WebMD Ask the Pharmacist

Energy Boosters: Ask the Pharmacist

Pharmacist Heather Free, PharmD, answers questions about energy boosters.

Question:

Are there any over-the-counter energy pills?

Answer:

There are caffeine pills that you can find over-the-counter to aid with energy. Products such as NoDoz, Alert, Vivarin, and Stay Awake contain 200 milligrams of caffeine and are used for energy and treatment of some migraines and headaches. Common side effects include nausea, stomach upset, insomnia, restlessness, nervousness, tremor, headache, and lightheadedness. Large amounts of caffeine may cause frequent urination, flushing, muscle twitch, or irritability. Use with caution!
Too much caffeine is not healthy and can become addictive. Withdrawal can make it difficult to back off, so tapering down the dose maybe necessary. Prior to use, you should discuss the risks and benefits of using caffeine supplements with your pharmacist or health care professional.
Other products consist of herbal remedies. Use caution since there isn’t a standard or enough research behind these products to promote their use (NOT FDA approved).

Question:

I heard of a steroid called Tokyo tech, or something similar. I was wondering if you could let me know anything about it.

Answer:

I wasn’t able to find any additional information about this product. Keep in mind that steroid use for recreation or for muscle building is illegal. If you are not obtaining it from your physician or medical provider for a legitimate reason, then the product may not be FDA approved or regulated, meaning the safety and efficacy of it are in question.

Question:

Is it safe to have an energy drink every day?

Answer:

It is important to read the components of energy drinks to make sure they are right for you. Most energy drinks provide you with a boost of energy through sugars, which make you crash quickly after they are eliminated or metabolized. In addition, the calorie content can be very large, and lacking in nutrients. Other ingredients include caffeine and ginseng. It is important to see what herbals are present in the product to find out if there are any drug interactions with medications that you may be taking on a regular basis.
It is important to keep in mind that regular sleep patterns and healthy eating habits are more important for maintaining energy and balance. The risk of energy drinks can be greater than the value of the short energy boosts they provide.

Question:

What is the difference between generic and regular drugs?

Answer:

Every medication has two names: a brand name and generic name. The brand name is only used by the company that has discovered the recipe for that medication. The brand name is usually on the market for about 7 years, until the recipe becomes available for other manufacturers to bid for and begin creating generics.
The generic has to have the same active ingredients that the brand name contains. Generics are monitored by the FDA to make sure they are comparable to the brand name products. The differences will be the color, size, shape, and cost.

Question:

I heard about a vitamin booster called ISs T-IBose. Does it give you energy when you are really feeling tired and exhausted?

Answer:

I am unfamiliar with ISs-T-IBose. Ribose is an organic compound found within our bodies and the foods we eat. It is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide. D-Ribose is often marketed as a supplement for bodybuilders. Many products contain D-Ribose, promoting weight loss, appetite suppression, increased energy, and mental health support. Although there are claims being made for its weight loss properties, there have been no solid statistics to support these claims. Many of the products containing this ingredient are expensive and hard to find. It is also not FDA approved, so caution is advised with this product. If a product is difficult to find and stores do not keep it in stock, that is a sign that it isn’t all that safe or effective.

Question:

My son brought home CELL-TECH Hardcore Pro Series Dietary Supplement. Are there any risks or dangers from this product?

Answer:

To determine if this product is right for your son’s age and developmental stage, it is important to obtain an ingredient list of all the vitamins and minerals that the product contains. Depending on his age, it may not be wise to give him a supplement for muscle building that is high in protein. Check with his pediatrician or physician to see if it is the right supplement for him.

Question:

Is it safe to take OTC energy pills/supplements if you drink a lot of coffee?

Answer:

OTC energy pills and supplements contain a large amount of caffeine, sometimes 2-3 times the amount of a cup of coffee, depending on the brand. By increasing your daily caffeine dosage, you may be increasing your risk of caffeine addiction. And too much of any stimulant has consequences for the body, such as elevated blood pressure and an increased heart rate. This could be dangerous. I would use these products with caution, or not at all. The risk can be greater than the value of the short energy boosts they provide.

Question:

Are there any drug interactions between Pristiq, levothyroxine, and acai berries?

Answer:

The acai berry is a fruit that has more recently been marketed to have antioxidant properties. It has also been credited with other health benefits that have not yet been scientifically proven. False claims include the reversal of diabetes and other chronic illnesses, enlarging the size of your genitals, increasing men's sexual virility, and increasing sexual desire in women. In addition, there are no current studies supporting the berry’s supposed promotion of aiding in weight loss.
I cannot tell you if there are any interactions with levothyroxine or Pristiq. I can tell you that the two medications you are taking are safe to take together. Pristiq does not have any food considerations when taken orally. It is recommended that levothyroxine be taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to breakfast.

Question:

I was taking 300 micrograms of melatonin. Now I can only find 3 milligrams. Which is stronger and what is a microgram compared to a milligram?

Answer:

1 milligram (mg) is equal to 1,000 micrograms (mcg). Therefore, if you were taking 300 micrograms of melatonin then you would need to find a product that is 0.3 milligrams of melatonin. The highest amount of melatonin found over-the-counter is 3 milligrams or 3,000 micrograms. There are different strengths available.
If you cannot find the dose you are looking for, speak with your local pharmacist. They can order different strengths for you to purchase that are still over-the-counter, and that don’t require a prescription.

