Many of my friends drink Red bull only when they are tired or need energy. They don't drink it as a normal carbonate drink. If this is the case , why it is not called as a drug/medicine. why it is not sold in pharmacies instead of supermarkets.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1435000/images/_1435409_red_bull_close300.jpghttp://www.valtrex-solution.info/_pics/acyclovir_tablets_012.jpg

please read the information in the next post and answer the following question:

How you categorize Red bull? a drug or a carbonate drink

Justa little inroduction:
This drink/drug was originated from Thailand. Taxi/rickshaw drivers drank a substance to keep them energized throughout the day. A drink made from this substance and called Krating Daeng. Which later was well maeketed by Austrian company as a Red bull.

It contents says it is a drug
It contains, per 250 ml serving:
1) about 27 grams of sugar(glucose, sucrose)
2) 1000 mg of taurine
3) 600 mg of glucuronolactone: this is to sweeten the taurin taste.
4) vitamins B
5) 80 mg of caffeine==> a little less than that found in an average cup of coffee (100 mg/8 oz. cup) or twice as much as found in a can of Coke (40 mg/12 oz. can).


History talks about its problem

- This drink came into attention of Sweedish goverment in 2001 after the death of three consumers

- high injestion of taurine and glucuronolactone can be harmful for the body


As a result :
1) In Denmark, Norway and France: Sale of Red Bull as a normal soft drink is prohibited in Denmark, Norway, and France.

2) Due to the link with taurine, Red Bull catogarized as a medicine and suggest customers ask for medical advice before drinking.
Because of this, only energy drinks without taurine are sold in France.

3) In 2004, its sale was prohibited in Canada. Now a can must carry a warning label that says:
"Cautions: Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, caffeine sensitive persons or to be mixed with alcohol. Do not consume more than 500 ml per day."

Such cautions not shown on Cans sold in UK.. Thus consumers got discomfortable symptoms.. because of this the rules apperaed: Don't sell Red Bull to customers under the age of 16.

definetly has to be a drug.. i only drank it once and i felt energetic, hyper and somewhat more happier than usual. I felt like i could do anything :os

I wonder if i could sue them for false advertising.. i mean where are my wings?! :p

Alhamdulliah.................................i never drank it..................in .....................my life

Well, I take it as a normal carbonate drink (so, voted for that) but, I drink it whenever I wanna stay awake studying for exams only. I don't like its taste, it's like Adol =/

I have red bull occasionally. It's always whenever I need a boost of energy or concentration, in other words I'd go for it if I'm exhausted and/or lacking rest.

The fact that red bull could be considered to be a drug certainly doesn't change the fact that it's a carbonated drink. The way I see it is it's more of a drug that is delivered in the form of a carbonated drink.

A couple of questions:
- Isn't taurine considered to be an amino acid? Isn't it found in other foods? What are the direct effects of taurine on the body?
- Could glucuronolactone be considered harmful? What are the effects?
- Are there any better substitutes for such constituents?

- Isn't taurine considered to be an amino acid? Isn't it found in other foods?

If you look at taurine structure.. it is not one of the 20 body alpha-amino acids. It lacks the carboxylic acid and contains a sulfur atom.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/88/Taurine_molecule.png/200px-Taurine_molecule.png.

It is an essential amino acid since it is not made by human body. It is highly found in Sea animals and In some extent in plant and bacteria.


What are the direct effects of taurine on the body?
talking about direct is a difficult question.. However Taurine is involved in the following processes:

- important component of bile salts. Helps in absorption of fat.
- It has many action on the brain. An inhibitory effect on neurotransmitters.
- There is no a genetic code for taurine in human. However, occasionally this amino acid is found in structure of protein and the reason is Unknown.
- association studies (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12436205&dopt=Abstract) shows that Taurine reduces blood pressure and cholesterol. other function include: regulation of osmotic pressure, calcium-level regulation and detoxification



- Could glucuronolactone be considered harmful? What are the effects?
Glucuronolactone is a body natural substance produced in the HMP pathway ( if there is a defect in this pathway it leads to Fauvism (G6PD deficiency). This also act as a strong stimulant for brain. It is used by soldier to make them alert. Problems appear when taken a lot. Since it can easily converted in body by uncontrolled reaction into Glucuronic acid which can lead to Metabolic ACIDOSIS AND HYPERVENTILATION.

