5 Hour Energy Drink: Side Effects, Ingredients & Review
Every athlete including paintballers need energy, and with all of the energy shots being advertised today I figured it was appropriate to review and assess one the most popular energy drinks; 5 Hour Energy. In this post you can get an idea of how 5 hour energy works, the ingredients in it, and the side effects of this liquid energy booster.
What you won't find in this review is fluff. I tried to keep this as real as possible by presenting you with information that you can use to form your own opinion about 5 Hour Energy. I do provide my opinion at the bottom of this post, but in no way am I trying to sell you on it, that is a decision I wanted to leave up to you. On the other hand...
If You Are Already Interested in Trying 5 Hour Energy, Click Here to Get a 12 Pack For Just $22.70 - Shipping Included
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The 5-Hour Energy drink has found its way into gas stations and retail stores across the country. What makes this energy drink different is it comes without the "crash" other energy drinks are known for. A closer look at the daily value percentages on the supplement label reveals some off-the-chart percentages that definitely raise some questions, but we'll get to this later.
First off, why is there no crash?
The homepage for 5-Hour Energy states that sugars taken in excess of 20mg per serving increases blood glucose levels. Insulin is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels in the body, and a transition from high glucose levels to stabilized glucose levels can create the crash effect. It is because of this constant battle for homeostasis is why sugar is merely a short-term source of energy, and why people feel so tired after an hour or two of consuming large quantities of it.
How much caffeine is in 5 Hour Energy?
The real source of energy in most energy drinks is caffeine, a stimulant that has been used to wake up society for ages. Any more than 500 to 600mg of caffeine (6-7 cups of coffee) a day however can induce side effects such as light-headedness, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat and even irritability. The good news is a bottle of 5-Hour Energy contains what they claim to be an amount “comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee,” which after research I found to be around 200mg, an amount still under the maximum milligrams recommended. Since the caffeine is under the maximum amount, it should provide the user with increased alertness and reduced fatigue.
I Still Don't Know How Much Caffeine is in 5 Hour Energy Extra Strength... But One Thing's For Sure - It is Definitely NOT For the Faint of Heart
Whats different about 5 Hour Energy?
The confusing part however is that unlike other energy drinks, 5 Hour Energy does not contain carbohydrates, yet they claim it provides energy. Is the caffeine enough to provide sustained 5-hours worth of energy? In part, yes, it can if you have an available supply of fatty acids, which caffeine is known to release to feed muscles for energy. You could expect to get energy for a good time period, but for sustained energy carbohydrates will be needed. The combination of caffeine and B Vitamins, which work to convert proteins, carbs, starches, and fats into energy makes this supplement a good candidate to take before a meal. Many doctors insist taking B Vitamins before meals to get maximum effect, the same goes for amino acids.
Is there anything wrong with 5 Hour Energy?
After sifting through all of the information on the 5-Hour Energy homepage you can’t help but feel enticed to buy a couple to try out. They seem to have everything you need to keep on going, but what still has me concerned is the 2000% daily value of B6 and the 8333% of B12. All other ingredients including the amino acids are in amounts considered to be healthy, but what about the amount of B Vitamins? The 5-Hour Energy website has a nice explanation for those that are concerned about taking a large dose of Vitamin B. They simply state that the B Vitamins in their supplement; B6, B12, B3, and B9 are water soluble, any amount that is not absorbed is “expelled with no toxic effects.” They even go on to say that those on B vitamin therapy take even higher doses. Sounds convincing right? What they fail to explain is that water, an essential ingredient that is needed to expel unused B Vitamins, should be mega-dosed to offset the mega-dose of B Vitamins in a 5 Hour Energy shot. Contrary to belief, it is possible to overdose on Vitamin B. Overdosing on Vitamin B happens when intolerable amounts are taken over a long period of time which can result in headache, dizziness, fainting, yellowing of skin, and temporary nerve/brain damage that can last 3 months to 3 years. I could not find a consistent number defining a toxic amount, as it seems to be different for everyone. One case for toxicity reported 5,500mg for one dose, while another reported 500mg over a period of time (3 months or so), which happens to be the equivalent of B12 in one bottle of 5 hour energy. The recommended daily dose for B3 is 6mg, .8 for B6, and 30mg for B12. The amount of B3 in a 5 Hour Energy drink is 30mg, 40mg of B6, and 500mcg of B12.
It seems the number of ingredients in 5 Hour Energy shots work together in more ways than I can piece together. In my assessment I did find that the amount of B Vitamins could potentially lead to an overdose. In the most extreme case, if taken daily and over a period of time 5 Hour Energy shots could very well cause temporary nerve/brain damage (in the most extreme cases). Symptoms such as numb hands and feet are signs of toxic levels. Aside from that, the combination of ingredients and a healthy amount of water should result in 5 hours of energy if fatty acids and carbs are available for synthesis, and the user has not desensitized themselves to the effects of caffeine.
So does 5 Hour Energy Work?
Yes, it will, as long as you aren't a heavy user of caffeine, and supply your body with some carbs you should in theory get hours worth of energy and focus from the amino acids in 5 Hour Energy.
Should you be worried about side effects?
As with anything, you should exercise moderation. You can expect side effects if you take 2 of these a day for 30 days, but who does that? For the paintballer who needs energy for a big game or tournament, 5 Hour Energy is perfect and should do wonders for you.
So there you have it, the lowdown on 5 hour energy, and hopefully the answers to all of the questions you have about this ultra-popular energy drink.
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BE CAREFUL with this drinks, I took one! gave me a rush all over my body, join pains, and numb my fingers and toes!
Yeah, the first time i had coffee, or a heavily caffeinated drink I felt similar to what you just described, all except the joint pains, which is odd.
I love these shots! I drink 1 most every day and have been for several months. Do you think this can cause a problem with my health? Are there any web sites on 5 hour energy about drinking them daily every day and health concerns?
lol if it gives you jitters just eat something. its not supposed to be taken on emapty stomach!
question: i found 5 hour energy at wholesale prices at http://www.energytin.com
anyone else know what one can find em cheaper.
love =)
I tried 5-hour energy a year ago and had no problems taking 1 every couple of days, I probably took a dozen or more over a 2 month time frame. Then one day on a job sight I took one and within an hour I felt flushed, and I bent over (luckily on low scaffolding) I became terribly dizzy. I never thought it was the drink because I never had any problems before. I ended up going to the hospital ER a few days later because the symptoms persisted, they thought I was having a stroke then one doctor concluded it was an inner ear inffection. I took it easy and it went away in a few more days. Well yesterday May 23rd 2009 I needed a little energy so I drank a five hour energy ( I purchased a case at Sams club) for the first time since my ear infection, and within half an hour BOOM same dizziness, this time I vomitted 4-5 times, and today today, Friday the same dizziness.. I would warn anyone to be careful with this drink.
My son (32 yrs) is a truck driver. (Was) Cause he had a seizure and after about 1 min he sounded like he was snoring. But, he was drinking 3 to 5 in one day,5 days wky. He was not in his right mind when I called 911 for a bus. He could hardly stand by himself. My was some better in about 3 to 4 hours but no more since then. A coke will give him the shakes really bad now. I think we know what it is for someone to almost overdose on the dam things. Please if you have loved ones that are drinking more than one a day to read this. I have 2 children 1 girl 34, 1 boy 32. I can not even think that I could lose one of them from caffene. I now know what caused this episode and he has lost his job from. So now my works starts as to what amounts to a caffene o.d. I feel lucky we still have him.
USER BEWARE! i used energy drinks(i.e. Monster etc.)for a couple of years with no unpleasant side effects. Yesterday i drank a 5 hr. energy drink before a friend and i went into town. Within 10 min. as we were on the road i felt a terrible burning feeling all over my face, then on my arms. I told my friend i had to get back home QUICK! all i could think of was drinking some water and putting something COLD on my face! I am normally pretty cool about things, (no allergies or hypersensitivities that i know of) But this freaked me out!!! It took me the rest of the day to recover! PLEASE! PLEASE! USE CAUTION WHEN TAKING THESE DRINKS!
I had a 5 hour energy shot the morning before my graduation and what i experienced afterward was torture. I had hot/cold moments where I would sweat/feel nauseous and then be perfectly fine. Needless to say it was painful to have to sit through 4 hours of lecture while feeling like crap.
I’ll never drink another one again.
The flushing feeling some people get is probably niacin. Although unpleasant, it’s actually a very healthy thing for the body. If you’ve ever party’d hard, then you know ‘what comes up – must come down’. That’s the rules and if you can’t handle it, you shouldn’t play. Too much of anything is bad for you. The best thing for one person may not be the best for others. Try different things and stick with what works best for you. If you plan ahead, you probably won’t need energy drinks (naps, eat right, etc). My favorite thing about the 5-HR Energy drink is that it doesn’t ‘amp’ me out, it just keeps me alert and awake. I also like the fact that it’s just a shot – less filling -!!
I have tried the five hour energy drink after a very long and hectic day, still had oustanding chores to complete and needed that extra boost. My experience the taste was not what I expected, some what medicated flavor,did get one hour or so of revitalise energy which was in my opinion was rather short lived. I personally feel the drink did not live up to my expectations.
I tried the five hour energy drink on a 22KM (14 Mi) run I did on the weekend. I just had a few sips near the end of my run. When I got home I felt very nauseous and light headed – and a bit flushed. I had to rest for 30 – 45 minutes before I felt “right” again. These drinks are definitely not for me!
just letting you people know -
taking about 4 of these and food (in a row) will f*** you up. i have done this before and i get dizzy, lightheaded, a nice full body vibrate, loss of depth perception, uncontrollable laughter. . . etc. it’s pretty trippy at the time, almost a legal high.
however, i do crash and i crash hard. were talking face time with the toilet, nausea, did i say puking? oh yeah, and some serious insomnia.
