No-Doz, The Driver's Friend.

[Renato1]

Last year I drove for over 10 and half hours to the Amalfi Coast at speeds of 130kph to 140kph (when over taking trucks). Last month I drove for 10 and a half hours or more on two occasions in the USA, and for eight or nine hours on another two - for the most part at 70 or 75mph, and often creeping up to 80mph.

Quite frankly, I don't think that at my age (late 50s) I could have done three of those trips without the No-Doz tablets that are sold at chemists and supermarkets like Woolworths. I would have had to cut the trips in half and stayed at some out of the way place, often in the middle of nowhere in the USA.

The tablet only contains caffeine and vitamins, and is supposed to be the equivalent of a cup of coffee - but on me it seems to work much better than any Italian espresso or American coffee or Starbuck's cans of doubleshot coffee. Four tablets spaced out during the trip, coupled with cups of coffee seemed to be all I needed to stay very alert while driving at high speed.

On my last trip from San Francisco to LA, I had run out of No-Doz tablets, and instead relied on Starbuck's Doubleshot cans of coffee. What should have been an easy six and a half hour trip wound up stretching out to over nine hours as I constantly kept having to stop, since the coffee wasn't working as well as the No-Doz.

Does anybody else use these little miracle tablets to avoid getting killed on very long road journeys in foreign countries?
Regards,
Renato

 

[mannej]

As funny as it seems, the only time I tried no-doz, it had the exact opposite affect on me. I was out for the count within 10 minutes of taking 2 tablets!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Last year I drove for over 10 and half hours to the Amalfi Coast at speeds of 130kph to 140kph (when over taking trucks). Last month I drove for 10 and a half hours or more on two occasions in the USA, and for eight or nine hours on another two - for the most part at 70 or 75mph, and often creeping up to 80mph.

Quite frankly, I don't think that at my age (late 50s) I could have done three of those trips without the No-Doz tablets that are sold at chemists and supermarkets like Woolworths. I would have had to cut the trips in half and stayed at some out of the way place, often in the middle of nowhere in the USA.

The tablet only contains caffeine and vitamins, and is supposed to be the equivalent of a cup of coffee - but on me it seems to work much better than any Italian espresso or American coffee or Starbuck's cans of doubleshot coffee. Four tablets spaced out during the trip, coupled with cups of coffee seemed to be all I needed to stay very alert while driving at high speed.

On my last trip from San Francisco to LA, I had run out of No-Doz tablets, and instead relied on Starbuck's Doubleshot cans of coffee. What should have been an easy six and a half hour trip wound up stretching out to over nine hours as I constantly kept having to stop, since the coffee wasn't working as well as the No-Doz.

Does anybody else use these little miracle tablets to avoid getting killed on very long road journeys in foreign countries?
Regards,
Renato

No, I avoid driving when I'm tired and don't drive without sufficient breaks.

I would be too afraid of the potential consequences for myself and other road users driving whilst tired or using stimulants to keep me awake.

 

[Hvr]

No, I avoid driving when I'm tired and don't drive without sufficient breaks.

I would be too afraid of the potential consequences for myself and other road users driving whilst tired or using stimulants to keep me awake.

And you've probably seen the tragic outcomes of people trying to drive when they shouldn't.

I've been known to pull over and sleep when tired rather than push on. Better to be a little late than 'dead' on time.

 

[Renato1]

As funny as it seems, the only time I tried no-doz, it had the exact opposite affect on me. I was out for the count within 10 minutes of taking 2 tablets!

Amazing. Are you a heavy coffee drinker?
Regards,
Renato

No, I avoid driving when I'm tired and don't drive without sufficient breaks.

I would be too afraid of the potential consequences for myself and other road users driving whilst tired or using stimulants to keep me awake.

For me, the bad potential consequences are if I don't take them.

Driving at full speed on Italian roads (with crazy drivers tailgating me at 140kph) without those pills would leave me utterly drained in five hours. Whereas I took the 10.5 hour trip in my stride with the pills.
Regards,
Renato

And you've probably seen the tragic outcomes of people trying to drive when they shouldn't.

I've been known to pull over and sleep when tired rather than push on. Better to be a little late than 'dead' on time.

I wish I could do what you do and take a nap in the car.
I have never been able to do it, no matter how tired.
Regards,
Renato

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

Does anybody else use these little miracle tablets to avoid getting killed on very long road journeys in foreign countries?
Regards,
Renato

My God, no - nor in Australia for that matter. Driving on drugs and stimulants not my thing and I hope I never come across you on the road when you are souped up.

