Hi,

I'm new here.
Few years ago I found out that energy drinks stop my pain almost instantly, if I take them when the pain begins (or even when I start to feel that the pain is coming).
It really changed my quality of life. I carry a can in my bag all the time, and only rarely it doesn't help.

The problem is that although it changed my life, it's not perfect. Those drinks are not exactly the most healthy thing in the world, they contains A LOT of sugar, caffeine, and other stuff. They're also not so cheap, spill from time to time in my bag etc.

I read that the ingredient which help is the taurin and I also read that some people take 1000mg everyday. However, I wonder if it's possible to take them only when the pain starts, like I'm doing right now with the drinks.
I'm not sure the effect will be the same as the taurin may take longer time to be absorbed because it is not in a liquid.

Anyone has an experience with it?

Thanks,
Tal.

Hi Tal and welcome,
It's known in some folk taking 5000mg of Taurine in pill
form, the ones with the powder inside 500mg, keeps them
CH free during a cycle. You can buy them in health food
shops in the US or online from Biovea.

Hoppy.

Hi Tal..welcome aboard...sorry you have to be here.

Few years ago I found out that energy drinks stop my pain almost instantly, if I take them when the pain begins (or even when I start to feel that the pain is coming).

Where did you learn of this...or was it a eureka moment (just curious). I found out about it right here at ch.com.....

The problem is that although it changed my life, it's not perfect. Those drinks are not exactly the most healthy thing in the world, they contains A LOT of sugar, caffeine, and other stuff. They're also not so cheap, spill from time to time in my bag etc.

You can mitigate or discount most of that. There are sugar free versions...just watch out for asparatame (a trigger for some...like me). The thinking has been that the COMBINATION of at least 100 mg caffeine and 1500 mg taurine is the ideal. Just by itself caffeine has a wonderous effect (i used to gulp HOT quadruple dose coffee prior to energy drinks)...and taurine "may" work similar tho previous discussions seem to indicate it does not work well for many by itself. The other "stuff" you mention is pretty innocuous...mostly vitamins for making expensive urine. I NEVER pay more than $1 a can...even large cans.... because I haunt the dollar stores or watched for sales. It's the caffeine and taurine you are looking for..brand be danged.....paying Red Bull's ridiculous ad budget is more than annoying. 5 hour Energy (or similar with more caffeine/taurine... on sale) is a really cool option...only 2 oz...and really portable with minimal spillage potential


I read that the ingredient which help is the taurin and I also read that some people take 1000mg everyday. However, I wonder if it's possible to take them only when the pain starts, like I'm doing right now with the drinks.

My best result is an ice cold drink gulped as fast as possible...I believe the cold has beneficial effects beyond the ingredients.....as Lance noted in another thread

I'm not sure the effect will be the same as the taurin may take longer time to be absorbed because it is not in a liquid.

I would suspect that....same reason imitrex (et al) tablets are fairly useless abortives...

Best

Jon

About the cost.....5 Hour Energy shots can cost $1 to $3  for a 2 oz. shot. I use Kirkland Energy Shot (that's Costco's brand and is the same thing as 5 Hour Energy). It comes in a 40 (2 oz.) bottle case at about $37. Somewhere around 73 cents a shot.

I have read time and time again on here that a 1000 MG dosage of Taurine is ideal to help abort an attack when mixed with caffeine. 

Recommended caffeine dosage is the same as a strong cup of coffee - anywhere from 90 - 150mg - per serving.

Taurine content from RedBull...the 8.4 oz can has 1000mg, the 12 oz can has 1420mg, the 16oz can has 1900mg and
the 20 oz can has <2320mg.

Monster lists 85mg caffeine and 1000mg taurine.

There is no substitute for the Taurine/Caffeine combo.  In other words, no need to get a caffeine pill or Taurine pill and think you can pop a couple of these and it will provide the same relief; it will not!

One must slam/chug/drink an energy drink as fast as possible at onset of an attack.  The key point is consuming ASAP to get this Taurine/Caffeine combo into your bloodstream ASAP.

Taurine pills would take too long, similar to Imitrex pills commonly ineffective for CH's as they take too long.

Super fast ingestion acts as a vasoconstrictor to your trigeminal nerve providing pain relief to many who drink it fast enough, at onset of attack.

Redbull, Rockstar, Monster, NOS, pick your energy drink as long as it has a healthy combo of Caffeine/Taurine.  ;)

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Gregg wrote, Taurine pills would take too long, similar to Imitrex pills commonly ineffective for CH's as they take too long.