Is it sutable for teens, such as 11 or 13 Years old.
Thanks
yeah, its good for teens to adults. Though its always a good idea to drink half of the bottle the first time. I’ve never really needed a full bottle, in fact, a full bottle puts me over the top.
oh and another thing, teens have a higher metabolism, so it will get into your system faster, which is another reason you should only drink half a bottle.
Im telling you right now that i am stupid. My friends dared me to drink 3 of these things in a row and i was for @#$%ed up i will never think about 1 of these things again.
Be careful with ANY energy drink if you are hypertensive (have high blood pressure). Other chemical ingredients such as taurine, caffine, etc. may worsen your condition.
Try an experiment: take your blood pressure before taking an energy shot; wait an hour after drinking, and take it again (if you use an in-store blood pressure machine, probably a good idea to use the same one for both measurements). Fortunately, I have low blood pressure. But I still saw my blood pressure spike significantly.
I’m not a doctor, but I imagine a significant spike in blood pressure may give rise to other medical complications, including stroke, for those already predisposed from existing conditions – whether they know it or not.
One thing that the review didn’t cover is that it contains suralose as the sweetener, which has its own issues.
I am a certified trainer and am working out every day-I find that 5 hour energy drinki is very effective, I usually drink about 3 a week sometimes just 1/2 of the
bottle about 45 minutes before the workout and the whole bottle on other times.
I notice an energy lift about 20 minutes after I drink it not dramatic but effective, there is no doubt that it is an energy booster, just try it, forget it and enjoy the results, like any thing else if you abuse it will abuse you. try 1/2 bottle the first couple of times you will find out if its for you or not.–final remark, this for energy that you are going to put to use not just to keep you awake.
As with anything, you must use the 5 hour in moderation and be careful of the circumstances ie. running races, etc. I have used this on several occasions when I needed to stay up late or when I did not get much sleep the night before. You should always drink a lot of water with them and they tell you not to drink caffeine drinks with them or you will feel a lot of the symptoms you have described. You should always be aware of any medical conditions you have (high/low blood pressure, diabete, etc). They have worked for me, even though the taste is awful.
I took five hr energy for over six months. I had all the energy that I wanted i mixed it with water , the taste is ok for me but, my problem there was too much b6 in my blood thus, i started to have nerve pain caused from this (my blood test showed too much b6) so, all i had to do was stop taking it for a while but it works just try not to use the whole bottle use half especially if your workout dont last that long mine was for two hours every day for 5 days rest on sat.and sun.
Ok so I have been putting some serious workout time in lately, and my doctor also has me on a diet medication called Phentermine. Yesterday feeling tired from working out everyday, I drank a 5 hour energy, it was around 3 p.m. it is now 6:30 a.m. and after hours of trying to sleep, it never happened, and I have had a headache from hell! Blah, I am not a fan at all!
I started using thisproduct about 2 months ago. i like to take it before i workout.
about 6 months ago, i had all the blood tests done, as i need to get my cholesterol in order.
so last wk, i was retested on all the blood tests. everything was about the same, EXCEPT for: my potassium was very high. i dont take extra potassium. also, my blood platelets were elevated to 682,000. normal range is 150,000 to 400,000.
i havent done anything different EXCEPT taking the 5 hour energy. so i think i will be throwing that stuff in the garbage can as soon as i finish with this message.
beware of what you might be doing to yourself…………and not even know it!!!!!!
It has been SO hard to find any real data/information concerning the effects of this product on the body. I found your article to be informative, well researched and well written.
THANK YOU!
As far as a nurse’s prespective on this product: moderation is good. Small amounts of caffeine can be beneficial (i.e. increase in circulation). A lot of my patient’s take B vitamins because we lack them in our daily diets; but 5 Hour Energy users should follow the directions on the bottle, dont risk an overdose. Its not worth the potential side effects (one of them being temporary paralysis).
Personally: I have used this product 3 times in the last 2 years: once after overnight hiking Half Dome in Yosemite, Ca then attempting to make the 2 hour drive home, after working a 12 hour shift then planning to go out to an all day concert and one time when I wanted an extra boost to work out. All 3 times this product worked. I also drank a lot of water every time I used 5 Hour Energy.
Cheers!
Ive been taken 5 hour energy for over 3 months 1 bottle a day , I loved how iut made me feel . gave me a surge of enrgy threw out the day . but unfortunatley i think ive gotten nerve damage , my eyes have a hardtime focusing now , I feel dizzy , like i could faint alot My body feels weak ….
I have paid $3.33 each for 2 bottles of Extra Strenght and what i got out of it was Nothing! No Buzz .No Energy, Nothing…………Where can i get a refund . I feel cheated and screwed!!!
Wow, lots of people experiencing some bad stuff with this. I have had a couple of these but never experienced any of the things listed. They gave me the energy I needed. I was awake, and alert and felt perfectly normal.
A few people sounded like they went overboard with this drink,so with anything moderation is the key. I only take 5 hour energy IF I need it. I do not take it everyday or even every month. Sometimes I only drink a half a bottle.
When I drink the 5-hour energy I feel kinda high and horny!
I just started taking these in the past week.
— I gotta say I first had my doctor give me a B12 shot, but that caused me dizzines, headache and an awful awkward feeling, so didn’t do it again.
– My key for me now is to find out why I have no energy, but that’s yet to be researched by a nutritionist, probably lack of carbs or not enough of them.
– This drink seems to help me at the moment, and I take it only 3 times a week, or when I start to feel like a nap is coming at work… it does help me, but I”ll be more cautious using it after reading all this.
So what do you do if you get the toxic levels from the 5 hour energy (numb and tingly hands and feet)? It’s been 11 hours since I took the shot for a test… I’ve even eaten dinner and drank plenty of water. It’s bugging me and I want to sleep, hahaha
I’m not a coffee drinker.. in fact I very rarely (like maybe once or twice a year) get any caffeine. I bought this on a whim as I was going to have a long travel ahead of me, and a 7+ hour layover, and did not like the idea of falling asleep in a train station. So, like I said, I purchased some. The taste leaves something to be desired and was reminiscent of Robitussin.. I didn’t get any sort of energy boost from it, and felt sluggish only 10 minutes after consuming the shot. I felt groggy and strange. Due to my type of diet, I’m not ever hurting in the carb area (I get plenty of whole grains, and as a Japanese, rice is a staple), so that was not the issue. I get more energy from making my own energy drinks from apple cider vinegar, or just eating apples themselves… for me, it was a waste of money.
I am very concerned for my husbands health! He is drinking 2-3 of the 5 hr energy shots per day. He works graves and complains he is tired all the time…. That has to be becaus of these shots. He can’t sleep soundly at night because of the shot, then needs more to make it through a day at work. I think these are very dangerous, highly addictive and an expensive habit. I think I will lose my husband if he continues to drink these shots!
Well… I just use 200mg Caffeine (anhydrous) pills, they work much better.
I’ve been taking 1-2 5hr energy shots almost every single day for the past 3 years. And it still works wonders!!! I did not have to increase the intake over the years. I do not have the crash I get with expresso drinks or caffeine pills. My stomach, which is horribly affected by excess caffeine, has never been better.
Jennifer, your husband is in horrible cycle and he will hurt himself if he doesn’t make some changes. It’s not the shots that will harm him. It’s the lack of sleep. He needs to change this sick-cycle.
I know the cycle your husband has been going through… On several occasions, when I had to study for finals or had a deadline at work, I was up 20 hours a day and I’ve taken at least 2-3 5hr energy and/or Red Bull every day. I would barely sleep, get up and have to take one to function. The drinks do what they are supposed to do: keep you up and focused! So he needs to control his intake.
Here are some tips: He MUST drink lots of water!! Caffeine is a diuretic, it makes you pee a lot. Thus, he’ll need more water then the normal person to be hydrated. Also, the more water he drinks, the better the chances that the body will excrete any excess B vitamins or other compounds that in excess might be harmful.
Now, if he’s planning on sleeping, tell him to STOP TAKING ANY CAFFEINATED drinks least 6 hours before bed- it takes a long time for the body to metabolize caffeine.
But it sounds like he needs a detox of sorts, to take him away from this horrible cycle…. This is what I do after my binges to get my body back on the right track and not dependent on 2-3 energy drinks a day:
On Friday, I have my second energy drink after lunch, no later than 3pm. My body will slow down and by 8-9pm, if not sooner, I crash and pass out (not because of the drinks but because of the continuous lack of sleep and now lack of stimulants). I wake up like 12hrs later on Saturday. I allow myself one 5hr energy drink with breakfast to get me going and drink lots of water throughout the day. Inevitably, I will end going to sleep around 8-9pm. I wake up on Sunday very much refreshed and take another drink, this time as late as my body will allow, around lunch time. I go to bed at a decent hour again and by Monday I’m rested and just need one 5hr energy in the morning and maybe a cup of coffee or 1/2 of a 5hr energy bottle after lunch…
Hope this helps!
You guys are a bunch of quacks….
i think Tati you are playing a very dangerous game with your health. Water – but not just any water. There are major differences in water.
By the way, in the first sentence in your article, you used the word “asses” – which is plural for ass. I believe your meant “assess.”
Maybe I did mean asses. Sheesh.
(No but really, good call, I meant assess)
I’ve just recently used this product for a few long distance trips. The very first time I took it I just chugged the whole bottle and immediately felt the niacin flush and a little bit of dizziness for about 5 min. After that I felt great and completed my 6 hour drive without any issues, feeling properly awake (not hyper – just normal) the entire time.
I’ve since used two more bottles, but drank only half of it for the first half of the drive, then the 2nd half for the 2nd half of the drive. It worked wonders for me while at the wheel – there’s simply no question that the stuff works at keeping you awake.
