5 hour energy drinks? Other alternatives?

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I called my doctor's office this afternoon and left a message with his nurse concerning those 5 hour energy drink shots that you can find anywhere and everywhere. I am not a coffee drinker at all and have been resorting to energy drink shots for a source of caffiene. His nurse just called me back with my doctor's response and he absolutely hates them, saying that they can sometimes cause heart palpations if taken frequently as well as extreme headaches when you don't drink them. I just experience heart palpations yesterday and blamed them on my nerves, and now that I think back, it wasn't the first time I have experienced it.

So, for those needing some form of caffiene to function throughout the day, what do you drink? I guess I could force myself to try coffee again. And I guess I should have researched more on those drinks, but they really did help during long difficult days. Especially since I work a 20 hour shift on Saturdays and 12 hour shift on Sundays due to school. However, my health is more important to me.

I work nights. I average 50 hours a week between my 2 jobs. I also pick up extra hours on other shifts. I limit my caffeine intake to mostly regular tea and an occasional Coke. The only things that keep me well rested and functional are a healthy diet, regular exercise, and SLEEP. Too much caffeine is a poor substitution for sleep. Man, I love my sleep! LOL

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I work pms as well....roughly about 60 hrs a week. I find that I try to wean myself from the soda, but I can't give it up completely. I often try to drink a diet soda before work, and then alternate through the night. I don't do coffee, makes me way too jittery. a good meal before work, and then good snacks(yogurt, nuts, fruit, pb toast) and cut out the caffine by 0200.

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"as you are finding out ... caffeine is a drug. it is available as a medication given in a syringy." -llg

llg, what is a "syringy"? is that just another "thingy"? -:lol2:i must be tired.

:hpygrp:

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Specializes in LTC Family Practice.

I used to down coffee and coke, but now I can't for health reasons. But I've found if I eat healthy and get lots of sleep it keeps my head clear. Also, you will need to experiment a bit, but try a good protein like a chunk of chicken or fish and stay away from sweets and heavy carbs. It takes awhile for your body to detox from all the crap, but when I'm eating right I feel GRRREEEAAAATTT:lol2:.

Good luck

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Have you looked into Mate Tea? I've drank it occasionally and it gives a great wake up but I didn't have any of the caffeine rush side effects. Might be something to look into it. Comes in all sorts of flavors, I have a Choco-Nut

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

I have tried the 5 or 6 hour energy drinks. I stopped using them because of the rapid HR. I now use FRS. It has very little caffeine. They can be found at Target stores. If I am out of FRS, my next choice is Diet-Mtn Dew.

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You could try tea as well. I personally like the coffee choice but many of my friends drink tea to stay awake (just make sure it is caffeinated, some of them aren't) You could also try an apple. I read a fact that apples provide more energy than a cup of coffee. I kinda of don't believe this but it doesn't hurt to try!

You could also try emergen-C as a little pick me up. It is loaded with vitamin C, electrolytes, and B vitamins.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

I work 60 hours a week between 2 noc shift jobs. I'll drink a cup of coffee on my way to work and one sometimes during my shift. What I've found though to help the most besides sleep, is just plain water. I made a simple new years resolution about 5 years ago to drink more water, at least 48 oz a day, and I can't begin to tell you what a change it has made!

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wean yourself off with tea :) safer and healthier

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
"as you are finding out ... caffeine is a drug. it is available as a medication given in a syringy." -llg

llg, what is a "syringy"? is that just another "thingy"? -:lol2:i must be tired.

:hpygrp:

:lol2: i guess it's not such a bad typo. it produced a new word -- an effective combination of "syringe" and "thingy." i could have done worse. :lol2:

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