guess is that caffeine and taurine are the only active ingredients. Taurine+Caffeine stacking is a well-documented temporary alertness combo.

The problem with this strategy is that the body adapts, and you will need increasing doses to obtain the same level of alertness. The second problem is that you could become dependent (varies from person to person, based on usage history), and discontinuance may be lead to withdrawl symptoms. Most people report headaches.

[blutoski]

Notice that there are no real dosages indicated...

Great googly-moogly: there could be as much as 1.87g of Taurine in there (hard to tell - they're hiding the dosage - I'm sure that's deliberate).

Side effects typical of stimulants start to become noticeable in most adult males at about 2.5g/day. (eg: loose stool, heartrate racing...) So, I'd watch dosage.

[JFrankA]

Wow.

Thanks, Blutoski, that's exactly the information I was looking for. I knew either that it was a placebo effect or that there was some kind of stimulant inside it, and if so, what the effects are.

Thanks.

[blutoski]

Some just relabel their active ingredients to 'hide' them (eg: guarana contains concentrated caffeine, bitter orange contains pseudoephedrine).

I need to publish an errata on this: bitter orange is synephrine, not pseudoephedrine.

[foxjwill]

Notice that there are no real dosages indicated, so it's still hard to tell.

This is what they list when you click on the picture of the supplement facts label on the bottle:

"Directions for use & label information

For Maximum Energy: Drink entire bottle at one time.
For Moderate Energy: Drink a half bottle or less. Re-seal bottle. No refrigeration required. Discard remainder after three days.

CAUTION: Contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee. Limit caffeine products to avoid nervousness, sleeplessness, and occasional rapid heartbeat. You may experience a Niacin Flush.
Not for use by children under 12 years of age.

Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.

Individual results may vary."


Notice the part about not having been evaluated by the FDA.

edit: The supplement facts label lists the serving size as 2 fl. oz.

[sickstan]

I think they're more likely heavy on the B vitamins. I think all they really are is concentrated mega-doses of vitamins. Big doses of B vitamins can boost energy quite a bit since they are key in converting food you eat into usable energy.


I've never seen or read this in the medical literature. Do you have any references that state that doses of B vitamins in excess of RDA levels increase perceived energy level?

[blutoski]

This is what they list when you click on the picture of the supplement facts label on the bottle:

"Directions for use & label information

For Maximum Energy: Drink entire bottle at one time.
For Moderate Energy: Drink a half bottle or less. Re-seal bottle. No refrigeration required. Discard remainder after three days.

CAUTION: Contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee. Limit caffeine products to avoid nervousness, sleeplessness, and occasional rapid heartbeat. You may experience a Niacin Flush.
Not for use by children under 12 years of age.

Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease.

Individual results may vary."


Notice the part about not having been evaluated by the FDA.

edit: The supplement facts label lists the serving size as 2 fl. oz.

The disclaimer is boilerplate for dietary supplements.

There is still no specific dosage information with regard to taurine, unfortunately. My guess based on the label is that it's a routine taurine+caffeine combo.

[madurobob]

I've never seen or read this in the medical literature. Do you have any references that state that doses of B vitamins in excess of RDA levels increase perceived energy level?

I'm not sure of your question. Are you saying you didn't realize that B-Complex vitamins were key in the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose (thus providing energy for the body)? Or, are you questioning my use of the word "big" as in "big doses"?

I'll admit the latter point is debatable. But, if one is deficient in B-Complex vitamins and takes a "5 hour energy" dose I would not be surprised at an increased energy level. B-12, especially, is often called "energy in a bottle" and has been used heavily by athletes and by doctors treating that yuppie flu once known as "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome".

http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/1287

[Eos of the Eons]

That stuff is expensive, and all you get is a wicked caffeine buzz. Glucose is turned into fat after being processed by the liver.

[Eos of the Eons]

When the liver and muscle glycogen stores are full, any extra glucose is converted into fat. This adds to fat stores, but to a lesser extent than fat released from fatty foods.


http://www.carbs-information.com/digestion-of-carbs.htm

Release a bunch of carbs into your system, and it will just get turned into fat if you have plenty of glycogen stored already.

[Goshawk]

See, I sometimes get sleepy at work between the hours of 1:00 - 2:00pm and 4:00 - 6:00pm. (I work 11:30am - 8:00pm).


Just wanted to point out that this is a nearly universal human trait--you're not the only one to feel drowsy (a) after lunch and (b) mid-afternoon. It's called biorhythms. One way to deal with it without resorting to chemical stimulants is simply to get up and go for a brisk 10-minute walk. Don't just saunter laps around the office, you gotta really step out and get your heart rate up. It works.

Other hints here.
http://www.amanet.org/movingahead/editorial2004/july04_afternoon_slump.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2152471_beat-midafternoon-slump-work.html

Note that none of them involve spending $5+ for a teeny little container of questionably effective mysterious herbal nutriceuticals. Coffee is cheaper, its effects are well known, and it works.

[blutoski]

Just wanted to point out that this is a nearly universal human trait--you're not the only one to feel drowsy (a) after lunch and (b) mid-afternoon. It's called biorhythms.

Ack! I'm pretty sure you meant [circadian rhythm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm)], not [biorhythm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biorhythm)].



One way to deal with it without resorting to chemical stimulants is simply to get up and go for a brisk 10-minute walk. Don't just saunter laps around the office, you gotta really step out and get your heart rate up. It works.

Other hints here.
http://www.amanet.org/movingahead/editorial2004/july04_afternoon_slump.htm
http://www.ehow.com/how_2152471_beat-midafternoon-slump-work.html

Note that none of them involve spending $5+ for a teeny little container of questionably effective mysterious herbal nutriceuticals. Coffee is cheaper, its effects are well known, and it works.

Otherwise great suggestions.