Do you take any stimulants?

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I was curious as to nursing students and nurses alike, do you take any stimulants other than coffee to stay alert? I was working 2 jobs once and was subsisting off 2 or 3 hrs sleep a nite back 10 yrs ago. It was ephedra based but has since been banned because people were abusing it. This other guy introduced me to a product many years ago that worked but I can't remember if it was called "Uptime" or "Ultra Energy Now". They were herbal based. What do you use?:bugeyes:

caffenine will help some but i am also among those who don't get too much of a bounce...it may be tied to the fibromylia

getting sufficient rest and trying to keep your hours the same on days off will probably be a help

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Two Red Bulls, a Mt. Dew, and a large cap with four shots of espresso. I'm someone who needs A LOT of caffeine before I feel any kind of jolt. I don't do this regularly though, only when I don't get enough sleep.

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Coffee, tea, coke....and lots.

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Specializes in ltc and med surg.

I drink coffee. I have heard 5 hour energy is good. I used to take vitamins with ginseng. Go to a health food store or General Nutrition Center.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Just my one cup of coffee in the morning. I run on my own natural energy other than that.

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Specializes in ED.

There is a five hour energy shot that the local conveniance store sells that works good, and on those days I really need a boost I'llget that or a red bull. Usually a cup or coffee or two work well for me.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

Black Coffee (Dunkin Donuts Dark Roast:bowingpur), Pepsi or Coke (The Drink), and stride chewing gum. Sometimes when I am really dragging it, i will eat some hersheys chocolate

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You will get enough sleep and not need pills if you go to sleep and get enough hours in. If you feel like you always need something to stay awake, then you probably need to see a physician to see why.

If I have to get up at 4 or 5:00 a.m., I'm in bed no later than 7:30 pm or 8:00.

You just have to train yourself.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Coca-cola by the quart.:heartbeat

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on an average night? i drink a 20 oz cup of coffee immediately upon waking up, then stop at the convenience store for my 1 liter diet coke, large sized red bull, and 5 hour energy shot. as if that weren't bad enough, i sometimes add another 16oz coffee and 20oz diet coke. did i mention i also drink 2-3 700ml bottles of h20 and that's just what i drink in an 8-hour shift!

i've estimated my daily fluid intake at 6-7 liters of fluid, and i don't want to know how much caffeine i'm taking in!!!

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Ahhh stimulants... had my share over the years. In my early 30's I was an "ephedra junky" and ended up suffering wicked adrenal exhaustion. I went to a naturopathic doc who got me straighted out and off all stimulants completely... even coffee. I never had so much energy in my life!!! But then I returned to a diet of "too much sugar" and ended up again just chronically fatigued, gaining weight and brain fog. After DC'ing the sugar again, I went and bought a good omega 3 fish oil supplement and some Ginsana. It did the trick. I'm not bouncing off the walls but at least I can go to sleep when I have to and stay awake and alert at work.

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

We have a drink here in Oz called Mother, a 500mL can similar to Red Bull. I am a heavy coffee drinker and used to shotgun Red Bull but find that half a can of Mother drunk quickly has my eyes spinning in my head for a few seconds as the caffeine takes hold. 2 of those for a 10 hour night shift does the job.

There is a warning on the can that says, "Not for children, up the duff women or the weak who cannot handle it". For once I believe the warning.

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