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 asses 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.
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.
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.