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Withdrawal from daily 5-Hour Energy supplement use for over a year?
Hello all,
I'm scared that I may have done permanent damage to my brain. I had been drinking one 5-Hour Energy shot every day for over a year which I abruptly stopped taking cold-turkey and switched over to coffee about 5 weeks ago. A couple days after stopping I felt terrible anxiety and walked around like I was in a "brain fog" all day at work. This feeling was on and off for weeks until it started to get worse and I would get tremors and shaking and my sleep cycle went to hell. I'd fall asleep for an hour and then wake back up wide awake and drenched in sweat, then fall asleep for another hour, etc. I recently read that there are ingredients in 5-Hour Energy that are precursors to L-DOPA, (N Acetyl L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine) which together can cross the blood brain barrier and are turned to dopamine in the body/brain. So basically I've been giving myself straight dopamine for over a year and abruptly stopped. And now I feel extreme depression, anxiety, and tremors like someone with Parkinson's. Have I done permanent damage to my dopamine neurons in my brain or will I bounce back from this? The clinical nurse specialist prescribed me 0.25mg of Xanax twice daily and 50mg of Zoloft once a day to help me through the process which she said we could taper off of when the time comes. Has anyone else gone through this with 5-Hour Energy? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much everybody, -Mike
I'm scared that I may have done permanent damage to my brain. I had been drinking one 5-Hour Energy shot every day for over a year which I abruptly stopped taking cold-turkey and switched over to coffee about 5 weeks ago. A couple days after stopping I felt terrible anxiety and walked around like I was in a "brain fog" all day at work. This feeling was on and off for weeks until it started to get worse and I would get tremors and shaking and my sleep cycle went to hell. I'd fall asleep for an hour and then wake back up wide awake and drenched in sweat, then fall asleep for another hour, etc. I recently read that there are ingredients in 5-Hour Energy that are precursors to L-DOPA, (N Acetyl L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine) which together can cross the blood brain barrier and are turned to dopamine in the body/brain. So basically I've been giving myself straight dopamine for over a year and abruptly stopped. And now I feel extreme depression, anxiety, and tremors like someone with Parkinson's. Have I done permanent damage to my dopamine neurons in my brain or will I bounce back from this? The clinical nurse specialist prescribed me 0.25mg of Xanax twice daily and 50mg of Zoloft once a day to help me through the process which she said we could taper off of when the time comes. Has anyone else gone through this with 5-Hour Energy? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks so much everybody, -Mike
if u want some real advice from an exjunkie stop taking that Xanax and Zoloft if the only reason u are on it is from anxiety caused from 5 hour energy benzos will definitely mess your head up over time u are just experiencing caffeine withdraw just like anyone else that's why its so hard to quit caffeine sugar and nicotine are 3 of the most addicting substances that there are
I was drinking 2 5hour energy drinks a day. I quit about 3 weeks ago but when I quit I did a 3 day liquid cleanse no food. By day 3 O was vomiting that lasted 2 days. I lost my appetite for days. I've had body aches, head aches and most recently I've had to wake in the middle of the night to change my sheets and clothes from being drenched in sweat. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow but my sister who is a pediatrician mentioned caffeine withdrawal. Thank you for making me not feel alone.
Thank you i will stop drink all drinks that include caffeine my circumstances and symptoms are the same as themjp excluding the Xanax and other medications he's been put on it's almost like he took the words right out of my mouth for the next two months I'm going to try to do a complete clean out of my system
4 Comments
Bear in mind that there may be nothing in your system to withdraw from though.
There is nothing bothering you, no changes in your life? Some people who never had anxiety can develop instant anxiety issues for no reason, so that is a possibility. If you had a doctor he might prescribe a few Ativan to see if it is just a rough spot that you need some help to get through.
There is nothing bothering you, no changes in your life? Some people who never had anxiety can develop instant anxiety issues for no reason, so that is a possibility. If you had a doctor he might prescribe a few Ativan to see if it is just a rough spot that you need some help to get through.
No one can diagnose you from here, but because you mention anxiety and depression, here are some basics. Anxiety and depression feed off each other in a vicious circle, and over time they escalate the intensity that each creates. if you get to the point of clinical anx or dep, you might be so into it that you cant even figure out what your problem is because each of them can bite so hard However assume you aren't that bad since you list both as problems.
Below is a GUESS example of what could have happened to you, but you would need a professional to give a real diagnosis instead of this guess theory:
Perhaps it started with some anxiety the day you couldn't have 5. You kept wanting it and wondered how you could make it through the day and got fretful but hoped it would pass. As time went on your anxiety wouldn't stop and you started worrying that it would be there for a while and got depressed. The anxiety level rose, thinking you might have permanent damage and the dep set in harder thinking this was all you had to look forward to in life. On and on the vicious circle can gain strength until it consumes a lot of your waking hours. At its worst, a clinically dep person can't even get out of bed.
