5-Hour Energy: The portable & safer energy drink for athletes
Posted April 5th, 2007 at 10:25 AM by Paul Petersen
Section: Nutrition, Supplements, Product Reviews
Recently I participated in Relay Del Sol, an overnight team relay race that traverses nearly 190 miles through central Arizona. As if running and managing team logistics isn’t exhausting enough, I decided to punish myself even further by acting as a vendor and selling souvenirs all day at the finish line. That meant that while other participants had the privilege to go home, take a shower, and dive into the realm of slumber, I had to remain in the land of the living.
Naturally, I expected myself to be dragging a bit (to say the least), and searched for a convenient, portable energy drink to keep me going while I hawked merchandise. I preferred to stay away from some of the other rather noxious, sugar-laden drinks I’ve tried in the past, and coffee (although a favorite) just doesn’t pack well during an adventure race.
Then I found 5-Hour Energy, which comes in a convenient 2-oz, re-sealable bottle and claims to boost energy without sugar or a ridiculous amount of caffeine. It seemed like a good choice - so I decided to give it a try for the relay.
Its moniker says it all: “5-Hour Energy increases energy and alertness for several hours”. The main ingredient for this task is caffeine; an amount equivalent to one cup of coffee. Being a two-cup-a-day guy, this quantity of caffeine seemed reasonable; unlike the amounts found in Cocaine Energy Drink (which claims to contain 350% the energy content of “The Bull”). Better yet, the drink contains a heavy dose of B-Vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids, while containing zero sugars and carbs.
The product also contains Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Taurine, Malic Acid, and Glucuronolactone, which are known to aid in producing energy and aiding nervous system functionality. The complete nutritional information is pictured above.
But does it work? After supplementing 17 miles of running over the last 20 hours with only two hours of sleep, I put 5-Hour Energy to the test. I found the taste to be tolerable, but nothing I’d drink recreationally. However, there is only 2-oz of liquid and I was more interested in the effects anyway.
Almost instantly I could feel it kick in, and to be frank, it made me rather jittery for about 15 minutes or so. However, the nervousness wore off, and I soon had a good, stable baseline of energy. I drank another 2-oz vial of the elixr about three hours later, which induced similar effects. I ended up making it through the day without a crash.
The lack of a crash makes sense to me. After all, the drink contains no sugar and is basically the equivalent of a cup of coffee plus a few other ingredients. Coffee doesn’t make me crash, so why would 5-Hour Energy?
And true, 5-Hour Energy has some extra vitamins that you wouldn’t get with coffee, but in my opinion its main benefits are portability and convenience. The fact that they weigh only 2-ounces and come in re-sealable bottles allows enables them to be easily stored and brought along for workouts, training runs, and other adventures.
I am wary, however, of taking any caffeine supplement (even coffee, for that matter) immediately before running or other exercise. Although caffeine has been shown to enhance performance, it can also have some negative side-effects, and thus remains a controversial subject among runners and other endurance athletes.
In addition, and when I do drink caffeine, it tends to be in moderate quantities (1-2 cups) and with plenty of water to offset caffeine’s diuretic effects.
However, if you are looking for an extra boost, whether it is before a workout or even afterwards to help you get through the day, 5-Hour Energy is a suitable option. In addition to being the most convenient and portable product in the energy drink market, it is also probably one of the safest. 
The caffeine content, like coffee, is also comparable to the many caffeine-enhanced energy gels (such as the “Double Espresso” flavored Clif SHOT) that have become extremely popular among runners and other endurance athletes.
Overall, 5-Hour Energy definitely works as advertised - it will keep you awake without causing you to crash later on. Just remember that if you choose to incorporate it into your exercise routine, you should employ personal discretion and drink plenty of water - just as you would with any caffeinated beverage.
For more information about 5-Hour Energy, please visit: http://5hourenergy.com/
Note: Although the review is authored by just one of TFS’s team members, it reflects the cumulative results of the entire groups’ trials.
Tags: 5 Hour Energy, alert, caffeine, chaser, cocaine energy drink, coffee, diuretic, energy, energy drinks, pump up, relay, supplements, taurine
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April 5th, 2007 at 1:12 pmI live in the uk and was wondering where I could purchase the 5-hour energy drink from either by importing from the states or buying from a retailers in the uk This is for my personal use not for resale purposes.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:29 pmDude i wouldn’t recommend doing that. Two shots. caffeine has a half life of 5 hours. and they arnt sure if this drink contains 50mg of it or 300 found in some crazy coffee from places like Caribou. 300mg can cause a overdose in a healthy adult. Which could cause a irregular heart rate. so if you just pumped 600mg into your veins who knows. Also alot of the other ingredients are iffy at best and this has not be been checked by the food and drug administration yet. So all I’m gonna say is don’t take this drink lightly.