I will personally never use this on a daily basis, and I’ll always follow the instruction on the bottle that says to never take more than 2 in a day. However, for the once in a while occasion when I need to keep alert or risk an accident (driving long hours) I’ll be very happy to carry one of these with me.
were going on a tournament.so there is s DOPING TEST. is this product used by olympians?im just worried if it has ingredients that may have a positive result in the DOPING TEST in the tournament. were going to compete soon ,i appreciate your answer as soo as possible.thank you
There is a confusing of measurements on the B12 in this article.
He states the toxicity as 500mg (milligrams) over time and say that’s the same as in 5 hour energy but then lists the amount of B12 in 5 hour energy as 500mcg (micrograms) 1 mcg = 0.001 milligrams. 5-hour energy has 500mcg which is much lower than the toxic limit (0.5mg) So avoid 1000 bottles a day (directions say no more than 2)
Every day I take twice the B12 as in 5 hour energy in supplements and have done so for over 2 years now without any adverse affects.
I love these, but do not use every day. They work. I hate other energy drinks, they taste nasty and you have to choke down 12/16/20 Oz of them. These, while not the best tasting, are quick to go down, and have a noticeable affect.
You are correct, in one of the instances where I listed the amount of B12 I put mg instead of mcg. However, in response to the argument you are making, the fact of the matter is, everyone’s body chemistry is different — which is one of the reasons they cannot find a universal toxic limit of B-vitamins.
On the otherhand, I would love to see someone choke down 1000 bottles of 5 hour energy just to see if they get a toxic amount of B12
The reason for the flush tingly feeling is niacin.. It’s called niacin flush.. its normal..
The reason they put so much b vitamins in t he drink is that B vitamins are not easily absorbed. If they put 5000% you may be lucky to absorb a fraction of it.
Overdose is also highly improbable because even when high doses of the vitamin are taken orally only a small percentage can be absorbed by the human body. In fact, because of the low toxicity, there was no tolerable upper intake even set by the Food and Nutrition Board when the RDA was revised in 1998. (for b-12 and others)
Also B vitamins are Water-Soluble Vitamins .. (i.e. if you get too much your kidneys will get rid of it..)
This drink is not safe, I drunk one yesterday and ended up going to the emergency room and vomiting. My EKG heart rate was high but was still in the normal range. The chest X-rays were fine, however after being discharged from the hospital I started to experience shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat again and returned to the ER. While there I was hooked up to heart monitoring machines, had blood work done, and was ended up receiving Valium to calm me down. Energy drinks arre not safe no matter WHAT the company says about them.
I have been using these 5 hour energy drinks for the last 7 months. I take 1 or 2 a week depending on how tired I am. I have never had a problem with them at all. None of the side effects you guys/gals list. About two weeks ago I was feeling tired and kind of down. I stopped at the local store and bought me one of these energy drinks, chugged it, twenty mins later felt pretty good. Not only did it give me energy but for the first time I noticed it also got rid of that depressed feeling I had. I thought maybe this was a coincidence. Well, two days ago I was again in a down mood, was not tired, but decided to try the drink out again. After about 20 minutes after taking the drink my depressed mood was gone and I was in a great mood. I dont know if its psychological, the vitamins, or the energy it just gives you, but the effects it has on those blah moods is fantastic for me. I do believe if taken in moderation these drinks have a positive effect. I do have to state that they do not help everyone. I have a co-worker that tried one the other day and he said he was just as tired as before he had taken it. I believe chemistry and size has alot to do with the effects.. I’m 6′ tall and weigh 196 and he is 5’7″ and weighs 240. Anyway, just my 2 cents…
ERJ,
Sounds like an anxiety problem/panic attack. May have been brought on by taking the 5 hour energy drink.
I just want to say that for everybody that has these side effects, How old are you, how much do you weigh? If your in perfect health meaning your at your min weight, work out or some kind of physical activity, drink water daily, and eat your healthy 3 meals a day, you should have an anything to worry about. I have friends that are 130 lbs but should be around 150-165 took the 5 hour and had the effects happen to him. I take one whenever I need it like 4 maybe 5 times a month. Just like everything else your body well get used to it and adapt. If you take one everyday then something is up, you and god know it, so quit complaining and telling everybody in the world that your irrisponsable.
I had taken Niacin supplements a few years ago for energy.
I broke out with a bright red rash on my elbows, and knees.
It itched also. I stopped taking them.
Part of the side effects of Niacin is the rash.
I had been drinking 5 hour energy drinks for about a year now, at least one every other day, sometimes 2 a day. I had been having some unexplainable symtoms for a while that had gotten way worse. I was extremely depressed, to the point I was about to make an appointment to go on antidepressants, I was completely exhausted all the time, I had mood swings, and absolutely no patience for my two little boys. I started having headaches and stomacheaches every day, and just felt “off” all the time. I finally decided to try to quit drinking 5 hour energy drinks before I went to the dr, and a couple days later I’m happy as can be! I’ve been sleeping again, I’m not depressed, I enjoy my kids again!
I don’t doubt that these drinks can be taken in moderation and with adequate amounts of water, but they messed me up! I found them to be pretty addictive actually, but I don’t know if thats the drink or just me, considering I’ve been addicted to other things in the past. Although when I read someone talking about how they “allow” themselves half a drink after lunch, it tells me I’m not alone in having an unhealthy attachment to these things!
5-Hour Energy drinks are the best way to get energy if you are very tired but want to work out after long days work. In my experience, you are not supose to use this if you are just going to be sitting down or in an office enviorment. I once took it just to have energy but it cause mild to semi-pain all over my body. If the energy is just there and not being use to work out or do any activity, I would not take it. Otherwise, it’s awesome to get a full blast of energy and get the best out of a work out. Also, try not to do it everyday but may every 2-3 days out of the week, otherwise you’ll need it everytime you want to do an activity or work out and you’ll exhaust your body. My overall opinion, great energy boost with out the calories or gallon of other energy drink bottles and when taken in moderation is great to keep a heathly energy source for those tired days. I Love it!!!!!!!
I use this product in moderation. When I have 3 weight training/cardio workout days and daily cardio. On my weight/cardio days I use 5 hour energy drink 45 minutes prior to the workout session. I find it to be very effective to take with food, preferrebly with protein and throughout the workout drink a small amount of water. It works for me.
As a quick pick me up, I have also used this right around 2:00 in the afternoon. Works great, too. It helps me stay awake and sometimes motivates me for an ‘after work day’ workout at the local gym.
The key is to use in moderation, and not rely solely on this product.
I have not seen any comments with the same experience as mine, but all I can say, I took this product twice (each dosis on a separate day) and all I got was a mild tingly feeling on my skin and 5 full hours of sleep – each time. It ended up doing the opposite on me. Not sure what could cause something like this when Vitamin B is associated with energy.
I am a truck driver & spend 12 to 14 hrs a day on the road. I drink 1 to 2 5hr’s a day depending on how i feel, for well over a year now. . .ive noticed that it actually increases not only my alertness, but my appetite as well. To this day i havent suffered any negative affects from using this product. . . But, i use it as the directions say to use it! There was one occasion where i drank 3 bottles in about a 12hr period & i did experience a very restless night & a severe case of diarrea. . . its like another person said in this column, dont abuse it & it wont abuse you. . .
Have any of you ever sought out a more researched and tested alternative to 5 Hour Energy Drink? AdvoCare sells Slam which is similar to 5HE, but it’s thoroughly tested for purity and safety. While it does have the same 8333% of the daily dose of B-12, it doesn’t have any B-3 and only 500% of B-6, leaving the intake within a non-toxic level.
If purchased under a Wholesale Distributor I.D., the product actually cost less than purchasing 5HE at Walmart. Anyone can become a wholesale distributor for an small annual fee which will easily be paid off with the 20% savings you get on your purchases.
AdvoCare’s Slam is also highly recognized in the athletic community with national spokesperson such as Drew Brees and Danny Woodhead, just to name a few.
Point of correction, I didn’t realize that Niacin was Vitamin B-3; Slam does contain Niacin, 20mg to be exact.
I am an avid martial artist and a healthy young adult. I had been taking 5hr energy for a long time once a day at work. It worked wonders.
One day I had a cup of coffee, and while on the road took a 5hr in the same day. It triggered a migrane. I had a visual aura, numbness in my right fingertips, and a massive headache that lasted for two days. Thats just one bad experience I have had with these.
Lately, I have been more and more sensitive to caffeine. Every time I have coffee or a 5hr energy shot my chest hurts. I have heart palpatations as a side effect. I really dont want to have a heart attack before I turn 25 so I had to stop taking them.
For a healthy person like me to be having heard palpatations, and migranes triggered by this product should say something. I do not recommend 5hr energy for anyone. By the way, I exercised caution when using them too. I always had something to eat before hand and drank a ton of water while on them. That didnt seem to quell the chest pains at all.
Ill finish with a quick question. Why hasnt the FDA done anything about this? I thought they had to review all products before they hit stores. How did 5hr energy get around that?
200mg is in one cup of coffee, but 600mg is in 7 cups of coffee…. that math dont add up
I am 21, male, 6’3″, 190lbs
I have been drinking monster energy (because i trust Hansens) for about 5 years now, a modest amount at first, and a very unhealthy amount (24in one week- one time, for finals week, no noticeable effects besides my own disgust for myself lol) and more recently on a regular basis, once a day or so. I do a lot of physical work and burn off a lot of energy. I noticed some stomach discomfort and made the switch to 5 hr energy about two weeks ago and just thought today to keep record of my health and changes.