That is why themjp was prescribed Zoloft to try to rid him of this all consuming mental pain - at its best a person can remember what it is like to be happy again and then go off the meds, however many people take them forever because the meds don't work for them, or the person has problems that they can't deal with. Therapy is always the better route to take than meds, and in your case since it is just a loss of 5 drink, hopefully you are able to resolve it on your own with some careful thinking about it.
I hope you can make some use of the above to work toward a solution. You don't have any permanent damage and it may just be a matter of realizing that and rethinking your situation so you approach this loss of 5 with telling yourself over and over that it is a blessing to be in this situation because you have gained freedom from 5 because you have a powerful brain that can overcome problems on its own. Good luck.
Below is a GUESS example of what could have happened to you, but you would need a professional to give a real diagnosis instead of this guess theory:
Perhaps it started with some anxiety the day you couldn't have 5. You kept wanting it and wondered how you could make it through the day and got fretful but hoped it would pass. As time went on your anxiety wouldn't stop and you started worrying that it would be there for a while and got depressed. The anxiety level rose, thinking you might have permanent damage and the dep set in harder thinking this was all you had to look forward to in life. On and on the vicious circle can gain strength until it consumes a lot of your waking hours. At its worst, a clinically dep person can't even get out of bed.
That is why themjp was prescribed Zoloft to try to rid him of this all consuming mental pain - at its best a person can remember what it is like to be happy again and then go off the meds, however many people take them forever because the meds don't work for them, or the person has problems that they can't deal with. Therapy is always the better route to take than meds, and in your case since it is just a loss of 5 drink, hopefully you are able to resolve it on your own with some careful thinking about it.
I hope you can make some use of the above to work toward a solution. You don't have any permanent damage and it may just be a matter of realizing that and rethinking your situation so you approach this loss of 5 with telling yourself over and over that it is a blessing to be in this situation because you have gained freedom from 5 because you have a powerful brain that can overcome problems on its own. Good luck.
I was drinking 2 5hour energy drinks a day. I quit about 3 weeks ago but when I quit I did a 3 day liquid cleanse no food. By day 3 O was vomiting that lasted 2 days. I lost my appetite for days. I've had body aches, head aches and most recently I've had to wake in the middle of the night to change my sheets and clothes from being drenched in sweat. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow but my sister who is a pediatrician mentioned caffeine withdrawal. Thank you for making me not feel alone.
I was drinking them for about 3 years or more.
I'm going through the exact same thing and it is very scary I could definitely use some feedback. I was drinking 5 hours for probably 6 years almost daily and then I had to abruptly stop when I got food poisoning I'm going through almost the exact same thing that he said
8 Comments
Tim How long have you stopped? Have you consulted with your doctor?
I haven't spoken with a doctor because I do not have insurance and I don't have a primary care physician I've been kind of trying to troubleshoot this myself it all started about 2 months ago still ongoing I even try drinking a 5-hour once again and the feeling has not left me yet it comes and goesk
I stopped for about 3 weeks. Then started back up again i had one today to see if i would feel better my friends think it might be from all the b12 and b6 thats in it. I dont know. It sucks i just want to feel like myself again. And no im not on any meds i don't drink i dont smoke weed or anything energy drinks are the only thing i use.
There are large amounts of B vitamins in these drinks and vitamin overdose is a risk. However vitamin overdose isn't going to do what TheMjP above said was happening to him. https://smartypantsvitamins.com/the-overdose-risks-of-vitamins-why-proper-dosage-matters/
" a vitamin B6 overdose can lead to nerve toxicity, while B3 can lead to nausea, jaundice, and liver toxicity. Too much folic acid, too, can mask the symptoms of a B12 deficiency. So how much is too much? Typically, 300 mg of B6 is scary territory, while 2000 mg of B3 is risky. For folate, the Institute of Medicine recommends adult men and women not consume more than 1000 mg per day. In order to avoid a vitamin B overdose, make sure you consult your healthcare professional."
" a vitamin B6 overdose can lead to nerve toxicity, while B3 can lead to nausea, jaundice, and liver toxicity. Too much folic acid, too, can mask the symptoms of a B12 deficiency. So how much is too much? Typically, 300 mg of B6 is scary territory, while 2000 mg of B3 is risky. For folate, the Institute of Medicine recommends adult men and women not consume more than 1000 mg per day. In order to avoid a vitamin B overdose, make sure you consult your healthcare professional."
You only need a tiny amount of B to function properly and unless you are deficient, all the mega doses they add do nothing positive for your energy, and are just a marketing gimmick to make you think your body will be extra-loaded with energy.
I still haven't figured out your timeline of taking it. You stopped for 3 weeks. Then you started - for how long? You took one today. What happened in between?
I still haven't figured out your timeline of taking it. You stopped for 3 weeks. Then you started - for how long? You took one today. What happened in between?
