@Ruhappy I’m surprised they’ve never made those; you should write to them with that suggestion!
@wyr13 Sorry to hear that your work life demands you consume so much caffeine. I don’t think you’re drinking too much, though. You might be drinking less than the average American, even. I also save my 5 Hour Energies for my most tired days. My last job required I work so much overtime that for the first time in my life, I would fall asleep in the middle of the day at my desk with my head on the table and keyboard. I’m no napper; that’s a skill I don’t possess. Unfortunately, the time I fell asleep the most often was during long Zoom meetings where I was listening more than talking. I needed to be able to pay attention and stay awake (though I’ll admit, there were some meetings I gladly slept through!!!).
I brainstormed about what I could do to stay awake when caffeine wasn’t cutting it. I tried chewing gum but that didn’t work very well. I tried hard candy suckies; didn’t work. So then I tried suckers, and sure enough, a sucker could get me through about 20 minutes through that sleepy phase and then I could get on with day. There’s something about the risk of swallowing the stick and the ability to roll it around in the mouth that keeps me awake. Blow Pops worked well because they lasted a long time and there was gum at the end for blowing then popping bubbles with, for even more wakefulness. Just remember to brush your teeth afterward, wipe them off with a napkin, or chew sugar-free gum afterward to avoid rotting your teeth.
I’ve tried things like NoDoz, but they really gave me a stomach ache and a very jittery, anxious buzz I didn’t appreciate. It sure kept me awake - for way too long, but it made me feel like an alien somehow. I wasn’t able to concentrate on that stuff; instead I felt sort of out of my body but in a negative way. If I drink coffee, eat an espresso bean, drink a 5 Hour Energy, or take an Excedrin, I become more upbeat and focused. I really appreciate that positive mood boost when I’m tired. But instead, I got negative feelings from NoDoz.
I found taking one pill of Excedrin for Migraines, with a gel coating on the outside to protect the stomach lining, and brand-name only, not generic, gives me a very amicable amount of caffeine without jitters. It boosts my happiness nicely and lasts for 8-10 hours for me. In that regard - the happiness quotient - Excedrin is the most like coffee of anything that isn’t actually coffee. The Excedrin that isn’t for migraines doesn’t last as long; that’s the only difference from the original Excedrin. If one buys the pills in a large bottle, it’s pretty cheap to take just one Excedrin geltab as a caffeine solution. It’s much less expensive than a 5 Hour Energy or a latte from Starbuck’s. It’s even less expensive than a coffee from a convenient store,. But the Tylenol and Aspirin in Excedrin can hurt your stomach, liver, and kidneys with long-term, regular use, so I also save Excedrin for special occasions. They do make an aspirin-free or Tylenol-free Excedrin, which my mom says works just as well, but I don’t feel the need to try it because the kind I take works great for me. The small dose of Tylenol and Aspirin also help with chronic pain I have, so it’s a win-win. I can’t take two at a time or I definitely get a bad gut-ache. I would probably never take more than two per week. Right now I probably only take one pill per month.
Anyway, there are some potential additional solutions for those seeking energy stimulation