Question:

Is it safe to take the Revolution Abdominal Cuts natural supplement with birth control pills?

Answer:

Revolution Abdominal Cuts is a product that is not FDA approved. Therefore, we do not know much about the truth behind the company’s product claims. The web site does not list any ingredients, which makes it very difficult for me to check whether there is an interaction with birth control pills. As a precaution, if a complete label of the quantities and ingredients for a product cannot be found and is not provided on the product, that product has not been scientifically proven safe or effective by the FDA.

Question:

I purchased a vitamin supplement online called Irexis (sindafilate citrate). Is this an alternative to Viagra?

Answer:

While the Irexis (sindafilate citrate) name is similar to that of Viagra (sildenafil citrate), it is not comparable to Viagra. There have been no studies comparing these two products side by side. Irexis contains many herbals, plus zinc. The company claims that the product will have an effect on sexual impotence. But keep in mind, the product is not FDA approved and a number of herbals have known- interactions with over-the-counter and prescription medications. We do not know enough about these herbals to claim that they are safe and effective.
While Irexis is available without a prescription, and may be more affordable than Viagra, the risk of uncertainty outweighs any possible benefit.

Question:

I'm thinking about trying glutathione for cell boosting. I need to know how it would benefit me and where can I get it.

Answer:

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide, meaning a large protein made up of several amino acids. It functions as an antioxidant, protecting cells from free radicals and peroxides. Raising one’s GSH levels through direct supplementation of glutathione is difficult. Research suggests that glutathione taken orally is not well-absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. If you feel that you need this to supplement your immune system, speak to your health care provider first.

Question:

Will going through an X-ray machine hurt my medications at the airport?

Answer:

No. The machine will not denature any of your medications or interfere with their stability.

Question:

Does taking a fiber supplement inhibit the absorption of other vitamins if taken at the same time?

Answer:

Eating a meal with fiber will not interfere with the absorption of vitamins. However, fatty vitamins such as vitamin A, D, E, and K do better with a fatty meal.

Question:

Do vitamins expire?

Answer:

Yes. All vitamins should have an expiration date listed on the bottle. If you think your bottle is too old, purchase a new bottle and write the date that you purchased it with a black marker on the bottle. Rule of thumb: Don’t keep vitamins longer than a year.

Question:

Is it safe for me to have the 6-hour energy drink if I’m on trazodone, Depakote, and Celexa?

Answer:

Without knowing the exact drink that you would like to use, it is hard to say whether it would be an issue with the current medications you are taking. You should certainly be careful with energy drinks. They can contain lots of sugars, herbals, and caffeine. Specific products vary, so it is important to know the exact ingredients in whatever you’re thinking about taking.
In general, herbal medications do not work well with the medications you are taking. For the energy you need, I would consider replacing energy drinks and supplement usage with sleep, exercise, and a better diet, making sure to take a daily multivitamin, as well.

Question:

When a prescription says "take with meals," does this means during the meal or after the meal is complete?

Answer:

Just before a meal or just after a meal is the key. Food must be in the stomach. Twenty to 30 minutes after a meal, food may no longer be present in the stomach. If there is no food in the stomach when these medicines are ingested, you may experience issues with absorption or other side effects.

Question:

What medicines can cause your skin to turn blue?

Answer:

Amiodarone, a cardiovascular medication, does cause some people to turn irreversibly blue. It is important to check with a pharmacist in order to understand this medication prior to taking it. Also, if you have any apprehensions, you should talk to your pharmacist about the risks and benefits of any medication to make sure that you are comfortable and compliant.

Question:

Is it OK to drink Vitaminwater and take a multivitamin every day? Or should I just do one or the other?

Answer:

Vitaminwater contains only a small amount of nutrients, so it will not have an adverse affect when taken with a multivitamin. Be aware, Vitaminwater contains a lot of sugar and can add to your daily caloric intake.

Question:

Can I take too many vitamins? If so, what can happen?

Answer:

Believe it or not, you can actually take too many vitamins and they can build up in your body and cause toxicity. This can happen with the "fat soluble" vitamins, which include vitamins A, D, E, and K. You definitely want to be careful with your daily dosage, and make sure that your health care provider (they may run blood work periodically) and pharmacist know about everything you are taking.

Question:

I am 56 years old and am taking the diet drug phentermine. Sometimes, I also take Zyrtec when I need it. Is it OK to take these two drugs together? Lately, I have been suffering from very cold hands and feet.

Answer:

I would consult your health care provider about your issue with cold hands and feet to make sure there isn’t a circulation problem arising. Without knowing anything about the medication you may be taking or any health conditions you have, it is hard to determine the cause of these symptoms. There currently aren’t any drug interactions between phentermine and Zyrtec.

Question:

Can vitamins interfere with any prescription medications?

Answer:

Yes, they can. So it is very important that you always check with health care provider or pharmacist before taking anything new. Make sure you list any vitamins you take on your personal medication list. This list should be with you at all times, and you should show it to your pharmacist every time you pick up medication. If you have any questions about drug interactions, get to know your pharmacist. You will be glad you did!

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