Red Bull is widely considered a hang-over remedy, and it may be beneficial for cluster headaches. A number of anecdotes from clusterheadaches.com (cache) indicate some success in aborting CH by rapidly drinking a Red Bull beverage at the first signs of a headache. The effect is not universal or consistent, but appears to be greater than a placebo effect.

Red Bull contains carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, sodium citrate, Taurine, glucuronolactone, Caffeine, Inositol, niacin, D-pantothenol, pyridoxine HCL, vitamin B12, artificial flavours, and colors.

Taurine affects ion transfer and is the lead suspect as far as anti-cluster activity is concerned.

Glucuruonolactone and sodium citrate are buffers. Inositol, niacin, D-pantothenol, and B-12 are all B-Vitamins. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor; although caffeine alone cannot abort a cluster headache, it may play a role when combined with other ingredients.

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Red bull typically costs $1.50 to $2.50 per can, and contains 1000 mg taurine. A taurine supplement is available from Vitacost.com that costs approximately 7 cents per 1000 mg. Adding a B-vitamin supplement and your own sugar and caffeine (iced Coffee) brings the price of a somewhat comparable home brew to perhaps 25 cents.

• Red Bull is a registered trademark of Red Bull Corporation..