 

[Boca68]

Well, the manufacturers of 'No-Doz' claim only ~100mg of caffeine per tablet. A straight espresso shot is about 80mg.

A quick search, shows me that a 'No-Doz' is actually about ~200mg per tablet. So roughly equivalent of 2 to 3 shots of coffee.

Next time Renato1 says to me , "Lets go for a drive" remind me please, to stay strong and make polite excuses and walk away.

Does anybody else use these little miracle tablets to avoid getting killed on very long road journeys in foreign countries?

Especially freaked out by this last line. Seriously, I hope you are joking! That's just nonsense!

 

[Renato1]

Well, the manufacturers of 'No-Doz' claim only ~100mg of caffeine per tablet. A straight espresso shot is about 80mg.

A quick search, shows me that a 'No-Doz' is actually about ~200mg per tablet. So roughly equivalent of 2 to 3 shots of coffee.

Next time Renato1 says to me , "Lets go for a drive" remind me please, to stay strong and make polite excuses and walk away.


Especially freaked out by this last line. Seriously, I hope you are joking! That's just nonsense!

As I said, No-Doz works much better than a cup of coffee.

At around midnight - five and a half hours after having finished the 10 and a half hour high speed drive to Amalfi - I went down to the hotel bar. There I bought a big glass of beer, in an effort to find something that would let me go to sleep, as i was still hyped.

There was zero way I could nod off and run off the road with this very safe, legal stimulant.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Warks]

I've driven long distances for a lot of my life and never so much as nodded slightly when driving. I'd hate to be relying on artificial stimulants to get by. And no, I never drink coffee. The way some people drive I do wonder what they are on though.

 

[Renato1]

My God, no - nor in Australia for that matter. Driving on drugs and stimulants not my thing and I hope I never come across you on the road when you are souped up.

Actually, I think some people - the type who run off roads into trees just sitting there minding their own business - are irresponsible if they don't take these wonder pills.

Better to arrive at one's destination slightly hyped up and have trouble sleeping, than being in intensive-care or dead.

Dangerous Micro-sleeps are a fact of life when getting older and driving long distances. No-Doz prevents that.
Regards,
Renato

 

[RooFlyer]

I sincerely hope you are taking the pixx, Renato1, I really do (and I think you are). The claim about No-Doz preventing micro-sleeps is just plain rubbish, unless you can post some studies here we can look at. Or did you just make it up?

 

[russ]

I don't put myself in the position of having to do 10.5 hour drives. Flying is cheap, safer, and more pleasant.

 

[juddles]

...I drove for over 10 and half hours to the Amalfi Coast at speeds of 130kph to 140kph ...

Where did you drive from?? Perth??

Renato is taking the pixx

 

[sausagefingers]

I drove Orlando to Dallas in one go, only stopping for "gas", lunch and bathroom breaks, I think total was between 16-17 hours and although I was pretty tired getting into Dallas I was certainly not ever at risk of falling asleep.
I had my wife and two daughters in the car, if I even for a moment thought I was at risk I would have pulled over and let my wife drive.
Many cans of redbull were consumed during the drive, I don't drink coffee and I have never taken pills for staying awake.

 

[Princess Fiona]

There's a fairly large case-control study in the BMJ based on commercial drivers which looks positive
theBMJ

This is explained quite well Here

In other words, you and others may find it useful but the plural of anecdotes isn't good data.

Don't drive whilst tired or relying on stimulants. It's as simple as that really.

 

[Milboo]

Definitely not. Not worth it - either for my life or other road users.

I plan my holidays so I don't have to spend such hours on the road - we split SFO to LA into 3 nights and even that was a push. Otherwise where is the time to linger, explore and enjoy the country you're visiting?

 

[Renato1]

I sincerely hope you are taking the pixx, Renato1, I really do (and I think you are). The claim about No-Doz preventing micro-sleeps is just plain rubbish, unless you can post some studies here we can look at. Or did you just make it up?

No-Doz prevents micro-sleeps on me.
I don't need a study to show that it prevents micro-sleeps in me, as I already know it.
Regards,
Renato

I don't put myself in the position of having to do 10.5 hour drives. Flying is cheap, safer, and more pleasant.

So, if you had been me, you would have flown from San Diego to the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, Las Vegas to San Francisco, and San Francisco to LA.
Pretty expensive don't you think?
Especially compared to using a couple of dollars worth of pills.
Cheers,
Renato

Where did you drive from?? Perth??