The pills I'm talking about are not solid, they are filled with
Taurine powder and dissolve very quickly, and with a cup of
hot strong coffee they get into the system even faster. It's
also a much cheaper health option than guzzling energy drinks. So 5000mg a day helps keep CHs away, or 1000mg
with a cup of coffee will abort in some the same way.

Hoppy.

Thanks for the Taurine pills tip, Hoppy. The only problem I see is that when an attack wakes me at 2 am I don't have a pot of hot coffee, and if I did, I don't like the idea of gulping a cup of hot coffee.
If the daily 5000mg pills work do they leave you with any after effects such as shaky hands? Are they taken in the morning or before bed time?

Hi Bob,
Their doesn't seem to be any set rules on when to take Taurine am/pm so my way of thinking would be too take
it in 3 doses, breakfast, lunch, and dinner and see how you go, then if you get that wake up call take a 1000mg washed down with a Pepsi. Theirs no significant side effects or risks when taking Taurine.

Taurine supplement benefit and side effects, what is the right dosage?
Feb 24 2014  Ray Sahelian, M.D.



Taurine is a semi-essential sulphur containing amino acid derived from methionine and cysteine metabolism and present in virtually all cells throughout the animal kingdom. The amino acid was discovered more than two hundred years ago from animal sources. Taurine is distributed in both mammals and non-mammals and its content is high in several tissues. For more than a century-and-a-half, it was regarded just as an end product of sulfur metabolism. Recently, it has been rediscovered and its beneficial effects in processes like epilepsy, hypertension, congestive heart failure and diabetes have been tested. As an antioxidant, it may be helpful in neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis.

   Mammals are able to synthesize taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid), but humans are more dependent on dietary sources.



Source Naturals buy L Taurine supplement, 500 mg, 120 tablets

L Taurine is a crystalline, free-form amino acid. It is a soothing, inhibitory neurotransmitter and plays a major role in stabilizing the heartbeat and electrical activity of the nerves. It is also necessary for the proper functioning of the "sodium/potassium ATP-ase pump", which regulates the ion balance between the cells and the extra cellular fluid that surrounds them.


Supplement Facts
Taurine 500 mg per tablet





Buy Taurine supplement
 

This amino acid is found in higher amounts in electrically excitable tissues such as brain, retina, heart and skeletal muscles. In the central nervous system, taurine is involved in cell volume regulation and in inhibitory neuromodulation or neurotransmission.



Benefits



Antioxidant
Effect of taurine on antioxidant enzyme system in B16F10 melanoma cells.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009.
The aim of the present study was to examine whether taurine enhances endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity and/or regulates ROS generation in B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Our results suggest that taurine decreases reactive oxygen species levels by increasing the levels of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase.



Cognitive function, effect on mind and brain
Taurine appears to have multiple functions in the brain participating both in volume regulation and neurotransmission. In the latter context it may exert its actions by serving as an agonist at receptors of the GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmitter systems.



The effect of subacute supplementation of taurine on spatial learning and memory.
Exp Anim. 2009.
Although the effect of taurine on the heart and liver is well studied, there has been no direct observation concerning the effect of taurine on spatial learning and memory at the behavior level. In this study, we tested the effect of subacute taurine supplementation with evaluation by the Morris water maze method. Although swim distance to find the platform of taurine-supplemented rats was significantly longer than that of control rats due to increase of swimming velocity, escape latency and the efficacy of learning and memory was comparable in both groups. These results suggest that taurine supplemented orally does not affect the learning and memory function.



Neuroscience. Feb 13 2014. Taurine improves functional and histological outcomes and reduces inflammation in traumatic brain injury. We investigated the effect of taurine on inflammatory cytokine expression, on astrocyte activity and cerebral edema and functional outcomes, following TBI in rats. 72 rats were randomly divided into sham, TBI and Taurine groups. Rats subjected to moderate lateral fluid percussion injury were injected intravenously with taurine (200 mg /kg) or saline immediately after injury or daily for 7 days. Functional outcome was evaluated using Modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS). GFAP of the brain was measured using immunofluorescence. Concentration of 23 cytokines and chemokines in the injured cortex at 1 and 7 days after TBI was assessed by Luminex xMAP technology. The results showed that taurine significantly improved functional recovery except 1 day, reduced accumulation of GFAP and water content in the penumbral region at 7 days after TBI. Compared with the TBI group, taurine significantly suppressed GRO/KC and IL-1β levels while elevating the levels of RANTES at 1 day. And taurine markedly decreased the level of 17 cytokine: eotaxin, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17, leptin, MCP-1, TNF-α, VEGF, and only increased the level of MIP-1α in a week. The results suggest that taurine effectively mitigates the severity of brain damage in TBI by attenuating the increase of astrocyte activity and edema as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines.