I just switched my sleep pattern from a regular college schedule, to a grave yard shift schedule -8pm-8am at a very labor intensive sand blasting shop (NORTHWEST Powder Coat/ Blasting). The only reason i am taking these is to ease into the schedule change. With sand blasting being such a dangerous job, I need to be ale to focus whether i’m tired or not. i run/ exercise daily and I have only had a few problems with the drink:
-Right now, I have a very bad stomach ache, but it was probably my own fault- dont mix this drink with other forms of caffeine.its so small and i forgot how powerful it is. I have been drinking loads of water for the past 15 minutes to offset the ache- its working wonders
-I havent thoroughly switched over to a normal sleep pattern yet, thus havent figured out new eating patterns entirely, and find myself drinking these on an empty or near empty stomach
- I had a niacin flush one of the first times (second of third day) I tried this drink, it felt like i had a chemical burn on my upper body, i tore off my sweatshirt and saw that my arms had turned beat red and were hot to the touch, it continued for about 20+ minutes and eventually stopped bothering me. this was something i had never had happen, but supposedly its good for me???
-I have also been experiencing symptoms of a weak immune system. I take these when my body needs sleep, and work harder than i should be able to. I have been getting sores in my mouth very frequently and have a new cold today.
a few days ago I experienced a flash flu, it lasted for about an hour, then passed.
-when I drink these i crave bread,ive been eating hawaiian sweet rolls each shot!! along with plenty of water. When i dont eat/drink these i get a stomach ache w/ 5he**
this article helped me quite a bit, now that I have an idea of how the shot works for me, i can load up on carbs and water after continuing to adjust my sleep schedule! niacin is in monster as well as the ingredient taurine, didnt check for others…..
What many folks are describing (nausea, sweating, flushed skin, pain) is called a niacin flush. When you take large amounts of niacin in one dose, you get those symptoms. It’s not good for your body or liver. The way I combat this is to drink a half bottle mid morning, and then the rest in the late afternoon. The difference between this and the Monster/Red Bull drinks is that there is aren’t a lot of other ingredients (water, sugar, etc) to lessen the blow, so it hits you really fast.
Try splitting up the bottle to see if that helps. If not, your best bet would be to stop taking it and see a doctor, or just starting popping a B vitamin pill once a day.
What Amina states is good advice. I tried this drink and took one bottle, forgetting to realize that I take a multi vitamin every day that has a moderate amount of B vitamin percentages. The niacin rush was very prevalent and I needed to follow-up with mega amounts of water to flush out the B levels.
The advice by taking a half bottle followed by the other half later on was a lot better and without the multi vitamin which I have now gone back too without taking the 5 hour energy shot. Cost wise, I think it’s bettter to buy a multi vitamin wih a moderate amount of B vitamins, then to take a shot of this (avg cost in a convenience store is 2.50 (Kind of pricey).
I use a 6 hour energy (a little more powerful and different brand) every once in a while. I work at an understaffed store… I’m a produce assistant manager and also the ONLY grocery assoiciate. Now, our other stores, which are the same size, have 2-3 grocery associates so you can all imagine I work my butt off when that truck gets there and I have to unload it and get it all to the shelf by myself… I need these every once in a while because when I take this at 7am when I get to work, I can literally push myself far beyond any limits I may have, which allows me to much more. But caution to those who do like me… those who wake up with this and no food, work themselves harder than they should, and faster than they should… These have brought me near blacking out on multiple occasions while pushing myself too far. If you start feeling these symptoms (tingling in your eyes, seeing black spots, light headed, numbness in fingers, and an extremely rapid heartbeat) stop what you are doing, take deep calm breaths, and drink a lot of water. It is very possible for you to black out, faint, or even for your heart to fail! Use caution and be aware of yourself.
Oh and grab lunch while you are taking that short break btw, It’ll help very much!
I heard there was BULL SPERM in it.
love the energy ! looking for sponsorship for the next golden boy and possible world champion ! we use your 5 hour drink before every fight ! its works ! hope you ll respond or call me directly at 310 8189700 thanx and hope to hear from you soon ! john michael
I started using the 5 Hr. Energy about 6 months ago. I usually have 1 a day…sometimes 2. I am 32 yrs. old & found out I had a stroke. The neurologist said he thinks I need to see a heart Dr. because that is the underlying problem. After reading everyones feedback I do feel that the 5 hr Energy could of had something to do with the stroke. I should have been smart enough to only use it when truly needed and not on a daily basis. I will not be drinking these again. I think people do need to be cautious when using this energy drink!
What do you think of parents giving 5-hour energy drinks to soccer players who are 7 and 10 years old to improve their games. They load them with a whole bottle just before a game. They are small boys and the youngest was sick with nausea, but his father made him play anyway. This is a win at any cost?
This is my 2nd time drinking the 5-hour energy drink and I feel like I can do a commerical. I drank one today because I felt like I could sleep standing up and instantly I felt the difference. I didn’t have any side effects.
I had my first 5 hr energy yesterday. They were handing out free samples so I thought it’d be nice to try one. I’ve felt pretty awful since then. I’ve been hot/cold, sweaty and sick to my stomach for almost 24 hours now. Probably won’t be trying it again anytime soon. It affects everyone differently so the only way to know for sure is through experimentation.
@rosie, I would NEVER give younger kids 5 hour energy drinks, or any energy drink for that matter. For one thing, the metabolism of a 7-10 year is so much higher than an adults– which is what 5 hour energy is intended for.
The problem with the daily recommended value that we see on the ingredients section of all the foods/supplements we consume… is they are intended for the average individual at an average weight… a weight that far precedes that of a child’s, and of course what makes it even worse –they do not factor in age.
Kids could easily experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath… or worse, long term adrenal issues could develop if prolonged consumption continues, because they are at a critical development period in their life…. I can’t even begin to stress how terrible this is… I definitely wouldn’t consider that a win…. especially in the long term. Wow, those parents deserve a strong scolding.
For everyone who has tried any energy product and has had a bad experience, this new product (10kshot) does not have any side effects. Just visit the website and see for yourself. I personally have given out over 200 samples, with not 1 bad experience between them.
Any energy drink should be taken responsibly and with moderation. The drinks with more natural ingredients will be better for you in the long run.
I have used the products for some time now.
But i have had bad side effects.
so this product can not be good for you.
I have had bleeding hemorrhoids.
it also has caused diarrhea.
it was the 5 hour energy that caused it.
So be careful!
I’ve been consuming 1 – 2 per day with varying effects. I think I have experienced heart palpatations, but not often enough (obviously) for me to discontinue use. I drink only 1/2 a bottle – hours apart. Depending on the day, the drinks pretty much energize me and heighten my mood. I’ve often referred to it as my “happy juice.” Although, if I’m tired enough, even an entire bottle won’t prevent me from sleeping! I’ve not decided whether to decrease use or go cold turkey. Still researching. I will definitely begin consuming more water though! Great article and comments.
be careful 5 hour energy are addicting,has given me alot of health problems,high blood pressure is one.
Energy drinks are the equivalent of a credit card. They create debt on your body and stress your adrenals by stimulating the fight or flight response.
Thanks for the great article. I work at the airport and have a couple cases of this stored around work (drawers, my locker, my purse, etc) just in case I need a quick fix. Let me tell you, this has become my drug. Most times my day starts at 2:30AM and doesn’t end until around 9-10pm and I often do it all over again the next day. My coworker warned me of the side effects but I never paid any attention because it got me through the day. I also consider myself a healthy 25 year old; I eat about 5-6 small meals a day and exercise regularly. Working at the airport always keeps you on your toes too. I work 50-60 hours a week plus maintain a typical life of a young lady so I am always on the go. I haven’t caught up with sleep in months so I take 2 shots a day plus I take Jack3d to workout.
Whenever I took Jack3d I would notice all the effects of a niacin flush (unbeknownst to me, until now). I did not even think about overdosing nor did I think about the ingredients!
I will be ridding my locker and workspace of this stuff!!!
You may be one of the rare people that can flush the excess out of their system. I’m assuming the meals during the day help with this. However, just as alcoholics can handle alcohol better because they overproduce a certain enzyme –some people can tolerate caffeine and even water soluble vitamins like B’s because they have a good diet. Some people, that take adequate amounts of iodine in a high caffeine diet, which assists a caffeine taxed thyroid, can survive on these shots just fine for a while.
I’m curious though, because Jack3d contains a l-arganine, which is a blood vessel dilator. Do you take take that after a weekend of drinking? I’m only assuming that because you said you live the ‘typical life of a young lady’. l-arganine expands the blood vessels, while caffeine constricts them. Jumping back and forth between a constrictor and contractor can cause heart palpitations/problems. Your heart is literally confused about what rhythm it should operate at. Although, I’m not a doctor, and nothing I say should be taken as medical advice (i don’t want to be liable, so I have to say this). I’ve personally experienced the side effects, and from research others have too, so in your instance, I am glad you are pitching the extra caffeine! It really is about moderation. Too much blood vessel contractors can cause problems… too much blood vessel constrictors can cause problems, and switching between both can cause serious problems. It really is about moderation. In my opinion.
@Fred
I’ve heard this somewhere. I think my twin told me this…. hmmmmmm.
I have been using 5 hour energy since it came out. I love it. The niacin in the product does give you a rush if you down it like a shot. I take small sips with water and then make sure I dring more water when finished with it and never had a problem with it since!!! Best energy drink out there!!!!
in tried that 5 hour energy shot. i actually took two shots, and now im going crazy! i will NEVER EVER take another energy shot EVER! not monster, not red bull NEVERRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!
im nausious, ive got diareeah, im jittery, im sleepy, and dizzy. i just want this to be over already. HELP! i dont know what to do!!!!
I MA ADDICTED TO 5 HOUR ENERYGY AND ITS MAKING MY LIVER FAIL….. I AM GOING TO DIE
THE END
my husband works long shifts for 13 days straight and then only has one day off. he is always drinking 5 hour energy. i have seen him drink 3 a day, he has never had any of the side effects that have been mentioned.but he has had one that i really do not like. he is very mean and nasty the next day. he says and does the meanest things. he is a very nice and sweet guy until he drinks these damn energy shots. now reading all the side effect makes me fear for his life.
