# Most effective legal OTC stimulant?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 30, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609 "2006-07-30T22:01:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/1 "2006-07-30T22:01:46Z")

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I’ve always been an ephendrine man, but I have to admit that I was rather impressed when I tried Red Bull for the first time a few weeks ago.

I mean, I wasn’t as impressed as I was when I drove perfectly, and at the precise speed limit, for 21 hours straight on $15 worth of methamphetamine, but this thread is devoted to **legal** drugs. Besides, meth is shit; I’d never do it again unless similar circumstances arose.

So, what are your legal stimulant preferences?

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/2 "2006-07-31T00:23:34Z")

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I discivered caffeine pills in college. I found them quite sufficient.

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**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/3 "2006-07-31T00:25:10Z")

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I discovered last time I had a cold that non-drowsy Contac C prevents me from, well, getting drowsy! For 24 hours! You can’t catch a buzz from it. But my sleeping patterns are screwed up from time to time, and if I take two before I go to work, I won’t be tired all day, and I won’t need a nap in the evening. And I won’t have to blow my nose, even once.

I do not advocate taking medicine for other than its intended purpose. It’s nothing like Benzedrine, but it keeps me awake.

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**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/4 "2006-07-31T01:28:45Z")

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I restrict myself to caffeine, in liquid form, but it’s always been sufficiently effective for me.

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**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/5 "2006-07-31T04:53:20Z")

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The old Dayquil (with pseudophedrine) works wonders for me. I don’t use it much for fear of building up a tolerance or (worse) dependency, but I freely confess to having used a gel cap now and again to stay on top of things for a final or midterm.

I seem to be particularly sensitive to it; most of my friends don’t get as much effect.

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**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/6 "2006-07-31T05:08:48Z")

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Two Excedrin on an empty stomach does it for me.

I’m up! I’m up!

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**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/7 "2006-07-31T05:27:59Z")

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Ephedrine…hands down.

for me, anyway.

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**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2006, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-effective-legal-otc-stimulant/366609/8 "2006-07-31T07:40:39Z")

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Red Bulls give you wings.  
A few years back I drove from 4 AM (after 3 hours sleep) till 9 PM with the help of Red Bulls.  
Works for me.