Using No-doze for first time & have q's

[crazycanuck]

I'm doing the 12hr again this year(end of nov) & am testing out things many many moons in advance. I'm tossing up using either flat coke(tried it and not too bad) or no-doze but have some q's.

Would the best way to introduce no-doze to my body be cutting up the pill and seeing the effects or take it one hit? I'm concerned that it'll raise my heart rate too much.

I saw a sports nutritionist and we discussed no-doze, flat coke or coffee but can't decide which one to use.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[jessmarimba]

I've honestly never tried it. I used to have to drive overnight for rehearsal stuff in college sometimes, and I just drank plain black coffee. Coke and coffee with stuff in it didn't work for me because of the sugar crash afterwards. Though after too much coffee i would get a little sick to my stomach.

Have you ever tried the sport beans or the gu (whatever brand it is?) with caffeine? Or another option is chocolate-covered coffee beans (which I've had for overnight running events and loved).

How much caffeine is in no-doz? I just did a quick google search and didn't find a brand-specific answer.

And for experimenting with no-doz, depending on the amount of caffeine, I'd try half a pill or so first to see. You can always add more, but you can't undo having to put up with the elevated heart-rate and the shakes if it's too much.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Other sources of caffeine include hydration tablets with caffeine (better than sports drinks as they don't have sugar but still taste nice) and "sports" energy drinks such as Red Bull.

My effects for caffeine overdose was more like being drunk- spinning head, jittery feeling. However it didn't last as long as alcohol. I would have a supply of water on hand to help flush the caffeine through faster if you have too much.

[TsPoet]

I was a huge coffee and soda drinker in college. I once tried an all-nighter, including 1/2 of a no-doze. more than 20 years later, I still remember sitting in the library shaking, sweating, and listening to my heart pound in my ears. I got no studying done, and i finally, thankfully crashed just as the exam was starting. I don't remember taking the exam, I just remember relief that I was still alive.
I'd try something else first, gu with caffeine, for example. If you want to go that route.

[crazycanuck]

Oh dear TSP ..

Perhaps i'll just stick with really strong chocolate coated coffee beans..That and quite a bit of coffeeeee the day before/day of...

[jelee1311]

I've used no doze and it made me sick & jittery,have you tried black cherry shot blocks? They have 50mg caffine for 3 of them and they have other good stuff in them.They didn't make me sick.

[Pip]

I get jittery and queasy on anything like No Doze as well. Once upon a time my husband bought some caffeine-based party pills when we were planning to be out at a dance party all night. The packet said to take 3-4 so he took three and had a fantastic night. I took the remaining pill and spent the night with the jitters and major paranoia and feeling very sick. I couldn't sleep for 24 hours. The effects were supposed to last for six. Turns out I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine! If you're going to try it I'd do what you suggest and start with a portion of the pill only.

[crazycanuck]

Ummm nope nope nope..i'll pass on the no-doze...Your stories are freaking me out

I think i'll try flat coke instead. At least I have a clue about what i'm drinking!

I tried to order some Mocha cliff shots but they're out of stock *sniff*
If anyone sees them in a store in the next few days or so, please let me know!

[Catrin]

I have tried No-Doze in years past and had similar reactions to those reported here. Chocolate covered coffee beans, gu, or cliff shots would be kinder choices I think...

[OakLeaf]

If you can find NON-standardized guarana supplements, try those.

The only active compound in guarana that the US acknowledges is caffeine, so when they standardize it, they standardize the caffeine content. I don't know about Australian forms. But there must be other active molecules, because the boost I get from guarana is very different from caffeine.

Wide awake. Alert. None of that caffeine edge. And after five hours, I just come down and I can go to sleep (unlike caffeine, which even in beverage form will keep me up 14 hours from the last ingestion).

[PamNY]

I had a negative reaction to No-Doz similar to what others have described. And I drink lots of coffee and tea; my body is no stranger to caffeine.

[indysteel]

If I read correctly, maximum strength NoDoz has 200 mg of caffeine. A serving of coke or coffee has about a quarter of that. I think I'd climb the walls on 200 mg. I think I'd just stick to gels with caffeine or some flat coke. I'm not generally a soda drinker myself, but sometimes Coke tastes really good during or after a ride.

I wouldn't suggest dosing up on caffeine the day before your race though as it might interfere with getting a good night's sleep. If I drink any caffeine after 10 or so in the morning, I'll feel it later that night. I'll fall asleep okay, but I'll wake up in the middle of the night with a racing heartrate.

[Biciclista]

If you follow the directions on the package you should be fine. might have trouble sleeping but isn't that what you want?

[crazycanuck]

I think i may have found something! Clif Shots-Turbo! http://www.clifbar.com/food/products_shot_gel_turbo/

I have one problem The Clif store doesn't seem to ship overseas . Would anyone be able to do me a HUGE favour??? Pleaseeeeeeee..... Am happy to send you a Western Australia care package in return.

I also looked at a bottle of V..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_%28drink%29. Ian loves the stuff & when he's here dis weekend i'll have a little bit of his..just in case it tastes like crap.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Hi Crazy,

Here's a link to a NZ store I use to buy Clif products and they do the caffeine shotz AND will do worldwide delivery!
http://www.sportnutrition.co.nz/shop/brand/clif-bar/

BTW I love V- it's heaps nicer than Red Bull or Lift Plus energy drinks and comes in a sugar free version. It's a NZ product.

Kiwi