I was taking them off and on in between probably about 3 times a week
1. You didn't state what you think your withdrawal effects are. Please do that.
2. I suggest you completely stop for a few months and you will know for sure that whatever seems not right to you is not due to withdrawal.
3. Do you want to be taking it now and in future, or did you just start again because you were associating whatever is bothering you now with withdrawal?
There isn't going to be any permanent damage from taking it, so a cleanout will get you back to normal. However dominosarah said she is doubting there is any withdrawal effects matching what TheMJP felt was happening, so whatever you think is wrong may be in your imagination from over-analyzing your body.
2. I suggest you completely stop for a few months and you will know for sure that whatever seems not right to you is not due to withdrawal.
3. Do you want to be taking it now and in future, or did you just start again because you were associating whatever is bothering you now with withdrawal?
There isn't going to be any permanent damage from taking it, so a cleanout will get you back to normal. However dominosarah said she is doubting there is any withdrawal effects matching what TheMJP felt was happening, so whatever you think is wrong may be in your imagination from over-analyzing your body.
Regarding 2. above,
I meant if you stop taking it for 2 months and you still feel something is wrong then you know it is not due to the drink or withdrawal.
I meant if you stop taking it for 2 months and you still feel something is wrong then you know it is not due to the drink or withdrawal.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I have a feeling you have more going on than just the 5 hr energy wd. I have never heard of this before. I do have my concerns with the meds they put you on for this.
Hi & Welcome.
It sounds like you are going through a short caffeine w/d. Many substances will alter the Brain Chems and their are more then just the Dopamine. With many other Addictions, even Shopping, Gambling, Drugs, Booze. ect. This will release/serge neurochemicals such as dopamine into the Brains Pleasure center. Dopamine purpose is to encourage survival instincts, like eating, water, sex, breathing, all the survival instincts we have to use to live. This will rush into that Mid-brain making it so we think nothing of survival but where to get that next rush or high.
I read that drugs like caffeine,cigs, speedy drugs, adderral, some AD meds and so fourth hit the Norepinephrine too, thus hitting the adrenaline. SO I just think you will be fine. You did not do this for a very long time, but your Body & Brain got used to those chems in that drink and now you have removed it. Just like MOST meds or booze ect., it takes time for the Brain and the Body to adjust back after the removal of these Stims.
NOW..Be very careful on those other meds, as they too are very addicting and they hit certain areas of the brain as well. Benzo will hit the Gabba part too and then it highly affects the Nervous System. Most anything we remove abruptly affects the nervous system. The Brain is connected to the Body and all of this gets a bit off coarse when we abuse different things. YOU will be just fine in time. I do wish you the best and try to eat Healthy and drink lots of water. Maybe stay away from all sugars and caffeine at this time. Give that Brain/Body a Break so it can balance back.
Wishing you the best!
Vickie
It sounds like you are going through a short caffeine w/d. Many substances will alter the Brain Chems and their are more then just the Dopamine. With many other Addictions, even Shopping, Gambling, Drugs, Booze. ect. This will release/serge neurochemicals such as dopamine into the Brains Pleasure center. Dopamine purpose is to encourage survival instincts, like eating, water, sex, breathing, all the survival instincts we have to use to live. This will rush into that Mid-brain making it so we think nothing of survival but where to get that next rush or high.
I read that drugs like caffeine,cigs, speedy drugs, adderral, some AD meds and so fourth hit the Norepinephrine too, thus hitting the adrenaline. SO I just think you will be fine. You did not do this for a very long time, but your Body & Brain got used to those chems in that drink and now you have removed it. Just like MOST meds or booze ect., it takes time for the Brain and the Body to adjust back after the removal of these Stims.
NOW..Be very careful on those other meds, as they too are very addicting and they hit certain areas of the brain as well. Benzo will hit the Gabba part too and then it highly affects the Nervous System. Most anything we remove abruptly affects the nervous system. The Brain is connected to the Body and all of this gets a bit off coarse when we abuse different things. YOU will be just fine in time. I do wish you the best and try to eat Healthy and drink lots of water. Maybe stay away from all sugars and caffeine at this time. Give that Brain/Body a Break so it can balance back.
Wishing you the best!
Vickie
COMMUNITY LEADER
To be honest, I use these all the time and go weeks without using them and have never felt like that? Is it possible that the 5 hr energies were masking a problem that was already there? Why did you start using them in the first place?
I kind of feel like the Xanex and Xoloft are overkill if it's for the 5hr energies? Now, perhaps underlying issues might be causing these issues and the meds are necessary, but does seem like a bit much. And yes, you will then have to taper off of the 2 new meds?
I'm not really sure with this one?
I kind of feel like the Xanex and Xoloft are overkill if it's for the 5hr energies? Now, perhaps underlying issues might be causing these issues and the meds are necessary, but does seem like a bit much. And yes, you will then have to taper off of the 2 new meds?
I'm not really sure with this one?
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