Amino Acids. 2013 Oct. Neuroprotective role of taurine during aging. Supplementation might help forestall the age-related decline in cognitive functions through interaction with the GABAergic system.



Effect on exercise
Seven days of oral taurine supplementation does not increase muscle taurine content or alter substrate metabolism during prolonged exercise in humans.
J Appl Physiol. 2008.
In the first part of the study, after an overnight fast, 7 volunteers ingested 1.66 g oral taurine doses with breakfast (8 AM) and lunch (12 noon). In the second part of the study, eight men cycled for 2 h after 7 days of placebo (P) ingestion (6 g glucose/day) and again following 7 days of T (5 grams /day). Our data indicate that acute T produces a 13-fold increase in plasma taurine concentration; despite the ability to significantly elevate plasma taurine for extended periods throughout the day, 7 days of T does not alter skeletal muscle taurine content or carbohydrate and fat oxidation during exercise; and T appears to have some impact on muscle amino acid response to exercise.


Heart tissue benefit, role in heart failure

The function of taurine in the cardiac vascular system is extensive, and the mechanism is complicated. It protects cardiac cells from injury caused by ischemia. This amino acid helps prevent endothelial dysfunction caused by hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and homocysteine; suppresses the proliferation and calcification in vascular smooth muscle cells, promotes metabolism and excretion of cholesterol in animal models of hyperlipemia. This amino acid mainly acts inside the cell. However, taurine transport system becomes aberrant in pathological myocardial and vascular tissues.



J Cardiol. 2011. Effect of taurine supplementation on exercise capacity of patients with heart failure.
A total of 15 patients received taurine supplementation 500 mg three times a day while the remaining 14 patients received placebo for 2 weeks. Exercise time, metabolic equivalents METS, and exercise distance increased significantly in patients who received the supplement for 2 weeks.



Your taurine page includes a question about its effect on heart arrhythmias. George Eby has a website that reviews the role of taurine in heart rhythm disturbances. Can it be classified as human studies? Is it reliable? I consult your website often and find it very useful.
     A Medline review in 2012 did not reveal any human studies regarding the role of taurine supplements in terms of preventing or treating heart rhythm disturbances. I will await to see results of published trials before commenting on the accuracy of the opinion by George Eby whether this amino acid plays a role in reducing the risk for arrhythmias.



Myocardial infarction

As a non-toxic endogenous antioxidant, the semi-essential amino acid taurine is a potential attenuator of oxidative damage such as that produced by ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury is a well established if paradoxical phenomenon whereby ischaemic tissue, doomed to necrosis if it is not reperfused, is actually further damaged by oxidative attack when perfusion is restored. There is consistent experimental evidence of an important role of taurine in ischaemia-reperfusion injury, with a clinical role emerging in human trials of taurine administered prior to coronary artery bypass grafting and heart valve surgery.



Liver tissue protection
J Biochem Mol Toxicol. Dec 3 2013. Mechanisms of Phenytoin-Induced Toxicity in Freshly Isolated Rat Hepatocytes and the Protective Effects of Taurine and/or Melatonin.



Vision improvement
Dietary taurine supplementation ameliorates diabetic retinopathy via anti-excitotoxicity of glutamate in streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rats.
Neurochem Res. 2007.
Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with streptozotocin to establish experimental diabetic model, then fed without or with 1.2% taurine for additional 4-12 weeks. Our results showed that chronic taurine supplement effectively improved diabetic retinopathy Chronic taurine supplementation increased glutamate transporter expression, decreased intermediate filament glial fibrillary acidic protein and N-methyl-D: -aspartate receptor subunit 1 expression in diabetic retina. These results demonstrated that chronic taurine supplementation ameliorates diabetic retinopathy via anti-excitotoxicity of glutamate in rats.



Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
  Hear Res. 2010. The effect of supplemental dietary taurine on tinnitus and auditory discrimination in an animal model.
Taurine, a partial agonist at inhibitory glycine and γ-amino butyric acid receptors, was added to the daily diet of rats to examine its effects on chronic tinnitus and normal auditory discrimination. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that taurine attenuates tinnitus and improves auditory discrimination by increasing inhibitory tone and decreasing noise in the auditory pathway.



Sexual health
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013. Taurine can enhance the sexual response and mating ability in aged male rats by increasing the level of testosterone and NO, but the exact mechanism of which needs to be further investigated.



Analogues

A large number of l taurine derivatives have been reported in the literature with partial to marked activity. Taurine derivatives like taltrimide, acamprosate and tauromustine, are already in the market as anti-convulsant, anti-alcoholic and anti-cancer agents.



L Taurine side effects, risk, danger
No significant l taurine side effects or risks have been reported in the medical literature as of 2012.



Questions
My son has a mild controlled epilepsy, treated with Tegretol, but he still has (from time to time) problems going to sleep, a problem where he jerks awake ( maybe going into a deeper sleep stage) connected with his epilepsy. We don't want to increase Tegretol dosage. Two years ago, I used a taurine supplement for several months with success, but can't remember the taurine dosage regimen. Before meals or after, for this type of complaint? Peptic ulcer a risk if before meals? Interestingly, Adenosine, 1 morn and night, has been successful for 2 years, but just lately, not so effective, so thought a 2 week stint on taurine amino acid again , and then go back to Adenosine, would be a good idea.
    The timing on the use of a taurine supplement depends on what is being treated and on individual response. It is best to try different times to determine which works better. Most amino acids are more effective and better absorbed when taken on an empty stomach.



What about the amino acid taurine for heart arrhythmias? This is an amino acid found abundantly in the heart. It works as a modulator of nerve impulses. Do you know of any research done in relation to heart rhythm problems?
    Although some rodent studies indicate it may play a role in reducing the risk for cardiac arrhythmias, as of 2013 I have not come across human studies regarding its influence on heart rhythm.



What dosage do you recommend to take for L-taurine for heart disease prevention? Is divided dosage throughout the day better or all at once each day? Between meals or with meals?
    There is not enough research to know the answers to these questions as of 2013

Best Hoppy.

Hi guys, you're wonderful!

I'll order the pills with the powder and check them.
For me just coffee is not enough, although I drink it anyway when I get stuck without energy drinks, but maybe with the combination of taurin it would be different.

I also found out the the best way it to drink the all can in one shot, as quickly as possible.
I'm from Israel and Redball here cost around 2.5 dollars per can of 330ml (around 11 OZ). But there are may others brands which cost 1-1.5$ per can.
At my campus they only sell the cherry energy drink of ocean spay which cost almost 3$ :(

Jon019,
I discovered that those drinks helps because here in Israel they are very popular in parties. Many people combine them with Vodka or Jagermeister. When I drank and got headache I ask for something none-alcoholic and it helped. Later, I started to try take them when I had headaches during the say and it also worked.
I found this site few months ago after I search the internet for people who also use those drinks to get a relief.

Hi Bob,
I've just spoken with a friend of mine who started off
with 6000mg /day broken into 3 parts breakfast, lunch,
and tea. This routine was done for 6mths and now only
takes 2500mg /day and is still CH free.

For all of you that live outside the US and want to give
this go, you can buy it online from Biovea.

Cheers, Hoppy.

Hoppy wrote on Jun 4^th, 2014 at 1:26am:

Gregg wrote, Taurine pills would take too long, similar to Imitrex pills commonly ineffective for CH's as they take too long. The pills I'm talking about are not solid, they are filled with Taurine powder and dissolve very quickly, and with a cup of hot strong coffee they get into the system even faster. It's also a much cheaper health option than guzzling energy drinks. So 5000mg a day helps keep CHs away, or 1000mg with a cup of coffee will abort in some the same way. Hoppy.

5000mg of Taurine pills daily to prevent CH's?  I've been on this website since 1999 and have never read of that research study until now.  Hmmmm...I would rather the anti inflammatory vitamin regimen from Batch that is more healthy than 5000mg of Taurine and has a proven track record of solid beneficial results for over 3 years.

Take a 1000mg Taurine pill with a hot strong coffee to abort an attack?  Just not practical to always have a hot coffee handy.  However it is very practical to always have an energy drink handy.

Whatever works for you though Hoppy..."To each his own."

