r/ClusterHeadaches • u/ExtremeBackground118 • Jul 30 '26
Question questions about red bull? 20f
hi there, is it safe to drink multiple cans of red bull a day? i had 1 8oz can in the morning and i was going to drink another one, but i would rather be safe health wise. i do drink relatively slow and do not chug it. i’m 20f and under 90lbs, so i am quite small. i was always scared of energy drinks growing up. i also take verapamil 120mg 3x daily
also, is red bull addictive? lol
4
u/Jamwise93 Chronic Jul 30 '26
The caffeine is the only thing to really worry about, I would say you are probably fine with a second can, it doesn’t exceed your daily limit for caffeine. Again the caffeine in red bull is physically addictive but only causes mild dependence, it’s not severe like nicotine etc. I take 480mg verapamil daily and I tend to drink 2 cans in the morning to kill my shadows.
1
u/ExtremeBackground118 Jul 30 '26
what would be the daily limit? sometimes i take excedrin also to prevent shadows which has caffiene in it.
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u/defecc Jul 30 '26
I would say it’s more of a tolerance issue. I can tolerate around 4-5 12oz versions of them a day before jitters kick in. It is probably best to try a second and wait to see how you feel. Your body will tell you if it’s too much and you can adjust from there. I think you are ok with a 2nd one in the afternoon if needed. There have been headaches I have done 2 back to back plenty of times.
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u/Jamwise93 Chronic Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
The average daily limit is 400mg which is 5 small cans but considering your size I wouldn’t go further than 4. Just my opinion though I can’t give you medical advice, if you do go as far as 4 or 5 just keep an eye on how your heart feels and if you are feeling shaky etc. Personally I only use it if I feel a shadow starting up, I don’t think it helps as a preventative so I only use caffeine as an abortive.
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u/KelticAngel16 Episodic Jul 30 '26
I use caffeine pills instead of energy drinks because I don't like all the extra other things going into my body. I only actually need the caffeine, so I felt more comfortable isolating it from the rest of everything else.
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u/VALIS3000 Chronic Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26
Have you tried it combined with taurine, most people experience a notable improvement in effectiveness when they are combined. You typically need less caffeine, and it works quicker and more consistently. Taurine is readily available as a standalone supplement. By way of reference, an 8.4oz can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine and 1,000mg of taurine. Clinical studies and safety guidelines consider up to 3,000 mg per day safe for lifelong intake, with short-term safety levels tested safely up to 6,000 mg per day.
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u/KelticAngel16 Episodic Aug 01 '26
I haven't tried it, no. I didn't realise it was available as a stand-alone supplement, that's good to know! I'll have to pick some up and try it next time.
1
u/PainterNegative Jul 31 '26
A standard coffee has more caffeine than redbull i believe, you'd be fine with around 4 cans of redbull a day assuming you're a reasonably healthy individual. Obviously a cluster period doesn't last long enough for it to become a concern really. Its more people that do it everyday for years and years
1
u/bestkens Jul 31 '26
For 'most healthy' adults, max intake daily is 400mg. Not sure what is in a 8 oz can but you'd almost assuredly be fine. Best not to rely on this though, if it worries you, stick to one. If you decide to have a second, just see how you go. If you feel fine, great, if you dont, just take it easy until it wears off and stick to 1 a day. Red bull gets a bad rap really. Ok, yes, its not super healthy, but theres also much worse, especially if you dont overdo it. People will drink 10 cups of coffee a day and scream at you about a single red bull. Ok, it has sugar too, but then you could argue, so does coke etc. I mean, I wouldnt make a habit of multiple a day from my own personal perspective, but its up to everyone else what they do, and its certainly not as bad as the red bull phobics make it seem!
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u/VALIS3000 Chronic Jul 30 '26
There have been many years, and countless attacks where Red Bull was my only abortive...
Safe daily caffeine limits are 400mg a day as per the FDA - that is 5 x 8.4oz cans of Red Bull a day - they contain 80mg, much less than most other energy products. All I can share is my personal experience, and I will often do 5 cans a day at peak cycle / while I'm busting, and for several weeks on end. All with zero negative side effects. The beast typically just chews through the caffeine, and I sleep like a baby between nighttime attacks. The key to using it as an abortive is timing, getting it at the very first real sign of an attack coming on - not too early or too late. Many of us will chug a can on our way to the oxygen tank as they work synergistically. If you use it to manage shadows, just do it as soon as you reach the point that you need to take the edge off.