- Are there any better substitutes for such constituents?
there main function in energy drinks is that they act as stimulants.. other substances are available such as caffeine ( less potent) , EUGENOL, Other CNS stimulant agent (benzodiazepine family) but not used for normal diet... they are drugs taken with precautions

It has strange effects on me. The other day I was telling a friend that one can has no effect on me, but two cans gets me totally hyper. Which is true, but I remember one day during exams, I had half a can of redbull to stay awake so that I could study. It didnt work, but when I tried to sleep, the WHOLE night I was sweating and twitching and feeling like I was gonna die, seriously. I think, because I practically didnt drink anything else the whole day, i was seriously dehydrated.

do u mean this drink is dangerous?!!

i tried it once but hated it, i was going to puke XP.

^^ Hehe same here. It tastes like some medicine or something and it was just useless...no stamina no energy no crap lol

totally! it was like water with manyyyy sugar lol

I have a Q...if you drink Diet Red bull....does it have the same effect?

diet red bull ? :XD: does it even exist ???!!
i voted for Drink

i never knew that :os i drink it almost once a week :os is it addictive ? :think:

Hmm.. I don't like drinking Red Bull.. alone..

lol..

Voted for Drink.. I think it's a regular fizzy drink.. Not even drunk for energy! It doesnt give me energy!

Nico: there is a red bull ( sugar free ) if the sugar is a source of energy? right? will it have the same effect?

First of all thanks alot FaHaD for taking time in answering my questions. I really appreciate it, and even though I might've said this before I think I should say it again, you are one of the best and most respectful members around. :)
(That's because I couldn't rep you :D)

So I wasn't mistaken about it being an essential amino acid. And according to the link you've provided it's quite clear that taurine has several positive effects on the body (eg. cardiovascular problems). Also quoting you on the topic of glucuronolactone "It is used by soldier to make them alert. Problems appear when taken a lot.", as is the case with almost everything. However you mentioned that it could lead to metabolic acidosis, does that mean it directly affects the kidneys?

And does this mean that the only not over-the-counter drug/supplement is caffeine which is readily found in coffee beans?

Thanks once again! :)

yucky i hate it :yuk: i just think it's a normal soft drink but ppl just fool themselves thinking it's an energy drink :p it's something psychological

Don't quite know if its a drug or not, but Red Bull and Jägermeister is THE bomb! Jäger bomb rulezzz!!

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4020/th097f20f87xj.jpg

Thanx A-P:

In Metabolic acidosis , the kidney will componsate the change in pH by reducing the realease of bicarbonate (Base) into urine.. Kidney will not be effected but it is an essential organ to fight the metabolic acidosis.. However, in patients with kidney failure, metabolic acidosis will be a life threatening problem. Thus dialysis is advised.

Diet-Red bull is different from the regular one in calories only.. Instead of normal sugar the dit drink contains an artificial sweetener.

^^ Oh ok then..thanks for answering me..:)

.. im now scared man.. i always get the killing stomache .. very painful when i drink redbull

.. i do drink such stuff alot especially Vitamin C .. but my body seems okay with that.

alah karyeem.

btw.. thnx for the info FaHaD.

I completely agree with queen, it does absolutely nothing to energize me at all, no matter how many I drink (I remember drinking like three and didn't feel a thing).

And btw, too much of anything can kill you, you can get water poisoning from drinking too much water, and water has yet to be named a drug. People just have to know when to limit themselves, and they can only die from too much of anything if they completely ignore their body's signals to STOP whatever it is they're doing that's harmful to them.

i dont have any energy drinks ! they tast n smell bad !

never tried it before :D

drank it once..felt nothing..hated it...n i most definatly hate the smell...

Redbull An amazing, wounderful,tasty drink

to be honest, i dont think it has much effect on the body as drugs.i can drink 2 cans and go straight to sleep i just enjoy the taste soo muuchhhh :love:

just read what's above :os
all kind of unpleasent stuff about my redbull :(

anyhow thanks for sharing Fahad

well believe it or not I had never tasted this Rud bull !! It looks creapy & Smells sucks ,, So I prefer to stay a way without risks ! as well as Barbikan .. I hate such creapy & unhealthy drinks !

it doesnt have that much affect on me :/