I just want to warn anyone who drinks these. Yes moderation is very important. My daughter graduated from high school yesterday and she drank two of these before going into her senior party at 10pm. At 7 am this morning she was found by her younger sister making a horrible gasping sound and her eyes were rolled back in her head. The paramedics tranported her to the ER to where everyone from the local police department to the doctor who treated her thought she had OD on alcohol or drugs. After blood work they were shocked she had none of them in her system. When she woke up she recalled nothing from the incident and she notified us of those drinks. Labs later showed higher levels of vitamin B and that she was highly dehydrated. Yes she had lack of sleep the past couple days and her water intake was minimal however the energy drink was what seems to have caused the seizure and dehydration. Please just use caution and if you do drink these drink them in moderaton.
So to start out I had tried a whole bottle of 5he once before and hardly felt anything. Due to an all nighter and a 6 hour day of summer school ahead of me I decided to try it again. Not realizing it was the extra strength 5he I downed the entire thing which was obviously a HUGE mistake. About 5 minutes later I felt a slight high and began to get really shaky. As I sat down in class I became extremely nauseous, my heart began beating so fast, and I felt like throwing up. In the end I missed my entire lecture and spent that time sitting in the bathroom wanting to puke my brains out. Now about 7 hours later I still don’t feel right. Granted, I should have paid more attention to what I was doing, however this stuff CANNOT be healthy to drink on a daily basis. I will NEVER be using this product again!
I have been working out every weekend for the last two years and one day my friends at my job asked me to try Five Hours energy to boost my energy. I didn’t take their advice for the next two weeks until I want to the 7-eleven one morning to get a lottery ticket. While buying the ticket, I notice the 5hrE and decided to try. I bought two for five bucks and take one on the spot. I went to the gym that morning and had all the energy I have never noticed before. I ran 3.2Miles in 40Minutes and did weight and lot of sit ups and still had a lot of energy. Here comes my trouble.
Sunday afternoon I started feeling funny and was unable to do my laundry. I was unable to go to work on Monday. I managed to come to work today (Tuesday), but still feeling very bad.
I am not taking that thing anymore.
Thanks for the site.
people complaining about this burning sensation and hot/cold moments, take the time to look at the frickin bottle it says “you may experience a niacin flush (hot feeling, skin redness) that lasts for a few minutes. this is caused by an increased blood flow near the skin.”. stop acting like its gonna frickin kill you
I only take a sip it gives me a rush but no side affects i think its bad if u take the whol thing so i only drink in sips
I only tried this a couple times. The first time (actual 5 Hour Energy) I felt no different at all. That could be because caffeine has NO effect on me, but I’d hoped the herbs and B would help me stay alert and focus better. The next 2-3 times I tried something similar that Red Bull makes (5-hour energy shot). I drank it with lunch and I was awake and alert for the next 12 hours!! Lying in bed trying to sleep, and I was still wide awake.
Nice to hear that people are going to start abusing these also… I swear it dosn’t take my for a few idioits to ruin things for the people who can handle them responsibly! Guess the next thing will be someone thinking that they can sue the company because they ended up with a life long -trip-… I thank God today that I am not one of those kind idioits anymore! I only take these randomly & may take two a day but its not because I’m looking for a buzz! PLEASE Don’t be stupid with these its just gonna end up making them be discontinued….!!!!
For me, they work good, but I must eat first, and I drink alot of water and green tea. They also go down really good cold. And I follow the directions and do not abuse them.
Okay so Im 13 and I just took my first 5-hour energy shot an hour ago. It was so disgusting (I hate water) so I drank it with milk… And I haven’t eaten anything today… So far I’ve only experienced a little bit of hand shaking. Should I be terrified of having a stroke or something?! Because reading all of these reviews have made me so scared I’m literally crying. My heart rate has NOT gone up. Since it’s only my first time (and it will be my last time) should I be concerned about the side effects? Please respond, I’m terrified…..
Thanks for the information – very well done. As a senior citizen (65), I find myself greatly fatigued in the afternoons following lunch. I often come close to falling asleep at my computer when I need to be working. Knowing what caffeine does to me in high doses, shakes, nervousness, head rush, I was hesitant to try any energy drink.
I have never tried Red Bull or any of the others, however, seeing all the advertisements for 5-Hour Energy, I decided to give it a try. After one particular tiring afternoon, around 2:30/3:00 I drank one bottle. Literally within minutes, I was alert, focused and back to work. I thought it was amazing.
That was about three weeks ago. Today I just drank my second bottle after reading your column and the comments. Again, I was extremely tired. And, within minutes that overbearing tiredness dissipated and I feel alert and like “me” again.
Anyone who over indulges in anything that has the potential to be harmful should expect to have issues! On the other hand, for me, as I am anemic and supposed to be taking daily doses of prescription grade iron, the B6 & B12 is probably very good for my blood.
I will continue to use the product on an occasional basis while remaining alert the side effects that may come. But so far, so good! For me – it’s like a miracle in a bottle…. I am good to go for the next couple/three hours. That’s all I need to finish out my day.
This is my 2nd time to try 5hour drink. The first time i drank it very slowly, didn’t notice extra energy, that was 2months ago, feeling very tired today, so drank the whole bottle fast, few minutes later i was feeling very dizzy and scared and could not calm down , my husband gave me 2 nerve pills and a sand wich and i felt better, take this drink at your own risk!!!
I have been drinking 5-hour Energy for a few years on and off. My medical doctors and many friends get very upset and tell me to stop drinking this product right away.
I get sick when I take Vitamin B, but am ok when I drink this product.
I drink 1/2 bottle M-F to get me going since I don’t like coffee.
The past week I have been seeing those black tracers in my vision, they have come and gone the past few years. I also have had headaches. I have puked once. I have been very foggy. I am groggy in the day and have troubles falling asleep at night. But, what has concerned me the most is I have been very light-headed I have felt like I am on the verge of passing out. Scary! I had no idea what was going on with me and after reading all these comments I realize it is from this product.
I love the caffeine I get from 5-hour Energy, but need to stop taking it for what it is doing to my body. :/
These things are the best, my heart goes crazy when i drink ne
I’ve been taking these drinks for over a year now. Mostly one a day, but sometimes two. I was recently admitted to the hospital because my arms and legs went numb and I lost all coordination. I thought I was having a heart attack but all the tests came back normal. I don’t know if the b6 megadoses did it but I’m not taking any chances…I’m off the shots!
OMG!!!1 I DRINK RED BULL ,MONSTERS, MONSTER NITROUS ETC ETC
but this morning I decided to take this …. BAD IDEA
I was working (forklift driver).
after lunch return to work, 6 minutes after taking I felt that I was going to faint. almost let my supervisor know about it, but drink lots of water water water, to clean up had taken. I could not breathe very well consentracion not zero, my feet ached, I felt extremely tired ……. I thought it was going to have a heart attack
This effect lasted almost 4 hours
is the most horrible thing happened to me to
I have a 1 year old who sleeps all day. Lazy!!!! Do you think it would be okay to give this refreshing drink to him? 1 bottle for every year…??? I say this because I have a five year old too. He, as well, sleeps a lot. They need a kick in the pants. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
I just figured I would ask here on this site because most of the comments are from the stupidest people I’ve heard from. Some so stupid I bet they reply without reading the entire paragraph.
@ Bob… that is deplorable. I can’t not believe that anyone would knowingly give this to kids under the age of 16. Bad bad bad.
7/25/2011 today was my first time taking the 5 hr energy drink. i think its pretty okay… however i am at work and feeling slight dizzy, feels like im staring in a 3d movie. but i think i will try it again..
Let me preface this by saying i posted this same story on a different blog about 5-hour energy, So this is a repeat so to speak.
I mix 5-hour energy drink with vitamin water by Glaceau. I take about 3 sips out of the vitamin water to allow room for the 5-hour to be poured in, Then i shake the bottle briskly, and i drink the mix down over a 30 minute period. The vitamin water keeps me hydrated, and the 5-hour keeps me energetic. The only side effect is i get a little horny and i walk around with a stiff boner on occasion but who’s complaining. I buy the orange flavored 5-hour drink, and i buy the citrus flavored vitamin water, The taste is brilliant!
Hmmm welll
I have been using these on rare occasion but no more.
5 hour energy cause me to have a grand mal seizure last Friday. Dead serous here.
I nor my family has absolutely no history of any types of seizures before.
It started about 40 min after taking a shot at 330 in the afternoon.
I don’t remember much of anything until I was in the ambulance with the paramedics wondering what happened and why was I in there.
After a few days I’m still extremely sore from the muscle spasms associated with the seizure.
They are now running a battery of test and so far there has been no underling problems found. Perfectly healthy.
Cant help but to keep looking back at the shot. I still have the empty…. Thanks 5 Hour! good shit!
I don’t mean to post twice, But i would like to try the 5-hour decaf flavor out of curiosity and i haven’t seen it sold any where in stores. So far i haven’t had any negative side effects though i was wondering is it safe to drink 5 hour energy during hot weather, the summer months. I can imagine my body is sweating out the majority of the 5 hour liquid out in the sun. I am losing weight thanks to 5 hour energy which is great, However, the Decaf i have yet to see sold in stores. My next drink mix will be 5 hour energy poured over in Canada dry tonic water.
Umm, well heres the problem with is article; and i’m not shooting it down, but i take up to 4 a day. I work two jobs and am always running around getting task done. It’s been over a year now and i have not once felt anyside effect. Well, actually sometimes if gives me an upset stomach, but thats due to the L-Phen in it. That ingredient is naturally in our bodies though. I will say i drink lots of water, but from what i read, it seems gallons of water are needed and i don’t drink that much.
