What is it in 'isotonic' drinks that makes me feel better when rolling/coming down?

[Harambulus]

I can now definately say with confidence that drinking isotonic drinks makes a world of difference for me when I am high or mainly when I'm coming down.

I actually find water alone almost as bad alcohol when I'm on MDMA or similar stims (mephedrone being my most recent jaunt into stims). One night I took a dose of mephedrone and drank only water and some alcohol. That time the alcohol certainly made me feel worse so I curbed that til after I was down. The water I only took in small sips. Although the hagover was not great it was still there and noticeable the next day.

The next time I took another dose while out and was in a club so didn't have the luxury of isotonic drinks. I had just come up and was taking small sips of water. I felt a slight thirst but each sip made me feel WORSE. I took only as little as I felt would be the bare minimum needed to avoid bad effects/keep hydrated seeing as it made me feel bad either way.

Having not taken drugs for a while (over 6 months) I remembered that isotonic drinks used to always make me feel way better than just water when on an MDMA comedown after having read it on here about how it's best to drink isotonic drinks rather than just water.

I soon felt myself coming down so left the club and came home. I had bought some lucozade isotonic earlier in the day as I knew it would help me for the way down so I was eagerly awaiting to get home to drink it as I was feeling a noted malaise as the drug began to wear off (not huge compared to other comedowns but distinctly like I would prefer not have that feeling). Before I got home I was starting to feel a noticeable discomfort of the drug- like I could feel the comedown coming on just the general dehydration and feeling that it has a grip on my consciousness in a less than pleasant way.

As soon as I got back and began drinking the isotonic I felt sooooo much better. Well the first sip was good but progressive sips I felt better and better. It changed the high from uncomfortable and a little like I'd regretted taking it to very soon after feeling in control again and my body feeling distinctly more 'healthy'. This isn't a 'one off' as I bought this precisely because of such effects from having taken MDMA in the past and having it for comedowns.

Now why is this? I want to know specifically what ingredient in the isotonic drinks makes me feel better. Firstly so I can have a drink which may not necessarily be isotonic (perhaps the next best thing) in the club which would not sell isotonic drinks and secondly so I can make my own without wasting money just paying for the brand and name 'isotonic'.

Having had a search online it seemed to state that all isotonic drinks consist of is sugar and salt as being the ingredients constituting 'isotonic' (in the relevant ratio to make it 'isotonic'. Does this mean that any sugary drink would do in place of water were I out at a club? I prefer not to have caffeine containing drinks like redbull- so just a lemonade or preferably a fruit juice? The other thing they say about the name isotonic and the main reason for the name is that the levels of carbs in it are specifically in proportion to the body's natural carb/sugar levels. So is it this that constitutes to it making me feel better or just anything containing sugar? Ie is the carb content what is making me feel better or the isotonic carb ratio what is making me feel better?

I know that eating anything sugary also usually helps. Eating anything in general usually does however sugary/high carb + high glycemic index seems to be best at least in the short term for the couple of simple reasons- 1. that on stims you lose your appetite so won't wanna stomach anything else, and 2. cos the high glycemic index means it will get put to use immediately. Recently I will have lots of sugary things- (fruit as soon as I get my appetite back) until my appetite comes back properly then slowly taper this off into complex carbs which will be more substantial as my body recovers.

I will experiment with different things myself to see first hand what works but interested to hear what others have to say about this plus any other things they'd recommend along these lines.

Cheers.

 

[MikeHawk]

Well, I know that they recommend Isotonic drinks and/or salty snacks due to the electrolyte imbalance caused by excessive water consumption but unless you are drinking a lot of water I don't see why it would make you feel different. I'll certainly have to try this.

 

[I NUK3D U]

Sugar.

 

[Harambulus]

"Well, I know that they recommend Isotonic drinks and/or salty snacks due to the electrolyte imbalance caused by excessive water consumption but unless you are drinking a lot of water I don't see why it would make you feel different."

In that case, as I NUK3D U said, I'd say it's the sugar because I don't do any dancing/exertion when on drugs these days and don't drink alot of water.

I tried making my own 'isotonic concoction' last night and it was awful! I had no squash or anything sugary except for honey (as I usually eat really healthy) so I put several spoons of honey into water and added like a tablespoon of salt- too much salt in hindsight! It tasted nasty! Bought some high sugar squash today .

That is good then as it means I only have to think about getting sugar in me rather than some complex scientific sounding concoction.

So why is this? Is it just that the body load is so high that it's using up carbs at an alarming rate? I guess so as when I take drugs I am not even dancing usually these days. I just stand around talking or sitting on my ass at home. I imagine it must take a load just breaking down the drug.

Another thing which makes me think it's just lost energy is that I get REALLY big cravings for junk food the day after taking drugs (once appetite returns) and as mentioned before it certainly isn't due to overexertion. Like I said before I eat really healthy so usually have non of this in the house but I've recently been planning ahead and stocking up on junky foods cos I know I'll crave them the next day. I feel like 50% better after gorging on some high fat/high carb food, plus some cake after.

This isn't a habit I'd like to keep though due to my liking to eat healthy so this is another reason which will stop me from taking drugs often (which includes saving my teeth from constant sugary stuffed foods/drinks). I also am very stingy with money so don't wanna be spending it on junk food.

 

[MikeHawk]

Some energy drinks contain Phenylananine or whatever it's called. I heard that metabolises into l-tryptoman(I can't spell), could this have an immediate impact perhaps? Similar to post loading?

 

[Harambulus]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure it's salt that is the main ingredient here (or a mix of salt and sugar).

I tried making just a strong (i.e sweet) cordial of blackcurrent when I got home last night then began sipping it. That was ok, tasted nice and all but wasn't clearing my head like the isotonics do. I then added some salt and I felt the difference. I drank all that then thought I'd try the salt in isolation.

I took about a teaspoon of course seasalt and ate it neat. It made me feel much better right away. I then just sipped water in little sips till I went to sleep.

I also craved junk food alot less this morning so I think that maybe I was craving the salt in the junk food rather than the high calorie content itself.

Then again I did just eat a load of cake and am drinking loads of strong blackcurrent juice so I guess it's both sugar and salt. Probably just gotta load up on EVERYTHING seeing as taking drugs is so taxing on the body.

 

[edgewise1]

The hit of sugar dramactily raises your blood sugar, which in turn acts like an upper for your body. With your body most likely depleted of everything, that sugar really has an effect!