-Gregg in Las Vegas

With the hot coffee, you could always have some ice coffee
on hand or a cool drink that contains caffeine, Pepsi Cola
for instance. Also the vitamin D3 regime doesn't work for
everyone. For instance, folk that suffer from Tacs (SUNCT)
migraines, chronic CHs, are finding relief with this remedy. 


Hoppy.

I tackle my attacks with ice water. I hold a mixture of cubes and water in my mouth for as long as I can stand it. I must say that this does help me. Usually I chug about 24 ounces of very cold water and then start holding cubes and water in my mouth.....particularly on the roof of my mouth on the side my pain is on. It doesn't really abort it for me, but the pain is significantly lower than normal and the attacks are shorter as well. The pain always spikes and I have about 10 minutes of the excruciating pain to deal with, but it's still much less than if I went without the water and ice.

I had just started the water treatment and D3 in my last cycle. It didn't work very well at first, but I kept at it. After about 3 weeks, I noticed that things were becoming different. My cycle had less and less "Beasts". However, at least 1 day a week I would get an 8-10 that lasted most of the day. Then one week, they just went away. My last cycle only lasted for 2-3 months! Compared to the usual 6-8. I'm not sure if the new treatment is what changed/stopped my cycle.....but I don't care. I don't want to give you hope and it not work for you, but it did for me. Worth a try. I will certainly be using water and D3 on my next cycle. As you can imagine.....I'm in no hurry at all. If you try them, I hope it works for you. Good luck!

Hi Tim,
With the vitamin D3 regime you need to keep taking it
daily too stop the beast from paying you another visit.

Hoppy.

You do need to be mindful of rebound headaches with the taurin and caffeine combo. I've aborted headaches only to find that later in the day I get a nasty headache that lasts for up to 8 hours or more.

Hoppy, I took the D3 daily the whole time during my last cycle. About 16000 iu/day. Took calcium and magnesium supplements as well.

Hoppy, do you mean that I should just keep taking it even in remission?

Hi Tim,
Yes, You need to stay on the regime for the rest of your
life too ward off the beast from paying you another visit.
This is the revised version you need to take daily with
your main meal of the day.

Natures Bounty,D3 10,000iu /day.
nature Made, Fish Oil, 1200mg 1/day.
Nature Made, High potency Magnesium 400mg 1/ day.
Kirkland Adult 50+ Mature Multi 1/day.
K2 120 mcg/day.

Hoping this regime keeps you CH free as it has for me
for the past 2yrs.

Good Luck, Hoppy.

Ok, will do. I will try to stay current with these boards. It's just tough having to read peoples stories when I am PF. Knowing what can or will come one day is something that I don't enjoy reminding myself of. However, I like to be able to reach out and comfort others who are deep in their cycles and let them know that we really DO understand how they feel and are here for them. Sometimes I wonder if I would have made it through a cycle two years ago if it hadn't been for the amazing people here. Time to pay it forward.

I'm curious, Are any of you out there in cyber world trying
the Taurine remedy and are you seeing any positive results?

Hoppy.

Hoppy wrote on Jun 11^th, 2014 at 6:56pm:

I'm curious, Are any of you out there in cyber world trying the Taurine remedy and are you seeing any positive results? Hoppy.

Are you suggesting a remedy replacement of the anti inflammatory vitamin regimen with Taurine as a preventative treatment?

-Gregg in Las Vegas

Hi Gregg,
#12.

Cheers, Hoppy.

As far as I remember, taurin supplementation gave mixed results at best. I think it's effect is symptomatic, and taking taurin only while in an attack might actually make it more effective.

Red Bull was one of my first line defense tools.  I'd buy them by the case.  Even when not in cycle, I would drink an occasional one.

January 2013, I purchased one (large can) at the local store and consumed about 1/3 of it. I began to feel a little funny around my chest area....a feeling that I had not felt before.  Anyway, I dismissed the feeling and placed the unfinished Red Bull in the fridge.  The feeling abated.  Next morning I had taken a few swallows of the drink and almost immediately had the same feeling.

I live no further than 1/4 mile from the nearest hospital.  I told the wife to take me to the emergency room.  Long story short, I had a heart attack--not major, as indicated by a blood test.  Next morning a stent in my circumflex heart artery.

This was kind of a life changer for me.  No more Zomigs, Imitrex, Red Bulls, etc.  I've been in cycle now for over 6 months and I believe that it may be coming to end soon, hopefully.

John