One very important thing that was not covered in the topic above that would explain the burning sensation some people are feeling is the fact that there is niacin in 5 hour energy, which causes the blood to move faster and therefore the veins expand and so your blood is closer to your skin, this causes a sunburn like sensation all over the body and can last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, I know this from experience from using niacin as a detox, which is its most common use
I just can’t believe that folks would put this into their bodies. I’ve read these posts and really wonder how some of the most intellegent ones finish off the post….here’s a common example:
I or someone I know took this drink.
It caused X, Y and Z symptoms and was really scary and I would never take this again. I puked, or felt dizzy or my kid had to be rushed to the ER, etc….
So, everyone (here’s the finale) please be cautious when taking (hydrate or whatever).
When the last sentence should be….DON’T TAKE THIS EFFING STUFF EVER…….try getting more sleep or eating right or excercising or an herbal remedy….
I know some folks can tolerate it….but really…anything that has over 8000% of a daily recommended amount of ANYTHING CANNOT be good!…..am I missing something?
Does anyone else have a painful burning in your throat after drinking these? Everytime I drink these 5 hour energy drinks they burn my throat. The first couple times I drank them it was hardly noticeable, but as I started drinking them more frequently it progressively burned more and more when I would drink 5 hour energy. Now I can’t even drink them because they burn my throat so bad. I think they may have permanently damaged my throat. It’s been weeks since I’ve drank them and I wake up and go through my day with this burning every since I started drinking the 5 hour energy.
Definately use with caution… I drink coffee daily & have tried these a few times instead of coffee, drinking only half & drinking plenty of water. I expected the flustered feeling, but I got really sick to my stomach, chest pains, & shaky as well. I’m very light-weighted anyhow, 5’7 & 115lbs. My husband, who’s 5’11 & 165lbs., didn’t have any problems drinking a whole one. I’m to scared to even try a whole bottle… I believe it isn’t the caffiene, but the vitamins & other ingredients. I’ve never felt that bad drinking, even with drinking 4 cups of coffee with-in a day.
I took the 5 hr b/c i often fall asleep behind the wheel on my way to work in the morning. i took the 5 hr around 8 a.m. now it is around 11:30 i’m feeling like shyt. i’m nauseous, dizzy as hell and want to puke but can’t. i can’t concentrate, i feel like a sick zombie. i just want to pass out somewhere. i feel like crap. i will never ever ever take this crap ever again. im at work praying i feel better within minutes b/c i have a job to do, so far nothing is working. i’m eating to see if that would help. also, i have high blood pressure and took the medication 1 hour after the 5 hour. god knows what i’m going to feel like in a matter of hours. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT AND DON’T RECOMMEND ANYONE TO TAKE IT. HELL JUST DRINK COFFEE. I hate coffee that is why i tried this.
To all the people that are having issues with 5-hour energy, Its safer to mix 5-hour energy with something if you can’t handle drinking it straight. This was going to be my initial point, But i felt it was more interesting to admit what the vitamin water+5-hour energy mixture was doing for me. As i posted above i got a chance to mix 5-hour energy with tonic water, and even though it worked also i didn’t like the fizz in the tonic water. So my most recent mixture: I poured Lemon Lime flavored 5-hour energy over in the new Limeade drink from Taco Bell. I used my same method, i drunk a little of the Limeade out then poured 5-hour in, stirred it with the straw and enjoyed. I’m just listing creative ways to drink 5-hour energy to avoid any side effects one may have.
I have been taking one bottle a day off and on for two years now with really no problems. I have always been B vitamin deficient. Since I was a child I would bruise very easily and the bruises would take longer than other peoples to go away. Then when I became pregnant with my child (those with sensitive ears close them now) when breast feeding, my milk wouldn’t drop fast enough for my voracious ( normal actually) child which is a classic B vitamin deficiency (wish my ‘doctors’ could/would have found that out sooner!). When the product came out I was looking for an all natural formula to increase my energy and since this was mostly B vitamins decided to try it. It gives me plenty of energy all day with no crash. I take it first thing in the morning, 8amish and its gone by 5-6ish, but no crash, just a gradual decrease in energy so I sleep great by the time I go to sleep. One MAJOR benefit I’ve discovered was how fast my bruises go away. When I drank coffee in college my stomach was always upset, but not with the one shot/ day. This works for me so I figured it would work for my aunt, but clearly we have different body chemistry as it didn’t work for her. My boyfriend finds they work for him but once took 3 in one day (against my advice) and had horrible headaches and stomach pain so clearly the dosage advise on the bottle is set for a reason. I do find I am reliant on them for energy, but that is clearly due to my B vitamin deficiency. I am completely and utterly unable to absorb vitamins in the pill form which is why the liquid 5hr energy works for me. I used to drink a daily shot of liquid vitamin made from sea weed out of the California ocean which I found worked just as well, may look back into that stuff…so there’s my story peeps! Hope it helps any observant searchers
p.s. NOT for kids, seriously people?! Just follow the directions on the bottle! Their set for a reason!!!
I work 2nd shift in a call center. I lost a good job 1 1/2 years ago, so I have to work overtime to help keep up with the bills. I started drinking the 5hr drinks four months ago. Started with 1 per day, now I can take 3/day if my day will be long. I have had no real bad side effects, except maybe hard to go to sleep a couple times and the Niacin flush which goes away after a few minutes. I do take blood pressure meds & have checked my pressure before & after taking the drinks. I never saw a change. I do not drink pop, just water or Gatorade….lots of it. My concern was long term effects, which thanks to the article gave some clues to that and probably should start cutting back. It does help me focus and be more attentive which I need when I talk to people and stare at a computer all day. My suggestion is to drink lots of water and Gatorade. Your body will flush out what it won’t need. Everyone is different in a metabolism way…obvious if you read the above incidents.
Yes…I forgot …Walmart just came out with a 10 pk for 17.96…which is 1.79 each…and Pomegranite (spelling ?) or Berry is the best flavor…just drink a 16 oz water after you take it.
Oh yea…another fact I forgot…I came down with Bronchitis a while back and could not miss work do to new training. Starting taking the 5hr’s…it did help me get through the illness a lot faster, obvious the B vitamins which are good when you are sick….may not be for everyone though!…be careful out there!
I’ve started using 5 hour energy the last few
months and I like it. Within 5-10 minutes I think clearer and no longer need the nap I was thinking about earlier and have the energy I need for the rest of the day.
I took 2 extra strength 5 hour energys this morning and was hyper as sh*t if I sat still for more then 20 seconds my arms would start shaking but other then that I felt great. It’s been almost 8 hours and I’m kinda off and on numb. Also all day I’ve been zoning out so much that I don’t feel like I’m in my own body for like 10 to 15 minutes at a time.this usually happens to me when I sit down for a while then stand up but only for a few seconds. All and all its been a pretty great day
Well, I have been drinking 5 hour energy for last 2 weeks every day because I had to study and it worked great, kept me awake, no crash, no side effects!
I have found this product to be a mood booster for me. I get in such a happy good mood when I use this product. It takes all my pains away. I love the way my body feels when I use it. I feel very alert but never jumpy.
My experience with 5HE has been very good. I try to avoid using them daily… only when my energy level is low or I am feeling sleepy and have a LEGITIMATE need to stay awake (working, driving, etc.). Have never used more than two in a single day, and then only spaced several hours apart, in accordance with the advice on the label. Niacin flush on a few occasions but it was brief and not particularly uncomfortable.
Apparently body chemistry is a major factor in how these will affect an individual. Proceed with caution at first to see how your body tolerates the mega-doses of B-vitamins and amino acids. I will drink more water after reading this article to help flush the unabsorbed B-vitamins out of my system.
I often don’t get enough sleep but I also understand that nothing that comes in a 2 oz. bottle is going to prop you up indefinitely. Have a little common sense, people.
I have used this product before playing Tennis and has worked for me quite nicesely. Before I start playing I take one bottle and I have experienced good results such as more focus, energy, reaction, etc.
I’m getting surprised to see these negatives comments about the product, but as with any other product, they work different from person to person.
I TOOK 1 BOTTLE AT 10:20am, and at 6:15pm, MY HANDS AND FACE ARE TINGELING, LIKE WHEN YOUR HAND FALLS ASLEEP. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK 5 HOUR ENERGY.
It would take me too long to speak my mind, but all you really need to know is this: If you’ve had symptoms such as described in all the above comments, you were probably not in a good state of health to begin with. There are reasons for numb hands & feet other than the ingredients in 5-Hr Energy; it’s called poor circulation, common in smokers and people with heart disease (I am an ex-smoker since 1968.) The flush probably is from the niacin, but it should have been resolved by now if you take 5-Hr every day; or you could impress upon the manufacturer to use a form of niacin called niacinamide that causes no flush. Joint pain can be alleviated simply by eating anti-inflammatory foods such as cherries, blueberries etc., and/or taking anti-inflammatory supplements Maybe you have arthritis, gout, or one of the other stress-related diseases. Check in with Dr. Weil, respected health expert, who has online an anti-inflammatory diet. I have taken B-complex vitamins for energy, and I can tell you that if they were toxic I would know about it. Most so-called health experts now say that you need energy even to sleep. I’ve been Type II diabetic for several years with no symptoms whatsoever, no wild blood sugar fluctuations, no neuropathy (nerve pain) both of which most diabetics have.
