Addicted to Guarana

For those who aren't in the loop, this stuff is basically an energy drink just like Red Bull. Honestly, I can't even function without it. But it’s more than that—I'm knocking back like 3 or 4 of them every single day, even though you're really only supposed to have one.

My life is pretty much a mess right now and I'm barely sleeping, maybe 3 or 4 hours a night. Guarana is the only thing keeping my focus from totally tanking. It definitely works, but I think I overdid it because I'm starting to feel some serious jitters and anxiety... I know it's probably not great for my heart, but I'm just struggling here.

Has anyone else been through this? Can anyone give me tips on how to cut back, or maybe tell me what actually happens if you go overboard on the Guarana??

It honestly helps me push through the day since I'm so sleep-deprived, but I really need to scale it back because I'm low-key terrified of the side effects.

Good grief... you might as well be on heroin at this rate!
First things first—you really need to get your life together and prioritize some actual sleep. Try to aim for at least six hours a night. Second—and this is non-negotiable—just stop drinking that stuff.
It would also be incredibly helpful to understand the root cause here: why can't you sleep, and why on earth are you so desperate to stay awake?
Furthermore, if you keep living like this, you’re just setting yourself up for chronic insomnia down the road, which usually means you'll end up relying on sleeping pills just to function.

Honestly, I don’t know how you manage to get any sleep on just three or four hours. I remember one night when I had an extra one—just one more than usual—and I was such a nervous wreck, I felt like I was going to snap.

Look, I'm wondering if you've actually tried cutting back and found it impossible, or if you haven't even attempted to scale down yet and you're just checking to see if anyone else has been through this.
If you ask me, my advice would be to stop cold turkey right now—don't bother trying to taper off, just quit. Take a second to look at your priorities and figure out what really matters in your life... do you truly need to be rushing around like this?

And hold on, we're talking about caffeine here. Caffeine absolutely wrecked my stomach once. Plus, there will come a day when you just won't be able to sleep normally, and honestly, there's a real risk of something serious like a stroke; no matter how much energy you think you're pumping into yourself, your body and your brain are still being pushed to the brink of exhaustion.

Seriously though, please take a moment to think about what's important to you!!!

I'm rooting for you!

I once dealt with a six-pack and I’ve decided I’m never doing it again

So I was just digging through some PDFs looking for Guarana 😂

The drinks are listed right there... but I’m a total sucker for a good marketing campaign...

Is this stuff from Encian any good? Don't want to throw my money down the drain for nothing 😬

Man, if I actually had issues with insomnia
I’m constantly falling asleep

Alright, I dug up a few threads 👋

Someone even mentioned you can trigger hyperthyroidism if you overdo it on the Guarana 😲 You shouldn't mess around with your thyroid 🙂 When you combine that with Synthroid, people with hyperthyroidism often end up needing heart meds too 😱 (Though unlike us hypothyroid folks, they don't usually struggle with the weight gain 🙂 😬)

And here’s another old one 😁

fadedmason16 said:Oh my god... are you on heroin or something!??
First things first, try getting your life together so you can actually get some sleep—aim for at least 6 hours a night. Second, just stop drinking that stuff.
It would be super helpful to know why you aren't sleeping and why you're trying to stay awake in the first place.
Also, if you keep living like this, you're gonna end up with massive sleep issues later and be stuck popping sleeping pills.

Look, I'm just going through one of those phases right now where I can't get much sleep. It's not even that I don't want to, it's just that certain responsibilities keep me busy. So, to actually function, I end up drinking a ton of Guarana because it gives me that energy boost I need.

Emily Fisher26 said:Honestly, I don't know how you can even function on 3 or 4 hours of sleep. One time I had one too many and I was seriously on the verge of a total nervous breakdown that night.

Look, you didn't say if you've actually tried cutting back and just can't, or if you haven't even tried yet and are just checking to see if anyone else has been there.
My advice? Just quit cold turkey right now. Don't "scale back," just stop. Take a second to look at your priorities and ask yourself if you really need to be sprinting through life like this.

And hey, hold up—this is caffeine we're talking about. Caffeine absolutely trashed my stomach. Plus, one of these days you're just not going to be able to sleep at all, and honestly, you're looking at a real risk of a stroke. No matter how much energy you think you're pumping into yourself, your body and brain are just getting totally wiped out.

Seriously, rethink what actually matters!!!

Fingers crossed for you!

