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Are there any vitamins, over-the-counter medications, or alternative products for lack of energy?

Is there anything I can get without a prescription to give me more energy?

answer for 'Are there any vitamins, over-the-counter medications, or alternative products for lack of energy?'

Lack of energy can be caused by too little sleep or poor nutrition. It can also be a symptom of certain conditions, including anemia, low thyroid levels, depression, or other mood disorders. If you frequently feel tired, talk to your doctor about tests and treatment for possible causes.

It's important to maintain a well-balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise, and get adequate sleep. Most people can also benefit from taking a good multivitamin daily, especially if they find it hard to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet. Select a multivitamin such as drugstore.com brand multivitamins, which has 100 percent of the Daily Value of most essential vitamins and minerals.

Many herbal products are promoted to relieve fatigue and boost energy. Unfortunately, there is not enough information to support the use of these herbal products.

One popular herb, Siberian ginseng, may help you resist stress and infection and reduce fatigue. A few small studies suggest that it can improve physical stamina and mental capacity. But more studies need to repeat these results before most medical experts will recommend Siberian ginseng. Don't use Siberian ginseng if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease because it may make these problems worse.

Over-the-counter products that contain caffeine or the herb guarana (a source of caffeine) may improve alertness, but they don't improve energy levels in the long run. Side effects of guarana and caffeine include trouble sleeping and irritability. You shouldn't use these products if you have heart disease, anxiety, or trouble sleeping, because they may make these problems worse.

Sources:
The Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.
PDR for Herbal Medicines. Medical Economics Co., 1998.
Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association Practical Guide to Natural Medicines. William Morrow & Co., 1999.
Silverman H.M., J.A. Romano, G. Elmer. The Vitamin Book. Bantam Books, 1999.
Johns Hopkins Symptoms and Remedies. Medletter Associates Inc., 1999.
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Pharmacists Letter Inc., 2000.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2007.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.

This answer prepared 5/26/2000.
This information updated 1/3/2007.