FOOD Inhalable Caffeine to Hit Stores in January

[Relic]

Can't start your day without a strong cup of coffee? One company has taken the notion of a caffeine addict to the next level by offering an inhalable alternative, which they promise has the same instant pick-me-up as a cup of joe.

According to an article from NPR's blog The Salt, this new product called AeroShot Pure Energy is a small plastic inhaler, which allows the consumer to breathe in their morning cup in a matter of seconds. AeroShot — whose slogan is "Breathable Energy. Anytime. Anyplace." — comes in an inhaler the size of a lipstick tube, which, according to NPR, contains a combination of "caffeine, B vitamins, and citrus flavors."

While the director of AeroShot promotes the product as a way to conveniently dispense caffeine and control intake, others are concerned about potential health hazards when the product gets into the hands of young people. For example, Senator Charles Schumer is concerned about what would happen if Aeroshot was inhaled in tandem with alcohol. The potential dangers of mixing alcohol and caffeine recently emerged when Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, was on the market. Consumption of the beverage contributed to a noticeable increase in the hospitalization of minors.

Other concerns with AeroShot stem from certain drug-like features of the product. Professor Stacey Sigmon stated that cramming the stimulant into small packaging, as well as the act of breathing in the caffeine make the product relatable to drugs. Although the product is marketed as a small inhaler, it is important to note that AeroShot cannot actually be inhaled. It is digested instead of absorbed directly by the lungs, as with a medical inhaler. Ultimately, the caffeine in AeroShot works the same way as drinking a cup of coffee does.

While potentially dangerous in certain hands, AeroShot does have some marketable perks. The spray is calorie-free, giving it an advantage over sugar-laden energy and coffee drinks. It is also convenient when there isn't time to brew or buy a coffee.

According to the countdown clock on their website, AeroShot will hit stores in early January at $2.99 per 100 mg tube.

Would you buy AeroShot for a quick caffeine boost? Or do you think it has potentially dangerous consequences?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/aeroshot-inhalable-caffeine

 

[Blizzard]

The second most abused drug I see in the Emergency Department (Alcohol being the first) is caffeine. Kidney stones, palpitations, fast heart rates, high blood pressure, anxiety attacks, hyperventilation, passing out, you name it. 300mg of caffeine a day is considered an overdose. 5 ounces of drip coffee can contain 150mg of caffeine. Kids are drinking these "high-energy" drinks like mad. Normal behavior is you go, go, go and then suddenly drop.... Seen it over and over again. Be careful! Use it when you need it (like TS is actually HTF at this moment), not as a daily pick me up.

That being said, withdraw from your daily overdose slowly - usually over a two week time frame. If you go cold turkey, you will be miserable and make those around you want to immediately put you out of your misery with a high speed cranial led implant.

Here is a listing of caffeine content:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm

 

[White970]

That being said, withdraw from your daily overdose slowly - usually over a two week time frame. If you go cold turkey, you will be miserable and make those around you want to immediately put you out of your misery with a high speed cranial led implant.

That's the same thing to happen when people quit smoking. They're miserable.

Yet the best way to quit smoking is cold turkey. It has a higher success rate than quiting over time. One of the biggest reasons quiting over time fails is that you learn to value every cigarette. You think about your next break more than normal. You begin to fear the day when you quit completely. Most people rationalize their way out of it and go back into smoking harder than they started. I've seen it several times.

If you ever want to make someone obsess over smoking and make them truly "enjoy" every cigarette they smoke. Then have them reduce their smoking habits.

If you're worried about the people around you, then making them miserable for a few days is far better than killing your body over years. That is, if they care about you.

Of course, this is about coffee. Though if you see it as an addiction, then the same rules would apply.

 

[Kathy in FL]

That's the same thing to happen when people quit smoking. They're miserable.

Yet the best way to quit smoking is cold turkey. It has a higher success rate than quiting over time. One of the biggest reasons quiting over time fails is that you learn to value every cigarette. You think about your next break more than normal. You begin to fear the day when you quit completely. Most people rationalize their way out of it and go back into smoking harder than they started. I've seen it several times.

If you ever want to make someone obsess over smoking and make them truly "enjoy" every cigarette they smoke. Then have them reduce their smoking habits.

If you're worried about the people around you, then making them miserable for a few days is far better than killing your body over years. That is, if they care about you.

Of course, this is about coffee. Though if you see it as an addiction, then the same rules would apply.

Or when you have to quit sugar. Ever met a newly diagnosed diabetic that didn't act - at least part of the time - ready to chew your leg off? Gack! My dad was horrible to be around for about a month. He's mellowed a lot over the last year but he still gets the occasional craving and watch out.

 

[Dux]

I've quit coffee several times. Go slow. It's easy enough to cut your brew with decaf. Then move on to tea. Way better than having a huge headache and people wanting to put you out of your misery.

 

[summerthyme]

I never got into any of the caffeinated drinks. No coffee, tea or soda. Just don't appeal to me.

But I keep caffeine tablets on hand, and treat them like the drug they are. Not a casual "pick me up", but only on occasion (once or twice a month, although I can go months without using it at all) where being alert when I'm really struggling is important.

And yes, most drugs can be weaned off of very slowly, which tends to be better (much less stress on the body) for the addict as well as those around them. However, it requires either significant willpower or some outside "control". Someone to ration the coffee grounds (or liquid) every day and keeping it inaccessible would be necessary if the addict lacks real will power or ambition.

Fortunately, I don't think we have any coffee addicts in our family. The few cans I've got stashed will have to stretch and suffice.

Summerthyme

 

[Satanta]

I thought that was what cocaine is for...

Besides I can come up with ten different ways to use this 'inhaler' to hide something more potent and less legal so you think the druggies who do this for a living cannot?

