I first encountered this drink a few days ago when I saw a sign on a convenience store window claiming that this drink was so powerful that it could only be sold to people over the age of 16. I was intrigued but not enough to buy one.
Yesterday I stopped by that same store in search of a Red Bull and purchased a Spike Shooter instead. The drink costs about $2.00, which is typical for energy drinks. Since it was the same price as a Red Bull I decided to take the plunge and buy one.
After walking back to my office I took some time to read the warning labels on the can. Yes, I did say WARNING labels as in plural.
Recommended Use: Begin use with one-half can daily to determine tolerance. Never exceed one can daily.
The drink comes in an 8.4 fl oz (250 ml) can (same size as Red Bull).
Caution: This product contains strong stimulants and should not be combined with any other stimulant or fat-loss product.
According to the side of the can the drink contains no calories, carbs or sugar.
- Supplement Facts:
- Sodium - 65mg
- B12 (methylcobalamin) - 1,500mg
- Spike Shooter Formula - 1,057mg (N-acetyl-L-tyrosine, Caffeine anhydrous, Yohimbine HCI
- Total Caffeine - 300mg
Warning: Do not use if you are under the age of 16 or elderly. Do not take with any other stimulant or weight-loss supplement or any prescription or over-the-counter medicine. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing or at risk of being treated for high-blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, spasms, psychiatric disease, suffer from migraines, have asthma, or are taking asthma medication. Discontinue use if you experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, or heart palpitations. If you have trouble sleeping, do not take within 6 hours of bedtime. Keep out of reach of children.
I drank the entire can about 2:00 PM while at work. Within about 5 minutes I began to feel the effects of the beverage. Unlike some energy drinks I did not feel anxious or nervous, I felt calm, collected and capable of doing things.
Taste
The drink itself has a fruity taste and just enough carbonation not to be flat. It goes down very easy, which is dangerous because someone might think they can chug a few cans at once.
Effects
After drinking I no longer felt even the least bit tired. I was also not jittery or anxious to do things. My thinking was clear and I found answers to my problems coming a little bit quicker than before I drank the drink.
After going home for the day I still felt wide-awake and clear-headed. Six hours later I showed no signs of being tired. Eight hours later, when I was ready for bed, I was still not tired. Ten hours later I was still unable to get to sleep.
I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep but completely unable to. I was still not feeling anxious or nervous I just could not sleep. I did manage to fall sleep at some point but I kept waking up every 20 minutes!
When I got up the next morning I was not in the least bit groggy or tired.
Conclusion
Spike Shooter is a smooth energy drink that keeps you going so drink it with caution. The can says not to drink it within six hours of bedtime but I would suggest drinking it with breakfast so that you can go to sleep at night.
If you have a big coding job due the next day or an all-night FPS party to attend than you should pick up a can and drink it down. The energy you get from the drink stays for the long haul with no side effects that I have observed.