To be real with you... I haven't tried quitting. Even though I know it's dangerous—I don't know exactly how, but I definitely know it's bad for my heart—I just haven't made the move. And this constant rush I'm in? Man, everything feels important. From my kid to college, and work popping up here and there... it's hard to decide what to prioritize when everything feels like a top priority.

I completely understand why all of those things feel important right now, but honestly, none of it matters if you aren't around to see it through—and that goes for your little one, too.
Look, if trying to juggle everything at once is becoming too much, please consider putting something on the back burner for a while. For instance, maybe you could hit pause on your degree for a bit? (I know, obviously you can't just quit your job when you have yourself and a child to feed), but you could focus on work now and finish school once things settle down and you're in a more stable financial spot.
You know, there is absolutely no shame in making that kind of call when life demands you prioritize.
Also, if you're looking for an alternative, maybe try swapping out the Guarana for some green tea. It’s actually quite effective at giving you a gentle wake-up call. Just a tip: don't bother with the cheap stuff or those flimsy tea bags—get some high-quality loose leaf. Heat your water to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit and let it steep for exactly three minutes. That's the secret to doing it right.

Personally, I'd much rather you vent all that stress to us than rely on Guarana to get you through.

Hang in there! You've got this.

silverjackal said:Right now, I'm in one of those stretches where sleep is a luxury I can't afford. It's not that I don't want to rest, it's just that my responsibilities won't let me. To stay functional, I've been leaning heavily on Guarana because it gives me the kick I need to keep going.

Health comes first, plain and simple. This isn't medical advice, but whenever I was in a bind, I made sure to drink my caffeine and then actually go to bed when my body signaled it was time.

I suppose moderation is always the best approach, even when it comes to what we drink, though I guess if one does decide to indulge a little, it isn't really a big deal as long as it doesn't become a long-term habit😉

Emily Fisher26 said:And yeah, if you want, just swap out the Guarana for green tea. It’ll definitely give you that wake-up kick. Not that cheap bagged stuff, though—get some loose leaf. Just heat your water to about 140 degrees and let it steep for 3 minutes. That’s the secret to doing it right.

!

Thanks for the tip! I’m definitely gonna give that a shot and see how it goes. Honestly, I'd much rather stick to something natural than be pounding on those Guarana energy drinks all day.

I tried that new Clear Water with Guarana, and honestly? The taste is just awful. It’s incredibly bitter... I really don't know how anyone could actually drink that.

mistyjackal842 said:I tried that new Clear Water with Guarana and the taste was honestly gross. It’s super bitter—I have no idea how anyone can actually chug that stuff.

Wait, where do you even find that? I didn't even know that existed!

Matthew Williams47 said:Man, I’m totally hooked on Guarana. I’m trying to wean myself off slowly... used to be my ritual to grab one every single time I left the house, and once I finished, I'd just immediately grab another. I actually downed 6 or 7 in one sitting once! Not to mention the insomnia—I was absolutely buzzing with energy while the rest of the world was basically collapsing from exhaustion.🤣

Look, I've definitely crushed 4 or 5 Guarana in a row. It’s not even just the kick it gives me; the real struggle is how much I love the taste. Ugh, quitting this stuff is gonna be rough.

So, I tried this Clear Water brand, specifically the half-liter plastic bottle with the Guarana and aloe vera flavor. It comes in a clear bottle with green lettering. I picked it up at Dione over on 190 Savi Avenue, right by that intersection near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Honestly? It’s terribly bitter—just a really unpleasant taste. I guess if you freeze it, maybe the Guarana flavor wouldn't be so overwhelming. There's also this other new version of Clear Water, I think it was peach or something similar; it's a half-liter bottle too, but with orange lettering. Personally, I found the peach one much better, though it was maybe a little too sweet for my liking.

mistyjackal842 said:It's this Clear Water brand in a half-liter plastic bottle with a Guarana and aloe vera flavor—clear bottle, green lettering. I found it at Dione over on 190 Savi Avenue, right by the intersection near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Honestly? It tastes terrible. Just gross. If you try it, the Guarana flavor will make you want to freeze solid. There’s also this new version with peach or something similar; it’s a half-liter bottle with orange text. That peach one is actually better, though it’s a little too sweet for my liking.

If it’s really that bad and I'll be freezing from the Guarana, then even better! I might just give it a shot, but knowing me, I'll probably end up loving it.😁

I think they have it out here in the Midwest; I'm heading to Chicago next week, so I'll go hunt it down.

Susan Wood3 said:Is this Encian stuff actually any good? I don't want to waste my money if it's junk.😬

It isn't worth it. 😳

Alex, what kind of Red Bull are you drinking?