I’m a health-food freak since 1973 and am healthier at 78 than I was at 40. (And I don’t care that the FDA hasn’t approved 5-Hr because I haven’t trusted the FDA in about 30 years. They once tried to make Vitamin C a drug so they could regulate it, tax it out the wazoo, and require a prescription to get it, and that’s a drop in the bucket to what they have done. Have you checked on the prices of drugs lately? Look online to see what latest skulllduggery and chicanery they are up to today. In my opinion FDA is in league with the pharmaceutical industry whose infamous cliche of the century – the 20th not the 21st – is “Ask your doctor if this drug is right for you,” has caused more and more people to take more and more prescription and otc drugs. I would NEVER ask a doctor to give me a drug; isn’t your doctor supposed to tell you if you need one? And then then the ad goes on to list the drug’s side-effects of that particular drug – most of which are kidney or liver dysfunction or both. I take not one single prescription or nonprescription drug not even ibuprofen or tylenol, and won’t until I THINK I NEED ONE.
I swig down 5-Hr only when I’m on the way to play with my 3 grandchildren, now ages 6, almost 8, & almost 10, whose idea of play with me is to ride a bicycle and jump on a trampoline. Guess what — I’ve done that because that’s what they ask me to do and because I feel like it, especially after taking 5-Hr. When I’m going to their house not to play but to cook dinner or just visit before their bedtime, I have enough energy to get me through the day from my regular nutritional supplements and Dr. Rob Thompson’s Low-Starch Diabetes Solution food plan. Having drastically reduced or given up bread, pasta, rice, white potatoes & corn (all the high-starch foods I can think of), when I eat none of these for a couple of days I lose a pound or two. I have long been off junk food in all its insidious forms, and I drink at least 3 liters a day of purified alkaline water not because I am supposed to anymore, but because I like it and it’s extremely good for the kidneys. Maybe it’s because of the water that I have no qualms in taking 5-Hr or maybe it’s because of my general state of health; in any event I have no problem with the ingredients in 5-Hr except for sucralose, even though it’s slightly better (or less bad) than the pink one or aspartame, which is in nearly everything including diet cokes. I’d like to see xylitol or stevia in it but that would probably make it cost more. In any case it is sweet enough that the amount of sucralose could be less.
On the other hand, one of 5-Hr’s ingredients, L-tyrosine, is an amino acid advantageous to thyroid function. The only reason I googled 5-Hr Energy today was to rule out SOY as an ingredient, as soy definitely messes with thyroid function, which happens to be one of my ailments. My solution to hypothyroid may have to be a drug such as synthroid as my doctor recommends. I am at odds with him over this, but I am dragging my feet until I have ruled out fixing this with foods and/or supplements containing iodine and others. I NEVER EAT SOY IN ANY FORM if I know it’s in there, but some companies know how to avoid listing everything on the label, AND THERE’S NO ACCOUNTING FOR CORPORATE GREED EXCEPT MONEY. Something else for you to google.
I forgot to address Amanda in July 2010, who says her doctor has her on Phentermine. If I’m not mistaken, Phentermine has been researched and
named by consumer advocate, Public Citizen, as a worst in its Best Pills,
Worst Pills, As far as I know 5-Hr Energy is not on that list.
PS I haven’t had a headache to speak of and haven’t thrown up in 20+ years.
I’ve had two of these before (although not on the same day) they did seem to wake me up but they made me feel really hungry. Which is a pain at work and the taste is just plain awful, and when I say awful I mean I’d rather drink cold medicine.
I take 1 bottle monday – friday and have never ever had any of these problems. I take 1/2 the bottle at 2pm and the other 1/2 at 3pm. I sleep great, I have good energy. It also puts me a good mood. I think people who would like to try it should not be afraid and just try 1/2 the bottle at first. It even surpresses my candy craving so I dont buy a candy bar during the day. I think its a great product.
I have found that taking caffeine when I have the initial symptoms of a migraine headache coming on (the aura) will enable me to avoid the subsequent headache pain 95% of the time. I usually drink a coke, but I dislike consuming so much sugar. I’ve been using 5 Hour Energy, and it’s a bit more effective at addressing my migraines while avoiding the sugar and volume of a coke. True, it can make me feel a bit light-headed, but caffeine from any source will do that (especially because I don’t take caffeine on a regular basis — I’m not a coffee drinker; a little food on the stomach will greatly alleviate those symptoms). I have nothing but positive to say about 5 Hour Energy.
I drink allot of energy drinks,mainly: red bull, monster, amp etc. Then i heard of a 5 hour drink . All natural. I switched from red bulls, about a 12 ounce can a day during the week, to one 5 hour a day. One day i drank my morning dose of 5 hour.
This was at 7am. By 7pm the same day i was finished with my ambulance ride and deposited in the ER where i would begin my seven hour process of cleansing with IV’s and medication. The ER doctor told me that the amount of Niacin in a little 5 hour is almost double that of a red bull. My heart rate was up passed 160 and i had an elevated heart pressure. it was the scaresty feeling i felt. I felt dizzy, sick to my stomach, couldn’t breathe, numb, felt like my heart was about to burst. I did have blood in my stool and stomach pain. ER doctor said i had a niacin attack.
I would be careful and would not recommend people to drink this.
i have been taking 5hr energy for 2 years i love it. i have so much to do and a little sip helps. i know it dosnt work for everybody my husband can take a hole bottle and will not fill a thing i take a little sip up for hours. sometimes i fell my heart beats to fast so i stop and set for a min and it slows down and im fine.1 bottle last me a week
I started taking it on Fridays and Saturdays to help me finish the workweek cause it help me get through the day but I had to stop it cause it was giving me urinary tract irritation and a rash around the urethra outside. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS STUFF!!!
I have been taking the 5 hour energy shots extra Strength religiously for about 3 yrs now Mon-Fri sometimes Sat n Sun. I take it in the morning on the way to work and i drink water all day, I absolutely love it, i use to drink monsters and rockstars religiously as well with them but the monsters are extremley bad so i had to slowly get away from them. I feel really good all day and i sleep well at night. I love them!!! They are awesome for me, never had any issues with them.
I’ve been using 5 Hour Energy for a while now, probably about 2 years this fall. I’ll admit I’m somewhat startled by the ratio of complaints to positive endorsements, as well as the perceived severity of “side effects” people are reporting. However, I really have nothing bad to say about how 5-Hrs work for me.
The first time I took one, I took the whole bottle and felt the “niacin flush” almost immediately. It took the form of redness and warm feeling in my cheeks, but that’s about it. Gone after 5-10 minutes.
Since then, I have tuned my intake to (99% of the time) 1/2 bottle at a time. Very very rarely do I consume 1.5-2 bottles in a day, with expected results of increased energy and that “need to go run 3 miles” feeling.
I take half a bottle before weeknight ice hockey and soccer games, it helps propel me early in the game, and I am none too worse for the wear when it comes time to sleep. I have a desk job, and sometimes will take 1/2 around 9:30am (no coffee ever in the mornings), and virtually every day, 1/2 bottle around 1:00-2:00pm. It’s my only source of caffeine/energy boost.
I’ve never experienced any of the dramatic vomiting, numbness, migraine, etc etc etc symptoms reported. 2.5 hours after taking my afternoon half-bottle, my heart rate is a stable ~58-60 BPM. I do drink a fairly large amount of water for my size/weight (5’5″-145lbs), filling up a half-liter bottle about 4-6 times per day
I’m 24, male, in decent health with a bmi of just under 25. I strive for some kind of physical activity a day (running >3.5 miles when I don’t have hockey/soccer), and last I checked, my BP was 135-140/80.
As with most anything these days, common sense and moderation is key. I know how much I can take before I start to get shaky (yes, lots of caffeine and large amounts of B vitamins will do that to almost anyone). I don’t like how it makes me feel on a completely empty stomach, so I try to take it around mealtime if I can help it. Be smart about what you put into your body. It’s a wonderful, amazing, and resilient structure.
it makes my stomach hurt….
For those who felt issues, All ENERGY DRINKS will effect everyone differently, no energy drink or shot should be used in access, more than 1 a day is NOT GOOD FOR YOU ( in most cases). Remember, you should never take any on an empty stomach or if you havent recently eaten. if all you do is take the shot of drink its not going to have the desired effects. being that it is a natural energy your getting it takes what it needs from your body so if you do not have anything in your stomach etc you will most likely feel “sick” or discomfort, also you must be well hydrated drink some water after taking it etc. if you take more than 1 a day and dont eat regularly or drink water etc or are working more excessively than you are used to then your body is working extra hard 1- to create the needed energy and 2- to give you the strength you need to complete your task (work etc). Nothing irritates me more than people complaining or putting something down or negative because they themselves use it incorrectly or DO NOT KNOW what they are doing. Take for example you are hungry, say you can usually eat 2 hotdogs in 1 sitting… well if one day you decide your gonig to eat 10 hotdogs instead , i would assume you wont feel so well. same goes with the energy drinks… use your head people!
I took this like half an hour ago and so far I feel nothing
After reading all of everyones bad experiences I’m scared I’ll start to feel like that! I hope I’ll be ok! Haha
Crystal, I took a 5 Hour Energy for the first time this morning and noticed an intense but brief burning in my throat.
This is an update to my comments on Sept 7: I’m interested in whether my low- starch diet is favorable to hypothyroidism as well as Type 2 diabetes. I have no symptoms of diabetes now and may have reversed it, as my endocrinologist says he doesn’t believe I have it. I’d also like to ascertain if 5-Hour Energy has any ingredients that are unfavorable to thyroid function. I still take it when doing to my grandchildren’s house to cook dinner and play. I’d hate to give up the LOW-starch (not NO-starch diabetes plan of Dr. Rob Thompson as it seems to work, in that every day I eat NO BREAD, PASTA, RICE, POTATOES, OR CORN I lose a pound or two, which is very unusual as hypothyroidism is more likely to cause weight gain rather than enhance it. I’m taking levothyroxine/Synthroid, a prescription drug, for this thyroid dysfunction, which has horrendous side-effects. I am diametrically opposed to prescription drugs in any form, and I’m NEVER going to “ask my doctor is this drug is ‘right for you’.” And when he tells me to take one, I am going to be the one to decide, which is what I am in the process of doing – He prescribed about 30 days of this drug, and at the end of that time, if I still feel measurably worse than I did before I started taking it , I will defnitely stop and resort to natural remedies, foods, and nutritional supplements, such as iodine, selenium, L-tyrosine etc.
