Becoming the Energizer Bunny

caffeine overdose

Substances: Caffeine

I have expirimented with taking large amounts of caffeine many
times during my life, both for the 'rush' feeling and for the
feelings of alertness it can give. This is, of course, when used
in moderation. I will tell you about one of the times I didn't
use it in moderation.

My friends and I decided to hit a dance club in Seattle, a good
45-minute drive away. We stopped at a local Denny's restaurant
to eat dinner and drink coffee. My ex-girlfriend was a crank
fiend for 3 years of her life, and had made the switch down to
caffeine, which is gentler on the system yet still has many of
the same benefits, drug-wise. She said that she was going to
get high on caffeine. I, being a competetive person, said I
could top her. We started by drinking approximately 10 cups of
coffee in the space of 15 minutes, chugging with the aid of
prompt service and some ice cubes. Caffeine count: 1000 mg of
caffeine.

My ex and I walk next door to the AM/PM, needing more caffeine.
We buy rocket chocolates and ginseng pills, the rocket chocolates
(turbo truffles) contain 200 mg of caffeine, approximately 2
cups of coffee. She takes 4, I take 6, and each of us take two
ginseng pills (which we estimate to have approximately the same
effect as a cup of coffee each, though not containing caffeine).
Caffeine count: 2200 mg of caffeine.

As only a half hour had elapsed, we were feeling nothing yet,
just the anxiety of waiting for a buzz. We go back to the AM/PM
and buy some caffeine pills, also each containing 200 mg of
caffeine. She takes two, I take one. Caffeine count: 2400 mg.

My ex drinks another 3 or 4 cups of coffee and pops another
two caffeine pills. I'm beginning to feel sick, so I take
a caffeine pill and kind of lay down. Caffeine count: 2600 mg.

We get in the car and begin driving to Seattle. The buzz
hits about fifteen minutes after we hit the road, approximately
45 minutes after drinking the first coffee. It was a singular
experience, being confined in a car, a 4-seater with 5 people
in it, and having so much energy you want to run a marathon.

The rush crept up on me, but soon I realized that I was bouncing
my knees, bobbing my head to the music, and laughing much more
than usual. The sick feeling in my stomach had gone away.
Interestingly enough, we get caught in a traffic jam. A semi
had flipped, and we were stranded on the road in stop-and-go
traffic. My ex was leaning out the window blowing kisses at
strange men and after watching her for a few minutes I began
hitting on the women in the adjoining cars.

After hitting on a 31-year old, a car full of teenyboppers,
and two 20-year olds that made my jaw drop, I looked at the
radio and realized that some song I liked was on. The car not
really moving, I get out and begin dancing on the freeway,
among the barely moving cars. My memory gets a little blurry
here, but I recall something like 15 minutes of grinding,
humping the car, doing disco, and 'heeeey hooo'ing to the
various music. People were staring, laughing, shaking their
heads, and pointing their fingers.

I recall a few faces very vividly, especially one that I
thought was Richard Simmons (but wasn't) but my memory of
everything else is a little blurred. I don't remember the
music I danced to, for instance.

We finally get off the freeway and stop at a gas station.
(we were stuck in the car on the freeway for close to an
hour and a half).

My friends pile out, and as they stand around talking, I
begin running circles around them, figure 8's and loop-de-
loops and wind sprints. I've never run so fast for so long,
it seemed like my feet couldn't stop. Finally a chick
grabs me by the shoulders and tells me to stop, and throws
me on the ground.

That, I think, is when I begin to come down. I began to
be very subdued, I don't find everything quite as funny,
and I begin to get tired. About 15 minutes later we arrive
at the club, but my ex and I are so tired we can't dance.
We go to a goth restaurant instead (anyone been to the
'Hurricane?'). We were there for about 2 hours, and my
memories are still a little blurry -- the music kind of
blended together, I think it was because I was so tired.
I sleep in the car on the way back home, and woke up
in my bed, with no knowledge of how I got there.

The next day I was a little sore, and very very tired,
even with 7-8 hours of sleep. I stayed off of caffeine
for a while after that, and got some of the worst
headaches I have ever had (poss. exception breaking
addiction to Vycaden)

In summary, caffeine (on me) acted as an extreme
stimulant... I did not feel any bad side effects normally
reported (ie, pounding heart, racing blood pressure),
but seemed filled with energy, and I could _not_ stop
moving. It helped me act a little uninhibited, especially
regarding public physical activity. I was so full of
energy I either didn't really pay attention to what was around
me, or focused on one little thing exclusively.
Downside was feeling like a walking zombie afterwards,
and how my memory was affected during that state.

Caffeine dosage: 2600 mg
(my ex had close to 4000 mg)

Length of trip: approx. 2 hours