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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Energy Drinks
        
(Message started by: ray4903 on Jan 30^th, 2006, 2:17pm)

Title: Energy Drinks
Post by ray4903 on Jan 30^th, 2006, 2:17pm

I am new to posting on this board altho have been a CH sufferer for many years and have used this board for ideas, and great info. Not sure if it has been mentioned before-- but after trying so many things and only finding initrex to be the 'best of all evils' I tried Red Bull energy drink- have taken in when it was chilled or cold and drank whole can ( they are small) in 3-4 gulps. I have gotten good results with receeding demons in 10-15 mins and it seems to work most times . It is not cheap but it does not have any of the side effects of imitrex. If anyone else has tried this - I would appreciate any comments.
I have had attacks for about 10 years on/off and most hit 8-9 on the scale. I hope this can possibly help anyone because I know the pain and frustartion

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by nani on Jan 30^th, 2006, 3:54pm

Yes, Red Bull works for me, too. Read more about it here:
http://med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Red+Bull
:) pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by seasonalboomer on Jan 30^th, 2006, 4:23pm

i use red bull at those times when i "kinda-think-i-might-be-gettin-a-hit-but-not certain" moments. i pound it quick, real cold, and it's chased that anxious feeling off a few times. particularly after heavy exercise when i'm very prone to get hit when in cycle. got the suggestion here on CH.com and worked it into the routine.

it's more expensive than many good bottles of wine when you work out the cost per oz. though.....

but worth it even if it only chases away the "clicks". (that's what I call that pre-hit feeling)

scott

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by brewcrew on Jan 30^th, 2006, 4:50pm

I use Mountain Dew MDX the same way. It has all the same ingredients as Red Bull, but tastes much better in my opinion. Also, it's cheaper than Red Bull ounce for ounce.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by ray4903 on Jan 30^th, 2006, 8:53pm

Has anyone tried taking pure tauerine supplements ?? - which seems like that is the 'active' and helpful ingrediant in energy drinks ( as well as the caffiene, I suppose).
Just curious as maybe this is cheaper more effective way ( and avoid the taste) to try to combat the demons.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by Mr. Happy on Jan 30^th, 2006, 11:06pm

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Taurine

Taurine pills, and a quick cup or two of healthy Jo. 1/10th the cost of a Red Bull, but none of the convenience. I guess this makes me pro-choice.
RJ

Title: Re: Energy Drinks- Taurine + Kudzu
Post by ray4903 on Jan 31^st, 2006, 12:15pm

After 4 days into episode - and reading this board-- tried taking taurine supplement - 2 times a day at 500 mG ( (brand is 'source naturally) and then 1 -750 mg of Kudzu ( Planetary brand) just before going to bed.

Went all day with pain , no shadows and slept through the entire night ( which is like a miracle) given that my nightly episodes are tytpically soo bad-
If this keeps working - it is like a real miracles.
Has anyobe else tried this combination ??
No side affects that I can tell- seems like the kudzu makes me feel like my mind is blank as I got up - but that might be from an actual painless night of sleep.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by brewcrew on Jan 31^st, 2006, 3:19pm

This is not my experience, just what I've read and heard: Taurine merely enhances the effect of caffeine.

Not sure if it does anything by itself. In your case, Ray, it appears to either work by itself or in combination with the kudzu.

Too many unanswered questions. But I'm not going to wish for a cycle so I can try to find the answers.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks Helping
Post by karrie35 on Jan 31^st, 2006, 5:57pm

In the third week of cycle, I am actually having a bit of success with Red Bull. At onset , I tried slamming one on two different attacks, before reaching for my Trex or 02.
It held it somewhere where I was not out of my mind with pain. I am not exactly sure what yet, the jury is still out as far as it being abortive like Imitrex, but I think it does something.....

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by hutton on Jan 31^st, 2006, 9:10pm

when i start to feel a hit coming a redbull seems to help or if the shadows start to get a little heavy it really chases them away.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by gobby on Feb 1^st, 2006, 12:57am

I swear by the stuff these days. I've found that it's much cheaper(in the long run) than imitrex, and has worked wonders for me. Now I use the suger free version because I can get it at Sams Club for $29.00 a case. At first it tasted like crap, but now I kinda' like it. It does make me have to urinate quite a bit though.........must be from stimulating my metabolism or something. :)

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by sandie99 on Feb 1^st, 2006, 3:43am

I haven't tried red bull myself (but I'll keep it in mind for the future), but coca cola diet with lemon and lots of ice did help me with shadows. :)

Sanna

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by gardengal on Feb 25^th, 2006, 11:31pm

I have been trying to avoid anything that might make my CH's worse, so I have not drank any caffine. I take OTC migrane meds for shadows and they work well and are mostly caffine. Do you think drinking caffine when you don't have a CH can bring them on later? I know caffine can cause migranes, they say. yet caffine treats them.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by mynm156 on Mar 1^st, 2006, 5:06pm

Sounds like some ppl are having success with this. I on the other hand have a history of Hypertension so I would probably end up with a Heart Attack. DRag

Rock on !

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by carriefu on Mar 1^st, 2006, 6:06pm

just wanted to add...

mt dewmdx sugar free has been working for all my shadows for the last three days....

the clue for me is to drink the whole bottle ice cold and fast

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by brewcrew on Mar 1^st, 2006, 8:43pm

on 03/01/06 at 18:06:51, carriefu wrote:

just wanted to add...

mt dewmdx sugar free has been working for all my shadows for the last three days....

the clue for me is to drink the whole bottle ice cold and fast

I LOVE the stuff - even when I don't have a h/a. And now it's showing up on sale in gas stations for $0.99 a bottle.

Two in a row and you're ready to chew your own lips off.

Title: Re: Energy Drinks
Post by sandie99 on Mar 26^th, 2006, 6:41am

I got hit a while ago. This time I was ready - I had ice cold Reb Bull nearby. And it WORKED!!!! :D It was amazing! Yahoo! I've never had a med which would taste as good. ;) (Okay, maybe once, when I aborted the attack with ice cream... but that one worked only once...) And it aborted the attack quickly. Fantastic! :)

Best wishes & PF time for all,
Sanna