5 Hour Energy: fast acting mood stabilizer?

So, I work graveyards at a gas station. At the beginning of my shift last night, I was having a low moment. I've been going through alternating rounds of depression and mania this week, and I didn't have the energy to move around like i need to at work. About five minutes after drinking the chalky-tasting little pick-me-upper, i could already feel the energy, and a noticeable difference in my moods. The desire to listen to my music, one of the few things that gets me through the night, was non-existant going into work. But that came back, my depression lifted, and my mania still hasn't showed itself. Its been about 6 hours now, still feeling good. Since those things have 8,000% of the DV of B12, is it safe to assume that's what normalized my emotions?

Are you on any mood stabilizing medications? I know that the same happens with me when I drink one, but I've been told caffeine can increase the effects of the meds. There's 200mg of caffeine in 5 hour energy.

I love 5 hour energy shots! I try not to do them very often but they are great when I have to get up and off the couch.

Me too. I was in the most boring training of my life the last 2 days and that was the ONLY thing that could keep me awake. I try not to do them too often though because they really aren't healthy for you.

B12 makes me flush so bad!

5 hr energy drinks do zilch for me. What I do instead is coffee. But I find that I have to abstain for weeks at an end to finally get to feel the effects of a cup.

That said, I don't think caffeine is a mood stabilizer. It can wreak havoc with sleep (points finger at self), and cause withdrawal headaches if drinking coffee. Unfortunately drugs, herbal or medicinal drugs seem to be more effective.

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25 mgs of Seroquel at night
300 mgs of Trileptal, taken AM and PM

Do you mean B3? Niacin, or B3 has an uncomfortable skin flushing effect. This can be avoided by taking it in the form of niacinimide. Look for a label saying "non-flushing B3" or "non-flushing niacin".

B12 doesn't cause flushing. I'm currently taking a mega dose of 5000 mcg with no flushing.

How many mcg is 8000% of the daily recommended dose of B12? I've been taking 5000 mcg of B12 for about 3 months in an experiment to reduce my depression. It may be working, or it may be co-incidence. I think I'd have to take it long term to find out. I don't think a single dose would affect you that way. B vitamins are water soluble and are flushed out of the body fairly quickly.

Anxiety Girl, I have never been on meds, by personal choice. Though this upcoming Thursday, I'm seeing a psychologist, or psychiatrist? The more advanced therapist in. Any case. Its a consultation to be put on meds. I've lived long enough trying to do this on my own. I have no choice left to throw in the towel and take the pills like a big boy

I started taking B12 about two months ago because I heard it works well for depression. It's been a godsend. I try to stay away from caffeine. It just makes me jittery.

Oddly enough, caffeine never affects me

I think those drinks could make anyone crazy-hyper; probably not a good idea when you're trying to stabilize your mood, though I get it --I drink way too much coffee sometimes.

Have you ever seen a psychiatrist, or were you diagnosed by a GP/PCP? If this is a psychiatrist you're going to see now, hopefully you can get a full evaluation and get the treatment you need. Best of luck.

How much B12 do you take? I've been thinking about adding that in.

I don't normally take B12, I just had a 5 hour so I could work. But the little energy shots have crazy b12 amounts. I am seeing a psychiatrist this Thursday, Ultramar, and its my first time seeing one. I'm a little nervous. I don't know what to expect, and I'm afraid they will disagree that I'm bipolar. I haven't been diagnosed, and the last time I was in therapy, they ignored my suggestion that I was. I've done my research, I know my red flags, but doctors are too stubborn and pig headed to think I might know what I'm talking about