 

[MearKAt]

While I'm all for innovation and free market, this just seems as though it was designed as if to be simply abused.

 

[night driver]

I gotta axe Chuckie Schumer if he's EVER had an Irish Coffee.....

If he says NO I'll consider him a lying steaming pile.

If he says "Yeah, what about it?" I'll point out what he considers the dangers of caffeine and alcohol....

Doc B, while I was at School Camp as an instructor, we had kids who drank MULTIPLE energy drinks per day (Jolt, Monster, etc) who found out that they would be decaffeinated for 3 or 5 days. Day 0 was OK, but day 1 was a serious issue for some. Headaches etc....

Also, does your hospital have the fairly forward thinking policy of allowing surgery patients to have a last cup of coffee while in pre-op?? Some hospitals do and they have found a HUGE improvement in patient outcomes. Both perceived and objectively measured. Lowered pain issues, less analgesia needed, decreased post op depression, decreased post op headaches....IIRC there were a couple studies that suggested some re-investigation of "known side effects" of a couple different anesthesia meds when they had the caffeinated patients NOT complaining of headaches etc....which they had considered simply known side effects.

Yes there are SOME aspiration concerns but the timing on the cuppa is such that it's GONE by the time the gas passer gets them in his/her capable hands.

 

[Bicycle Junkie]

Can't start your day without a strong cup of coffee? One company has taken the notion of a caffeine addict to the next level by offering an inhalable alternative, which they promise has the same instant pick-me-up as a cup of joe.

According to an article from NPR's blog The Salt, this new product called AeroShot Pure Energy is a small plastic inhaler, which allows the consumer to breathe in their morning cup in a matter of seconds. AeroShot — whose slogan is "Breathable Energy. Anytime. Anyplace." — comes in an inhaler the size of a lipstick tube, which, according to NPR, contains a combination of "caffeine, B vitamins, and citrus flavors."

While the director of AeroShot promotes the product as a way to conveniently dispense caffeine and control intake, others are concerned about potential health hazards when the product gets into the hands of young people. For example, Senator Charles Schumer is concerned about what would happen if Aeroshot was inhaled in tandem with alcohol. The potential dangers of mixing alcohol and caffeine recently emerged when Four Loko, an alcoholic energy drink, was on the market. Consumption of the beverage contributed to a noticeable increase in the hospitalization of minors.

Other concerns with AeroShot stem from certain drug-like features of the product. Professor Stacey Sigmon stated that cramming the stimulant into small packaging, as well as the act of breathing in the caffeine make the product relatable to drugs. Although the product is marketed as a small inhaler, it is important to note that AeroShot cannot actually be inhaled. It is digested instead of absorbed directly by the lungs, as with a medical inhaler. Ultimately, the caffeine in AeroShot works the same way as drinking a cup of coffee does.

While potentially dangerous in certain hands, AeroShot does have some marketable perks. The spray is calorie-free, giving it an advantage over sugar-laden energy and coffee drinks. It is also convenient when there isn't time to brew or buy a coffee.

According to the countdown clock on their website, AeroShot will hit stores in early January at $2.99 per 100 mg tube.

Would you buy AeroShot for a quick caffeine boost? Or do you think it has potentially dangerous consequences?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/aeroshot-inhalable-caffeine

I would not recommend purchasing shares of stock in the company producing this product. I predict that after a couple of cardiac arrests the product will no longer be available and the company will be in court.

 

[Double_A]

NoDoz caffeine tabs are in my BOB

 

[Blizzard]

Doc B, while I was at School Camp as an instructor, we had kids who drank MULTIPLE energy drinks per day (Jolt, Monster, etc) who found out that they would be decaffeinated for 3 or 5 days. Day 0 was OK, but day 1 was a serious issue for some. Headaches etc....

Also, does your hospital have the fairly forward thinking policy of allowing surgery patients to have a last cup of coffee while in pre-op?? Some hospitals do and they have found a HUGE improvement in patient outcomes. Both perceived and objectively measured. Lowered pain issues, less analgesia needed, decreased post op depression, decreased post op headaches....IIRC there were a couple studies that suggested some re-investigation of "known side effects" of a couple different anesthesia meds when they had the caffeinated patients NOT complaining of headaches etc....which they had considered simply known side effects.

Yes there are SOME aspiration concerns but the timing on the cuppa is such that it's GONE by the time the gas passer gets them in his/her capable hands.

We use the two week number to slowly reduce the caffeine, thus minimizing the withdrawal affects. Getting an true, actual account of caffeine consumed during an Emergency Department visit is rare, so we max out the withdrawal time-frame.

As for pre-op coffee, our Anesthesiologists are old head. ("Forward thinking" - ROTFLMAO) NOTHING BY MOUTH 12 HOURS PRIOR TO ANESTHESIA. That also proved difficult among the informed public. You throw out the Mountain Dew from a patient in one of the exam room, going for emergency surgery, only to find family members brought him a replacement and a bag or Doritos that he just chugged down (because he is thirsty/hungry). Then WE get yelled at for allowing such, in a 15 bed ED. It doesn't help to explain you told the patient over and over again, NOTHING BY MOUTH, including drink or food.

 

[night driver]

BJ, how about the 5-hour energy company???

Pretty much same sort of thing....

wife and I refer to that stuff as Red Shots and we're BOTH happy with the results, though we DO follow the directions./....

posted by Blizzard...
Then WE get yelled at for allowing such, in a 15 bed ED. It doesn't help to explain you told the patient over and over again, NOTHING BY MOUTH, including drink or food.

try enforcing in a 50 bed ED, 20 critical beds....

Fortunately the Case guys ARE a bit more laid back/forward thinking...