September 15th, 2007 at 3:14 pmI’ve been taking this drink for a while now. I’m still a little nervous. I highly recommend NOT taking the whole bottle, that’s absolutely nuts. The caffeine is merely a transporter for the main ingredients to become absorbed by your body. There is not enough to see the effects. It’s most likely between 80mg to 100mg if you take the entire bottle. Most surely not 300mg as Nick suggests, that would require a dangerous warning label. I don’t take the full 2oz. I actually have been taking only. .5oz and some time I only take .25oz and I actually feel the results. But I’m still a little nervous of it, because I have notice it speed my heart rate up. I’m out of shape, but I experienced a 96 bpm heart rate while resting. I suggest taking 1/4 the recommended dose. NEVER the whole bottle, and don’t take it everyday. The amount of B-vitamins can be dangerous. You can overdose on B-vitamins and can cause nerve damage. So just be smart and talk to your doctor!
November 4th, 2007 at 1:26 pmHi Curt, it seems you are a little nervous about taking a whole bottle of 5-Hour Energy because of the elevated levels of vitamins B6 and B12?
You’ll be glad to know that according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, “No toxic or adverse effects have been associated with large intakes of vitamin B12 from food or supplements in healthy people.” As a result, no upper intake limit was established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine. Doses as high as 1,000mcg have been given to anemia patients with no side effects. 5-Hour Energy contains 500mcg of B12.
Vitamin B6 consumed in amounts of 200 to 1,000mg per day can trigger sensory neuropathy in some people. The Food and Nutrition Board established a tolerable upper intake level of 100mg per day. However, 5-Hour Energy contains only 40mg of vitamin B6. Amounts of vitamins B12 and B6 in 5-Hour Energy, although well above the recommended daily allowance (the minimum amount), are well within safe levels.
January 11th, 2008 at 3:53 pmNick: The FDA categorizes products like 5-Hour Energy as “dietary supplements.” Government rules for supplements differ from those established for synthetic medicines. All vitamins supplements must comply with DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) regulations for labeling, manufacturing practices and use of ingredients the FDA categorizes as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe).
The FDA does not test and approve dietary supplements because their ingredients are already established as safe. 5-Hour Energy contains safe levels of vitamins and amino acids as well as ingredients that are readily available in food or manufactured by your body. More information can be found at www.5hourenergy.com/ingredients.asp
January 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pmI would like to know more about energy drink for Track runners .
January 16th, 2008 at 11:37 amHow to get faster while drinking an energy drink ?
Pk so i have a friend who took this drink.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:39 pmHe overdosed on it and was sent to the hospital.
He has been there for the past 3 days.
Ok so i have a friend who took this drink.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:39 pmHe overdosed on it and was sent to the hospital.
He has been there for the past 3 days.
I’ve been taking the 5-hour for a few weeks now, and I would say it does have better results then other energy drinks or coffee for that matter. I don’t have the crash, but my stomach does feel weird after I drink, it, even if I just ate. it’s tolerable though. If your an athlete, I would say regulate it on the days that you train, I’m a kickboxer, and I drunk 2oz about 2hours before I trained, and I did experience some heart racing. They do state that on the bottle though. As for Amber, I’m curious to know how many bottles your friend took in order to overdose? Some people are very sensitive to caffeine, also, he may have been allergic to something in it. On the other hand, if he drunk like 5 bottles or more within a few hours then I could see why that happened hope he’s better. As for Curt, the body can suffer withdrawal symtoms from caffeine, like bad headaches so i would suggest having at least some amount of caffeine per day rather than every other day.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 pmwell you have to agree that it is a good product but it is not made for all.
the people who have high blood pressure and diabetis should not take this product to shots of pure caffine is like drinking 16 cups of strong coffee.
i am not a exspert on this but i been takeing 5 hour energy since it came out and i been haveing side effects i work nights so what i do is i take one bottle of 5 hour energy when i start and when 5 hours has past i take another shot since i work a 12 hour shift.
i went into a seizure and convulsion from this product. i clapsed at work on a crane that i was operating it.
the out come could of been brutal i could of kill my self or some one else.
this is something to take but do not spend your life takeing it the caffine is like cocain for the body it can be addictive cafine in soda and drinks has a trace of cocaine they liquify the drug and put it in legal ways like caffine drinks and energy drinks.
so i do advise you to read the lable and the warnings before just chugging down this drink it could stop your heart or damage your heart with the side effects of your high blood pressure if you have ny or diabetis i do recommand talk to the dr before takeing a caffine drink of any sort exspecially a suppament or a energy booster like 5 hour energy .
it could be the worse mmistake that you can do to your self if this product kills you or damages your heart not all caffine drinks and energy drinks are good for you as they say …………..
