High Stim-pre workout supplements causing acid reflux/GERD symptoms?

[stonecold9120]

I've never had stomach/gastro-intestinal issues in my life until recently. I've been taking high stim pre-workout supplements pretty much everyday for the past year or so (I'm in the gym practically everyday). I've always taken high stim pre workouts with 400-500 mgs of caffeine like Mr. Hyde, Psychotic, Blackstone Labs Dust 2.0 (1.5 scoops), Total War from Redcon (1.5 scoops) and a mid-stim PWO called Condense but I take 2 scoops of it which is 400 mgs of caffeine as well. For the past few weeks, after I take a PWO, as soon as I step in the gym 15 minutes later, I feel the constant need to burp, a lumpy feeling in my throat that doesn't go away with frequent swallowing, chest pains and heartburn. I get bloated really easy after a small meal and a glass of water and sometimes experience regurgitation of food/liquids back up the eso****us. I'll sometimes feel stomach acid gets into my throat and it burns. It usually feels better when I lie down on my back.

From what I've read online, caffeine can cause acid reflux/GERD/other stomach problems and with I call my caffeine abuse, maybe that has weakened my LES, causing my stomach problems and acid reflux issues. I think this is true because I took a few days off from the gym with taking no pre workouts or caffeine and I felt my symptoms starting to go away. I was able to eat a big meal for once with little to no issues or discomfort. But, I went back to the gym today and took 2 scoops of Condense before the gym and felt the symptoms come right back with a vengeance as soon as I stepped in the gym. It was so bad that I had to leave the gym.

Is my frequent usage of high-stim pre workouts causing my stomach issues? Should I stay away from pre-workouts and caffeine altogether?

[emergency]

probably should stop use of all sups, if the issues continues after a few weeks would follow up with your doc.

[Farley1324]

500mg at once is stupid. Stop doing that.

If it were me, first thing I would do is go on a complete stim break for at least a couple weeks, and go from there.

But I would never take 400+ to 500 mg of caffeine at time, either.

[stonecold9120]

Can I still hopefully take whey, creatine and BCAAs?

[blokpost]

Yes, caffeine might exacerbate GERD. Just make a stim-break and later use lower doses of stims if needed.

[TheFugitive]

Can I still hopefully take whey, creatine and BCAAs?

Have you tried using a single scoop? Do you notice this from coffee and energy drinks?

I highly doubt it's the caffeine, sounds more like a bad reaction to the flavoring or a specific ingredient

[NEBinAK]

There are a lot of preworkouts that give me heartburn, I havnt nailed down the ingredient yet. I thought it was citrulline but Quake has a ton of citrulline and doesn't cause me any heartburn.

Not trying to sell you on Quake what I'm saying is if you think it's a certain ingredient causing you issues (caffeine) eliminate that ingredient and experiment to see what is your cause.

[alicat32]

I have had the same experience as ^^

Some pres give me really bad reflux, others are fine. I also can't nail down which ingredient is causing it. I have just learned to avoid the brands that are giving me trouble. I know it isn't the caffeine, as I do fine with other sources, including strong coffee. Granted it isn't in as high of a dose as a pre. I don't ever take a pre that has more than 300 mg of caffeine total.

Your experience should give you a really good clue. If you avoided pres and stims for a time and felt your issues go away, you are headed in the right direction.

[CatabolicWindow]

Idk about all that man.

But for me, when I take a few scoops too many of a high stim pwo the stim dick is so bad I can't even find my cock to take a piss.

[Driven2liftv2]

Caffeine alone, not even in that amount, can cause this.

You know exactly what you have to do here, take a stim break so you can feel your pre at less than 2-3x the serving size lol

[LoyalKhan]

I've never had stomach/gastro-intestinal issues in my life until recently. I've been taking high stim pre-workout supplements pretty much everyday for the past year or so (I'm in the gym practically everyday). I've always taken high stim pre workouts with 400-500 mgs of caffeine like Mr. Hyde, Psychotic, Blackstone Labs Dust 2.0 (1.5 scoops), Total War from Redcon (1.5 scoops) and a mid-stim PWO called Condense but I take 2 scoops of it which is 400 mgs of caffeine as well. For the past few weeks, after I take a PWO, as soon as I step in the gym 15 minutes later, I feel the constant need to burp, a lumpy feeling in my throat that doesn't go away with frequent swallowing, chest pains and heartburn. I get bloated really easy after a small meal and a glass of water and sometimes experience regurgitation of food/liquids back up the eso****us. I'll sometimes feel stomach acid gets into my throat and it burns. It usually feels better when I lie down on my back.

From what I've read online, caffeine can cause acid reflux/GERD/other stomach problems and with I call my caffeine abuse, maybe that has weakened my LES, causing my stomach problems and acid reflux issues. I think this is true because I took a few days off from the gym with taking no pre workouts or caffeine and I felt my symptoms starting to go away. I was able to eat a big meal for once with little to no issues or discomfort. But, I went back to the gym today and took 2 scoops of Condense before the gym and felt the symptoms come right back with a vengeance as soon as I stepped in the gym. It was so bad that I had to leave the gym.

Is my frequent usage of high-stim pre workouts causing my stomach issues? Should I stay away from pre-workouts and caffeine altogether?

I was taking the Black Bombs pre-workout/fat burner and I could feel this tightness in my chest during workouts. I had an episode once when I would have a lot of trouble breathing. I went to the gp straight away and he said I was actually hyperventilating. And from then on it kept happening every-time I took them. I stopped after a while but ever since, 2 years ago, I get the same thing even without taking them now.
I went through a lot of medical tests to try to find out why I had this breathing problem and after 2 years I found out that I got heartburn and the acid is aspirated into my lungs through my voice box. I causes spasm and closes the voice box which makes me breath a lot harder.
I never had heartburn before that or any symptoms related to it. I took pre-workouts before for years, but apparently the very strong ones can cause that stomach ring to stay open especially during exercise.
Now I have to wait 4-5 hours for my stomach to empty before I can exercise. It’s worth mentioning that my mrs took it too and didn’t get this problem, but she quit after a while as they were too strong.

[Guns_On_Fire]

FLEX by Animal is triggering bad acid reflux for me right now...At least it has a few ingredients for me to test now. Has anyone discovered what it is causing them this issue? Not sure whats up. Resurrecting this threat after 2 years haha classy.

[csquassi91]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with acid reflux as my stomach got really bad and developed an ulcer. Like many of u, I am also trying to figure this out I’ve taken Animal Flex for my joints for years and never had a problem. Now that I have a problem...I think the yellow pill is mustard powder and that seems to cauz irritation. That said..it didn’t start this disaster. I think that going to the gym at 5:30am before work and Drinking pre-workout after only eating some oatmeal caused all of this. Not definite but I think it was a big contributor. I use C4 ultimate. (It’s a great pre workout). Figured I’d chime in. Currently on proton inhibitor aka acid reducer, stopped supps for 4 weeks. Back on them again and noticing my stomach hurting again after the pre workout.

Suggestions welcome