Renato is taking the pixx

From Bassano Del Grappa to Maiori on the Amalfi Coast.
The scary part was that just when my navigator told me to turn off at Angri after having driven for 10 hours, I found myself in the wild west of driving, in a town where there were no road rules, and then the worst drive through mountains I've ever done.
My wife was convinced we were going to die, and I'm convinced we probably would have if not for my magic pills.
Regards,
Renato

I drove Orlando to Dallas in one go, only stopping for "gas", lunch and bathroom breaks, I think total was between 16-17 hours and although I was pretty tired getting into Dallas I was certainly not ever at risk of falling asleep.
I had my wife and two daughters in the car, if I even for a moment thought I was at risk I would have pulled over and let my wife drive.
Many cans of redbull were consumed during the drive, I don't drink coffee and I have never taken pills for staying awake.

Thanks, but from Wikipedia - "Red Bull contains caffeine, taurine, B vitamins (B3, B5, B6, B12), sucrose, and glucose."
You were using better drugs than I was.
But I just don't like the taste of Red Bull, and my pills are heaps cheaper.

Also, when I drive long distances I don't eat anything the entire trip, as carbohydrates and sugar makes me sleepier more quickly than I otherwise would be. Though the sugar-free version of Red Bull could be handy for me at some future time.
Regards,
Renato

Definitely not. Not worth it - either for my life or other road users.

I plan my holidays so I don't have to spend such hours on the road - we split SFO to LA into 3 nights and even that was a push. Otherwise where is the time to linger, explore and enjoy the country you're visiting?

I'm assuming that you took the scenic route along the coast - which everyone raves about, but which is a much longer trip than taking the direct route along the Interstate 5. I assume this because, apart from the town of Bakersfield and outlet stores at Tejon, there really is nothing to see and explore along the I5 until one is nearly in LA.
Regards,
Renato

There's a fairly large case-control study in the BMJ based on commercial drivers which looks positive
theBMJ

This is explained quite well Here

In other words, you and others may find it useful but the plural of anecdotes isn't good data.

Don't drive whilst tired or relying on stimulants. It's as simple as that really.

Uhhmm - don't the results of the actual Case Study of REAL drivers support TOTALLY what I wrote in my Original Post?


The article you cite is attacking the results of the Case Study without using any actual results of its own, and doing a lot of hypothesising and making unsupported assertions and assumptions to do so (e.g. that it wasn't the caffeine that reduced the accidents, but the increased number of toilet breaks from taking the caffeine (so, wasn't it still the caffeine that caused the reduction in accidents?)). It has no empirical data of its own to disprove the Case Study. It even proposes how someone else can go away and spend a fortune doing a case study that it would approve of, but is unwilling to do itself!


The article's conclusion is pretty much a mirror image of what the responses have been like here.
1a.... I provide a summary of my positive experience driving long distance overseas on vacation with caffeine.
1b.... The Case Study provides a summary of the positive experiences of truck drivers driving long distances in Australia with caffeine.


2a.... Numerous responders are highly skeptical and attack my Original Post based solely on speculation and unsupported assertions against taking caffeine pills.
2b.... The article is highly skeptical and attacks the case study based mainly on hypothesizing and speculative assertions, without supplying any actual evidence of its own.


To my mind, if people are too cheap to spend $5 on the tablets at Woolworths (even just to have them there as a backup), and leave themselves open to killing or maiming themselves and their families, well, that's their business. But I think it unfair to the other drivers that they may kill or maim in the process.

Also, one's overseas trip may not be as pleasurable as it could have been if one spends it hospitalized.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Buzzard]

A long, long, time ago you could buy Ephedrine (30, 60, 90mg) OTC.
Whilst those drugs certainly kept you awake I'm glad they were removed from sale.
I met quite a few zombies during that time in my line of work.

 

[Pushka]

And you could buy pseudoephedrine - sudafed - in Coles. Which for those who have sinus issues was helpful. Now you have to be treated like a druggie just to get medications that actually work for health issues.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
To my mind, if people are too cheap to spend $5 on the tablets at Woolworths (even just to have them there as a backup), and leave themselves open to killing or maiming themselves and their families, well, that's their business. But I think it unfair to the other drivers that they may kill or maim in the process.
<snip>

.... OR you could take the attitude, like most of us, don't drive while tired and use artificial stimulants to keep you awake. But, (and assuming you are serious), you'd rather drive while drugged up. Not something to boast about, I suggest.

You'll be OK ... until the time inevitably comes that it comes unstuck. And sometime it will ... you'll not even know that you've nodded off and then you may not know anything, ever again. And in that case you'll never know who else you have taken with you.

<snip>
Also, one's overseas trip may not be as pleasurable as it could have been if one spends it hospitalized.
< snip>

Taking long drives while drugged up is not my idea of a pleasurable overseas trip, but each to their own I guess.