Please don't suggest booger sugar

December 28, 2008 6:28 PM

What will help me stay awake without having to see a man about a horse every 20 minutes?

I know sleep is the obvious answer, but I've got a moderate haul to make to get to the event, and will likely not be getting much sleep the night before. Most energy drinks and coffees run right through me. I'll be keeping alcohol intake on the low side in general and avoiding beer entirely.
It's been a while since I consumed caffeine in any form save for my morning coffee or the occasional energy drink. Will caffeine pills or those "5 Hour Energy Now" majobbers have less of a diuretic effect than a drink?
Most nights it's not a concern, but this is one of the few nights a year when I will actually want to stay up late. All legal options welcome, and all non-stimulant tricks are also welcome.

posted by piedmont to grab bag (18 comments total)

5 hour energy drink works, as long as you have had no other caffeine intake. Set your clock and wait six hours before repeating, or else you will literally go bonkers.
posted by parmanparman at 6:35 PM on December 28, 2008

Regular fresh air, open windows, and no candles.
posted by fire&wings at 6:36 PM on December 28, 2008

Non-stimulant: your favorite energy music...and extra wake points if you sing along to it.
Stimulant: Munch a few espresso beans now and then. Much tastier than pills.
posted by artdrectr at 6:39 PM on December 28, 2008

Caffeine pills like Vivarin and No-Doz don't make you pee much, certainly nothing like the 24 oz of coffee would that you would have to drink to get the equivalent amount of caffeine.
posted by ikkyu2 at 6:42 PM on December 28, 2008

Any way you'll have time to grab a nap at some point? Even 15 minutes can make a difference.

Also, keep limber. Good luck.

I know people who take decongestants to stay awake. A side effect is dehydration. Personally, I hesitate to take decongestants to deal with real live congestion as they make me bounce off the walls and feel crazy.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 6:45 PM on December 28, 2008

Vasoconstrictors like Imitrex work for me, but it's taking advantage of my sensitivity to heat (long story). I wouldn't depend on it working without testing it on you first. Antihistamines and decongestants are apparently vasoconstrictors too, which explains why I can't sleep with those things. Claritin in particular. Take one (not Claritin-D, just the regular Claritin) before bed and see how well you sleep.
posted by jwells at 7:12 PM on December 28, 2008

When you are driving, I recommend a nice, cold washcloth - washing your face will really perk you up when sitting for a long time. I've also had good luck with any cold pill that contains pseudoephedrine - but it makes some people sleepy - so if you haven't taken them before and know how you'll react, you might want to skip them.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 7:16 PM on December 28, 2008

There are also caffeine candy mints. They're not incredibly yummy, but tasty enough.

An additional consideration: driving while sleepy/exhausted is just as dangerous to others and yourself as driving under the influence of alcohol; it does count as driving while impaired.
posted by reflecked at 7:23 PM on December 28, 2008

Won't be driving, don't know why that was assumed.
I'm going to a concert on NYE, and want to not only make it through the whole thing but to be able to have fun afterward. Making it through the concert won't be a challenge, but I don't want to be dragging too badly afterward.
posted by piedmont at 7:32 PM on December 28, 2008

"A long haul" is a phrase my father always used to mean a drive of 7 or more hours. I interpreted that you would be driving, too.

I'm glad you won't be.
posted by Riverine at 8:21 PM on December 28, 2008

"Won't be driving, don't know why that was assumed. "

Really? You don't?

"I've got a moderate haul to make to get to the event"
posted by toomuchpete at 8:24 PM on December 28, 2008

Really? You don't?
Really.
I can see where you would get that, my question wasn't as clear as I thought, but seeing as how I said I'd be drinking small quantities of hard liquor, it should have been obvious that the driving wasn't what I was worried about.
posted by piedmont at 8:39 PM on December 28, 2008

Drink loads of water, pee a lot. This will be good for your body, and it'll also make you go to the bathroom often. It's hard to accidentally fall asleep when your bladder's full!
posted by suedehead at 8:47 PM on December 28, 2008

If you are not driving, nap on the way. As for energy, the 5 hour energy supplements are fairly effective so long as you have not had any recently, and are not hooked on caffeine. Similar drinks such as "Tweak Extreme" are also effective, although that one is dangerous. Four ounces results in sustained energy. Six ounces results in an energy boost. The entire twelve ounce bottle results in tremors and complete inability to focus.

Supplements are effective for the short term, but they are exceptionally easy to adjust to, and you will pay the sleep debt off soon enough whether you like it or not, unless you wish to become a miserable caffeine addict who hates mornings and is never well rested.
posted by Saydur at 9:14 PM on December 28, 2008

How to stay awake
posted by leigh1 at 3:23 AM on December 29, 2008

Icebreakers caffeineated mints!

A wonderful thing...
posted by jgirl at 5:51 AM on December 29, 2008

I can see where you would get that, my question wasn't as clear as I thought, but seeing as how I said I'd be drinking small quantities of hard liquor, it should have been obvious that the driving wasn't what I was worried about.

If you want to stay awake, avoid alcohol entirely. One or two drinks is, for many people, enough to negate the effects of caffeine. Well, for me, at least.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:41 AM on December 29, 2008

Wash your face in lukewarm water. Not hot - hot makes you sleepy, and I find cold makes me sleepy too.
Fresh air.
Cool water.
Go for short walks to get your blood moving.
posted by sandraregina at 7:43 AM on December 29, 2008