I took 5 hour energy for the first time last night and it was the scariest night of my life. My body went numb with a sensation of pins and needles. I started feeling flush and was sweating profusely. I was in the bathroom all night throwing up. I didn’t think it was the energy drink causing this until I read this forum. Be careful!
First time in my life I took 5-HOUR ENERGY this morning. And after 20 minutes I started feeling dizzy, my heart beats to fast and feeling very weak.
5 HOUR ENERGY IS A SCARY SUPPLEMENT! NEVER EVER TAKE THIS STUFF!!!
First off, who is writting this information? Number one rule of a reputable website is that the person or persons writting it state who they are, any titles, and references or where they received their information to support their findings. This is obviously NOT a reputable web page with reputable data. No sources were referenced and the writer isn’t listed. Take with a grain of salt. A big one! They are probably a competitor trying to get people to not buy it.
Deryl Self, RN
I have been taking (2-3) 5 hour energy shot a day everyday for about 2 years now, not really because I need them but more that I want them. Never get the flushed feeling and occasionally experience heart pulpatations but that’s got to be really the only side affects. Lately though, I have been noticing a constant pain in my right side chest and some times I feel like my esophogus is swollen making it harder to breath but truth be told – I highly doubt that has anything to do with these energy shots. I’m addicted and I love them.
i drank oneextra strengh before a m ath test today, i cudnt breathe and my body started shaking uncontrollibly. i had to the leave the class to go diarhea and my whole body was shaking it was a horrible experiance.
if taking these energy drinks just be careful that your not hypersensitive, or have any problems with your heart. Never drink these on empty stomach. The only side effects i get are when i stop taking them, which is caffeine withdrawals, plus you tend to sleep longer hrs. But i can drink one of these shots and it keeps me alert at work, and i tend to work faster, which where i work speed is an essence. I get no dizziness and or anything else when i drink them, just more awake without the jitters.
The 5 Hour Energy shot is great for most people, but Kymera is far more effective and far less expensive. If 5 Hour Energy is not strong enough for you, then try Kymera in the PowerPak format. Use coupon code JT30 and get 102 servings for just $29.99 shipped! Kymera Freakish Energy
I discovered, after taking half a bottle of 5 hour energy, my feet and hands swelled horribly. Not good for me!
Most of these comments seem to be negative. I know quit a few people, including my husband, who drink these and don’t have ANY of these bad side affects. They love them!
I started drinking a half a bottle on work days when I was feeling run down, and it seemed to be fine. I no longer eat a chocolate bar or drink a coke in the afternoon, mostly because I don’t need to but also because it was a bit sickening combined with the 5-Hour. I recently noticed that if I drink more than a half a bottle, my big toe goes numb. (I will try drinking more water because it sounds like that would help.) I have lowish thyroid function and therefore occasional fatigue but 5-Hour seems to help, possibly because of the B-vitamins and perhaps because of less sugar. As a comparison, I drank half a Red Bull one time and was severely dizzy, so 5-Hour is a definite improvement. In any case, this has been a useful forum, thanks.
I started drinking 5-hour in March. I drink 1 or 2 a day at least 5 hours apart. I also stopped drinking coffee.
I’ve done research on B-6 and B-12 and have found nothing negative….only positvie information.
Since March I’ve lost 30 lbs, I feel and look great.
I had more problems when I was looking for my next cup of coffee…
I run daily and drink some water after I’m done. I get some sleep at night. Never taken (or needed) energy drinks. My opinion is that people are foolish for buying this stuff…not much different than what happened 100 years ago with ‘snake oil salespeople’…peddling their wares that really didn’t do anything to help people’s health.
No doubt 5 hour energy, Advocare, and the others have terrific marketing staffs that do their jobs well. Selling us stuff we DON’T NEED.
I laugh everytime I see someone buying the junk. I’m saving lots of $$ by not getting any…
I have been drinking 5 hour for over a year now. I have a very very stressful job and have to be on my game the full 8 hours. I am now up to 4 to 5 bottles every day except Saturday and Sunday. I have never experienced any bad side effects, except maybe withdrawels when I dont drink one. I have become more and more immune to the effects of the drink which is why I drink more than 1 a day, but I love the energy, the clarity of mind, AND the slight feeling of euphoria it gives.
I started taking 1/2 a day before workouts. I was doing great for ~9 months maybe more. Then I had issues with an ulcer and before I knew it I was driving one day and my blood sugar (I’m borderline hypoglycemic) just plummeted. The dizzy feeling I think most people are feeling is your body eating through your glycogen – which btw, happens within minutes. Even when I eat, and take glucose tabs before drinking 5HE, it’s not worth it. My doctor mentioned the myriad of liver issues that are occurring from my body trying to break this stuff down. I’m positive I have adrenal issues – maybe perminent from this stuff.
Please be careful if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia taking this stuff.
Please be very careful when drinking these 5 hr energy drinks! My husband has been drinking these for the past year or so…he started out by drinking about half a bottle a day and unbeknown to me he was up to drinking 2 bottles! I’m not sure how often he would drink that much but I definitely think they’re addicting! He would rely on them to keep him up late at night after work bc he had so much to do but too tired. It was a vicious cycle of him not getting enough sleep. Anyhow this past week I experienced him having a seizure in his sleep. It was not a fun thing to watch! He has never had one before and that same day he had 2 5 he energy drinks! When he went to the Ed he was very dehydrated and I’m sure this was due to the drinks plus not drinking enough water! Drs found no other abnormalities either…eeg, ct, mri came back negative! Now, by law he can’t drive for 6 months : ( of course no one is saying that these drinks cause seizures but I’m sure they contributed to my husband’s….hopefully he will quit drinking these now!
*he drank TWO bottles
* he went to the ER
I love 5hrs. Energy but that first sip I vomit every time. It’s not nasty at all I just have some type of reaction that causes me to vomit the first sip then I’m good after that. I know your asking why take it then because it awesome. I’m a big girl and if something can get me thru the day with one little bottle that first sip is worth it. I don’t drink 5hr. Energy often probably once every couple of months. When I first started taking it it was almost everyday but I never vomit until I stopped for a year and that’s when it started. Best Energy drink I’ve had. Just have to get past that first sip.
I’ve never been so sick in my life! I can’t stop throwing up. I get hot then freezing. I can’t fall asleep and I feel like death. I do NOT suggest this!!!!
if you’re not allergic to bees or honey just take raw honey or bee pollen for that energy boost. been taking a spoonful of raw honey for breakfast each morning for a while now and it’s a great natural alternative to all this energy shot crap. 5 hour energy will do more damage than good to your body in the long run.
wow these are so awsome.. you just dont know!!!!
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee THIS!!!!
LOL JUST KIDDING ITS NASTY AND IT REALLY DONT EVEN HELP BECAUSE I HAD IT AND I WAS TIED AND I DRUNK SOME AND I WAS NOT FEELING ANY BETTER. SO IF ANYBODY TELL YOU ITS GOOD DONT LISTON!!!!
I was enjoying a daily 5-Hour enegry in the mornings. It seemed to make me alert, focused and fully awake. Unfortunately, after a few weeks on just one a day….I began experiencing sudden, urgent and embarrassing episodes of diaharrea. Hey…..nothing wrong with a good “cleaning out” from time to time but it would be nice to have a second to prepare for the “big event!”
Anyway, I stopped drinking this “miracle drink” and returned to good old coffee and have had no more unwelcome episodes “down under!” Sheesh! For the love of God….not recommended on a first date!!!!
I’ve been using them for about a year now because my skin breaks out from drinking coffee. (the coffee bean is very oily and not good on oily skin types).
I have never had any episodes described above and usually require a small amount of caffeine. I don’t drink things like Rockstar or Red Bull which have a much bigger jolt. 5 Hour Energy works perfectly for me.
I was really falling behind on my work today (I clean rooms). During my lunch break, I went to the nearby Walmart and bought some grape flavored Extra Strength. Drank a little over half of one bottle with my lunch. When I went back to work, I was cleaning my rooms like a jackrabbit getting everything done and a little more in each room in 10 minutes and managed to get all my work finished a little past the end of my shift. Yes I was experiencing flushing during the process but it didn’t really bother me. I do believe that it’s about taking it at the right time and in the right condition. Take it at a time when you know you will have time later to rest. I would recommend during lunch. Have a half-bottle max with water. Don’t take it everyday, but only when it’s an absolute necessity.
i have been on this 5 hour energy for a month now, no side effects. but there’s something i notice. i seem to see clearer when i drink it then when i don’t. and since i do check ups often one time i decide to drink one before the blood panel blood pressure elevated but still in range. heart beat slightly elevated and b12 and b6 through the roof. Because of the results i was asked immediately to take the test again by my doctor about 48 hours past. i took the test and everything was normal again. Funny huh? i wonder where it went. can our bodies really process that amount of b12 and b6 in that small amount of time? i guess i peed it out….
The first time I took 5 hour energy, I was up for 32 hours! Now when I take it nothing happens.????
I tried cheap 1.00 shot they are junk suger. now I drink half 5 hr energy about 3pm then other half about 6pm but never after 7pm unless I dont want to sleep well.
I work 9am to 10pm then get home about 11pm fall a sleep quickly at 1am when my body lay flat. Now I am trying to stop for one day only. on sunday day off.
my problem is i do eat small amount almost all the time. I try to eat a apple at midnight as my last meal. not a suger hoho. I am male 50 yrs. red bull junk. redline is heart problem. I do pee alot & drink water. I also dont drink soda!
days I dont have one I fall asleep almost standing up. wish I could sleep more than 7hrs?