June 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pmThey have a decaf version as well as an extra strength version. The decaf version I believe only has 6 mlligrams of caffeine… http://www.5hourenergy.com/5hrdecaf.asp
Here is a review of the extra strength version:
September 9th, 2008 at 9:57 amhttp://energy-drink-ratings.blogspot.com/2006/05/chaser-5-hour-energy-drink-review.html
I only needed about 15 minutes of energy…so I opened it up and just licked inside the cap.
September 16th, 2008 at 2:01 pmWell, here is my take.
First, many doctors are not wise about nutrition, therefore, a doctor is not who I would consult, unless I had a medical condition. I would consult a nutritionist (my health coach).
Second, I am careful in using this product because it has a slightly different effect on different persons. I find the alertness and fatigue reduction helpful for hours of focused study and reading. However, I take it only after my running up and downt he stairs does not give me the endurance I need to sit in front of a computer for longer periods of time.
Finally, after the 4-6 hours of energy, if I experience fatigue, the best thing for my body is a nap - the natural recovery process.
Carlos
September 28th, 2008 at 2:42 pmAfter reading this page for a fiend, I felt like I had to post my 2 cents. Most people who take this energy shot are not aware of the ingredient that actually makes it effective. It’s not the caffeine or B vitamins that gives you energy.
5-hour energy contains phenylalanine. Once it goes into your acidic stomach, it breaks down into epinephrine, better known as adrenaline. Essentially you are getting a 5 hour adrenaline rush. Epinephrine (adrenaline) prepares your body for an emergency, raising blood pressure, increasing oxygen in blood, raising blood sugar levels, dilating your pupils, and more; all of those responses cause your heart rate to increase because it has to work a lot harder.
My guess is that 5 hour energy tries to advertise “low caffeine”, “sugar free”, “only 4 calories” for the general public feels that it is safe and healty. I also feel that the back nutrition label tries to mislead you. When you read that it contains 8000% of your B vitamins, it would be reasonable for the average person to assume that the ample dose of B vitamins must be giving you the energy. B complex vitamins help break down glucose, giving your body a small amount energy, but probably not a noticeable amount to feel a difference. B vitamins are water soluble and your body will probably piss out the extra 8333%-100%= 8222% of the B vitamins.
To summarize my thoughts:
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm1. 5 hour energy is a pretty serious drink
2. Don’t drink it unless you have to
3. Caffeine drinks are a safer bet, but still not good
4. I’m surprised the FDA hasn’t outlawed this yet.
I’m a personal trainer as well as a student at GA Tech research institute. I’ve looked into all the active and inactive ingredients in this product, and did some research after taking Extra Strength 5-Hour Energy for the first time about an hour ago. I’m pretty wired; I would compare the effects to drinking an espresso coffee drink.
*** Pros ***
Won’t make you fat. Seems cheap, easy, and a potent, magical elixir to give you that “extra boost” whenever you need it. Great in moderation… Seemingly no “crash.” Gives you near-instantaneous boost of energy comparable to doing cocaine - a powerful stimulant - for an extended period of time. However, this is definitely a con as well (very strenuous exertion on your heart, just like the effects of doing any other stimulant have on the body)!
*** Cons ***
All the preservatives in 5-Hour Energy are extremely potent carcinogens, meaning they cause cancer if consumed in large amounts. This product also elevates your blood pressure to an almost dangerous degree, meaning it should not be consumed by people with any history of heart problems. I also think that you WILL develop heart problems if you take too much of this product. The caffeine levels are comparable to drinking 12 ounces of espresso coffee (it even says so on the back of the bottle), again, very, very unhealthy. The dangerous levels of B12 and B6 (over 8300% daily intake and 2000% daily intake, respectively), are DANGEROUS and TOXIC (symptoms of excess consumption of B6 include pain and numbness of the extremities, and in severe cases difficulty walking; symptoms of excess consumption of B12 include diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems) unless you drink a LOT of water (since vitamin B is water soluble) to flush out your system.
*** Conclusion ***
I would not recommend this product to any of my clients. I’d do it only when I necessarily have to, and then, only in small amounts. It is essentially the same as drinking an espresso coffee drink from Starbucks without the after-effects. Half the bottle should be sufficient to give a huge boost of energy to anyone… doing the whole bottle will F you up (try it for yourself, it’s a crazy little drink). Don’t do too much, I guarantee it will F your body up, and fast. Balance is the key to life, so do everything in moderation and you should be fine. Make your own call.
Sources: Me (Michael McCarty), 21 year-old GA Tech student, ACE certified personal trainer. Add me on Facebook if this article was helpful to you =)! I love meeting new people!
