Red Bull and ritalin for breakfast?
July 19, 2011 2:33 PM Subscribe
Should I be worried about a daily diet Red Bull habit? Is there any real science about the health effects of artificial sweeteners or combining energy drinks and ritalin?
My 25 year old relative is a busy student, mom and barista. She has been prescribed 10mg generic ritalin for ADHD, which she takes every morning with a diet Red Bull. She complains of headaches almost daily that do not seem to be caffeine related as they are not relieved by tea, coffee or regular Red Bull, only diet Red Bull.
She is seeking actual sciencey information about the possible health effects or any reason to quit this habit other than a hunch that it's probably not a good idea and that she could be spending that $60 a month on something else!
My 25 year old relative is a busy student, mom and barista. She has been prescribed 10mg generic ritalin for ADHD, which she takes every morning with a diet Red Bull. She complains of headaches almost daily that do not seem to be caffeine related as they are not relieved by tea, coffee or regular Red Bull, only diet Red Bull.
She is seeking actual sciencey information about the possible health effects or any reason to quit this habit other than a hunch that it's probably not a good idea and that she could be spending that $60 a month on something else!
I googled "Energy Drink" on Google Scholar and found a bunch of articles.
Here's is a review, which seems to be high-quality and straightforward, not biased or scaremongering: Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (free full-text)
Summary: There are potentially serious adverse effects largely related to high caffeine consumption. (Your friend is on the tail end of "young adult", I believe.)
posted by PercussivePaul at 3:06 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
Here's is a review, which seems to be high-quality and straightforward, not biased or scaremongering: Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (free full-text)
Summary: There are potentially serious adverse effects largely related to high caffeine consumption. (Your friend is on the tail end of "young adult", I believe.)
posted by PercussivePaul at 3:06 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
She may be dehydrated as that is a lot of diuretic she is consuming. I don't drink energy drinks for that reason; being dehydrated always gives me terrible headaches.
posted by dobie at 3:06 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dobie at 3:06 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have an admission: I don't drink Coke. Or Pepsi. Or Sprite or Mountain Dew. You will never find soda in my fridge.
However, I have consumed a single Red Bull every day for probably going on ten years. I just kinda nurse it in the evenings when I play on the internet.
I've never encountered headaches - I would wonder if maybe she's getting enough water? Is she just having the one a day? A single Red Bull has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. So I would agree that chances are that caffeine is not the culprit.
I would suggest she hold off drinking the Red Bull for a week and see if the headaches go away. If so, then it may be the culprit. If not, then that points to a non-Redbull cause.
posted by Windigo at 4:32 PM on July 19, 2011
However, I have consumed a single Red Bull every day for probably going on ten years. I just kinda nurse it in the evenings when I play on the internet.
I've never encountered headaches - I would wonder if maybe she's getting enough water? Is she just having the one a day? A single Red Bull has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. So I would agree that chances are that caffeine is not the culprit.
I would suggest she hold off drinking the Red Bull for a week and see if the headaches go away. If so, then it may be the culprit. If not, then that points to a non-Redbull cause.
posted by Windigo at 4:32 PM on July 19, 2011
This is purely an anecdote.
My sister used to date a heart surgeon. We were talking about cocaine one night, and how it has a very specific effect on a very specific part of the heart. I also dated a nurse, who said the same thing, years later.
At any rate, one night at a party, we were standing around and someone passed with a Red Bull and vodka. He told me never to drink those, because he alleged he could see the same damage in the hearts of people who drank Red Bull as those who did coke.
Don't know if it's true....IANAHS, IANYHS. But he talked about it often enough that I figured it was more than his pet Jeremiad.
posted by nevercalm at 8:32 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
My sister used to date a heart surgeon. We were talking about cocaine one night, and how it has a very specific effect on a very specific part of the heart. I also dated a nurse, who said the same thing, years later.
At any rate, one night at a party, we were standing around and someone passed with a Red Bull and vodka. He told me never to drink those, because he alleged he could see the same damage in the hearts of people who drank Red Bull as those who did coke.
Don't know if it's true....IANAHS, IANYHS. But he talked about it often enough that I figured it was more than his pet Jeremiad.
posted by nevercalm at 8:32 PM on July 19, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by Blazecock Pileon at 2:56 PM on July 19, 2011