Cafienne Stimulants

C R Box · 22 Oct 2003, 14:37 (Ref:759618)

As I sometimes do long distance all day and all night road rallies, tiredness is sometimes an issue.
I asked my doctor if there were any legally available anti tiredness stimulants. He recommended a cafienne stimulant called PRO PlUS.
Apparently it is well used by students and each tablet equates to 100 cups of black coffee.
Anybody ever used it while driving?

Quote:

Navigator to Driver - "If you don't stop driving like a lunatic I'm getting out"

**Adam43** · 22 Oct 2003, 14:43 (Ref:759628)

Pro Plus. Yes it is a student thing! I've never had it myself, but it seems to work. I'm not sure it is equal to 100 cups of black coffee - that sounds a lot.

I had a friend who used them to go out with out falling asleep! Trouble is she eventually had trouble sleeping and had to take sleeping tablets to sleep. And then more Pro Plus to get up!!!!!! Far from ideal.

On a personal note I tend to keep of all stimulants when racing. Apart from the odd cup of coffee. However the racing part has only lasted a few hours at the most.

Truckosaurus · 22 Oct 2003, 15:21 (Ref:759675)

You'd better check that caffeine (sp?) is not on the list of prohibitted substances listed in The Blue Book. I believe it is on the list.

ss_collins · 22 Oct 2003, 15:47 (Ref:759699)

There is a funny thing about amounts of caffiene. I don't think it would ever be enforced either

bradenc · 23 Oct 2003, 10:07 (Ref:760465)

Enforced or not, it is an IOC prohibited substance. Any more than aboout 6 cups of strong coffee in an hour would put near the limit. So any substitute anything like 100 cups of coffee would put you well in excess of the limit.

Yes, you are unlikely to be caught, but rules are rules.

I have used it as a student and for work, it's not even all that good.

chezza · 23 Oct 2003, 22:01 (Ref:761324)

I find that things like proplus don't have an effect on me and so don't bother to take them! Plus I wouldn't trust putting that amount of caffiene in my body, u never know what it might do!

Stinky · 29 Oct 2003, 11:03 (Ref:766759)

Someone I know took ProPlus and Red Bull to get him through the night stints in a 24hr race, he ended up having heart palputations(sp?) and the doctor told him not to drive in the race. Caffiene is a stimulant, and some people are sensitive to it and this can make it dangerous to some people. I can't even have a cup of coffee!. I get through the 24hr on simple adrenaline and as much sleep as possible between stints.

:-)

Christine

KayBee · 29 Oct 2003, 11:21 (Ref:766792)

Don't forget tea also contains caffeine not as much I grant you but if you drink a lot you can still overdo it.

BSTR · 29 Oct 2003, 13:13 (Ref:766910)

Caffeine is prohibited doping but it will not be in the WADA list next year. Actually some people could have the prohibited concentration level by drinking only few cups of coffee.

At least here in Finland top 3 race drivers had doping tests after last race of the season 2002. All the results were negative but it is possible to get caught if using doping. Other kind of forbidden substance (alcohol) is tested almost every morning before races and if someone has even 0.01 percent of blood alcohol level his racing licence will be taken away for 18 months.

C R Box · 29 Oct 2003, 13:25 (Ref:766927)

I completed as driver on a (very) long day-night-day rally this weekend. After a full days rallying and a short supper break, the night section started at 9pm and ended, non stop,at 5.30 am.
I took two PRO PLUS at 1.30 am. I didn't have any side effects and can only report that they certainly seemed to work.After the night section there was time for breakfast and 3 hrs sleep before a short morning section.
The RAC blue book doesn't prohibit cafienne stimulants, unless they are over a certain amount. I can't find any quantities on the PRO PLUS packaging, so......?
I'll definitely take them again. I felt more awake and possibly could have taken another two, as it says up two per hour/ 12 in a 24 hr period.
I also had less jet lag the day after.
We also didn't crash out, despite several excellent opportunities!

**ghinzani** · 30 Oct 2003, 08:17 (Ref:767816)

I used to take pro-polus a lot when I worked shifts - no bad side effects for me, apart from the odd occasion when you couldnt get to sleep after, but a stiff drink and a smoke would always cure that!! (as if I needed an excuse)

EvilPumpkin · 30 Oct 2003, 09:23 (Ref:767873)

Quote:

Originally posted by Stinky
Someone I know took ProPlus and Red Bull to get him through the night stints in a 24hr race, he ended up having heart palputations(sp?) and the doctor told him not to drive in the race. Caffiene is a stimulant, and some people are sensitive to it and this can make it dangerous to some people.

This wasn't by any chance the 24 hour 2CV at Mondello about 3 years ago was it? I was just about to tell that story!

If you are going to use caffiene enriched products - tables, "energy" drinks, whatever, please do ensure that you read the instructions carefully and don't exceed the recommended amount.

You don't have to be sensitive to caffiene in order to experience adverse effects, including respitory problems, muscle spasms, low blood pressure, confusion and of course changes to heart rhythms.

It can also cause diarrhea and vomiting which would be rather inconvenient when driving! I know someone that experienced this one as well when they were mainlining Jolt Cola during their exams.

Like everything else, it's fine in moderation but don't overdo it, never exceed the maximum amount in a 24 hour period and don't take caffiene tablets with Red Bull or anything silly like that!

zefarelly · 4 Nov 2003, 12:12 (Ref:772610)

tea coffee and proplus are all caffeine, red bull is taurine, which is even pokier I believe, Ive seen loads of drivers drinking this

I'd stick to coke myself !

**Adam43** · 4 Nov 2003, 14:01 (Ref:772751)

Red Bull does contain both taurine and caffeine.

here is an average article http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/HQ/01108.html

carrera · 4 Nov 2003, 20:32 (Ref:773066)

Quote:

[i]Originally posted by zefarelly

I'd stick to coke myself !

[/B]

Through a straw?

**Woolley** · 4 Nov 2003, 23:53 (Ref:773287)

When Red Bull first arrived in F1, there were some girls in race suits handing it out free to the marshals for the first couple of days. None of us knew what it had in it. The Saturday night parties were still going when it came time to signing on on Sunday!

RickP:Clio51 · 21 Nov 2003, 16:06 (Ref:790782)

Be a little careful guys... a team manager at the Ring 24hours had a heart attack following drinking Red Bull all night, but he'd had about a dozen apparently..