November 18th, 2008 at 9:01 pmI’ve been doing my research on the 5 hour energy drink because of the amount that I consume. I actually have had 3 bottles today and am at the end of the 5th hour of the last bottle. I tend to use these more to try and cut back on my other caffine intake (my diet pepsi addiction of 6-8 liters a day). I do say it works, but have not experienced any of the negative side effects that I have read about. I’m not saying it is safe, my 24 year old 200lb body may have a totally different reaction than that of another person.
Yes, the amount of caffine I consume a day is true. I do buy around 40-50 2liter bottles every time they go on sale for under a buck. I have been tested for diabetes and everything else and do not have any unusual crazy illnesses. I’d be interested to see what thoughts are on my way of living. Insane amounts of caffine, maybe. But I sleep every night very well and don’t have health problems out of the ordinary.
December 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 pmI took three along for an 18 hour drive yesterday, BAD IDEA, I feel like I am going to die, my tongue is swollen, I have the worst diarrhea ever, a huge headache, bloody nose, worst caugh and chest pains ever, I really think I might die, I am extremely tired but cannot sleep because of the caughing, i am kind of going crazy
December 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pmOK, B-vitamins are important for energy production, but 8,000% of your RDA? No wonder I felt sick when I tried this stuff. I actually ended up skipping the run I was hoping to test it on, I was so worried about my heart palpitations.
I had better luck with the spot-on energy patch (www.spotonenergy.com)– sensible levels of vitamins and caffiene that were absorbed through the skin. This seemed to provide a good steady burn through my run without making my blood pressure go through the roof!
December 29th, 2008 at 6:45 pmHey, I tried one of these today before i worked out. I am 17 170 Ibs and workout regularly. My Evaluation so far is that it worked very well, I used free standing weights for about an hour and a half and ran for 20 mins with ease and no crash. My qestion: Is it a good idea to take these before workouts on a daylie basis?
January 27th, 2009 at 6:07 pmUpdate on my post before. I have used these so far for about a week and a half straight, the effect now is; No energy boost at the beggining but now it keeps me going for longer. I think that im beggining to get a tolerance to this drink. Although it doesnt give me the beggining boost i would still drink it if i were to do something mentally straining for longer periods of time.
February 7th, 2009 at 4:13 pmi took a shot of this stuff tonight for the first time before my basketball game and i would say it works quite well.It kept me awake,alert, and focused.My only side effect is a stomach ache about 3 or 4 hours after i take it.I would like to know if it would be safe to drink a shot before every one of my games?my games are usually on tuesdays and fridays
February 8th, 2009 at 12:38 ammy father died from this product!!!!!!!
May 24th, 2009 at 8:32 amHe took this drink 5/2/09 before a long drive. He was going on vacation and before he even left the state he pulled over at a rest stop and had a massive heart attack. He was a healthy 56 year old man with no preexisting heart conditions. This was his first and last 5 hour energy! Please be careful when drinking this!!
May 24th, 2009 at 8:35 amI had this drink today & honestly, I barely felt a thing. I sipped a little yesterday–about .5 ounces for a bit of a boost, and today I drank the rest of it.
I took it today (around 7 am) because I wanted to exercise but I felt too tired. So I sat around waiting to feel the effects. After about an hour, I felt less tired but I wasn’t jittery at all.
Then, it wasn’t until about three hours later when I felt I had more energy, and it wasn’t that much anyway. I did notice that when I exercised I got hot a lot faster than I usually do, but it didn’t bother or concern me.
I thought maybe because I was sitting and engrossed with doing things online I didn’t notice any boosted energy.
I’m just saying that this has different effects on people. Maybe some people are very sensitive to the caffeine or the extra Vitamin B.
I’m very sorry about the people who felt sick from it though.
BTW: I’m a 19 year old female and I don’t usually drink coffee or soda–just coffee about once every three weeks or so.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:28 pmAlso I actually found the Berry flavor to be nice–not the very tasty but I liked the “tangy-ness” of it.
you guys are all just babys the stuff works and is not bad for you ive slammed 2 to 3 at one time with no side effects no crash
September 12th, 2009 at 9:16 pmI’m a dishwasher for morning and lunch and always had trouble keeping up with the steady flow of dishes coming in, i wasnt much of a morning person to begin with but no matter how fast i tried to go i couldnt stay on top of it, till my co-worker told me about 5 hour energy. today i tried it at 8am and it hit me instantly, i had a bloodrush and my adrenaline began, i was going so fast my co-workers were staring at me and were wondering what drugs i was on lol my entire shift i was waiting for dishes to come in, intead of trying to keep up it was great, and after i finished at 1pm, i didnt crash like i usually did without the drink, i went straight to the gym and worked out for an hour, then when i got back home i went for a bike ride, and it is now almost 11pm and i still never crashed this drink is amazing ! but i would never abuse this drink, or mix with alcohol
September 24th, 2009 at 10:46 pm