Energy Drinks

Extremely high levels of caffeine in Monster and other energy drinks can cause a caffeine overdose in anybody, but the risk is especially high for younger consumers.  In the year 2007, up to 46% of the 5,448 caffeine overdoses reported in the United States affected patients under the age of 19.  According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, children, teens, and young adults who consume energy drinks like Monster are at risk for:

• High blood pressure
• Caffeine toxicity
• Cardiac arrest
• Heart palpitations
• Dehydration
• Insomnia
• Headache
• Withdrawal
• Nervousness
• Allergic reactions

This risk is even higher for young consumers who have the following health problems:

• Seizures
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Cardiac abnormalities
• Mood or behavioral disorders
• Use of certain medications

In October 1999, the family of a girl who died after drinking two Monster energy drinks in a 24-hour period filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Monster Beverage Corp.  Anais Fournier, 14, had an underlying heart condition known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and her autopsy listed her cause of death as “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity complicating mitral valve regurgitation in the setting of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.”  Fournier’s parents claimed in their Monster energy drink lawsuit that the beverage company failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of drinking their product.

According to a report issued by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), the number of emergency room admissions linked to energy drinks like Red Bull doubled between 2007 and 2011.  In November 2012, the FDA confirmed that Red Bull energy drinks have been linked to 21 adverse event reports, 10 of which involved hospitalization or serious, potentially fatal injuries.  Though many energy drinks focus their marketing efforts on attracting younger consumers, the risk of serious energy drink side effects is especially high for children, teens, and young adults.  In 2007, nearly one-half of the 5,448 caffeine overdoses recorded in the United States affected patients who were 19 years old or younger.

Too much caffeine is dangerous for anybody, but a recent article in the respected journal Pediatrics noted that younger people are at a higher risk for side effects such as:

• Dehydration
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Heat exhaustion
• Heart palpitations
• Cardiac arrest
• Irritability
• Jitters
• Nervousness
• Allergic reactions
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Death

The risk of energy drink side effects is highest for children, adolescents, and young adults who have the following preexisting conditions:

• Seizures
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Heart problems
• Mood or behavioral disorders
• Use of certain medications

In the year 2007, consumers younger than 19 years of age accounted for nearly one-half of the 5,448 caffeine overdoses reported in the United States.  In a February 2012 edition of the journal Pediatrics, researchers stated that 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults imbibe energy drinks, which is no surprise given the fact that energy drink companies market heavily to this age group.  High levels of caffeine can be dangerous for anybody, but the side effects of Rockstar and other energy drinks are especially dangerous for younger consumers and may include:

• Caffeine toxicity
• High blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Cardiac arrest
• Withdrawal
• Dehydration
• Irritability
• Headache
• Death

The risk of serious Rockstar energy drink side effects is even more heightened in young consumers who have the following conditions:

• Heart problems
• Seizures
• Epilepsy
• Mood or behavioral disorders
• Use certain medications

In light of the fact that young adults, teens, and children are at a high risk for potentially fatal Rockstar and energy drink side effects, many pediatricians, politicians, and parents believe that it is irresponsible or even negligent for energy drink makers to directly market to young consumers—especially without adequate warnings to alert them to possible health threats linked to these beverages.

In November 2012, the New York Times reported that over the last four years federal officials have recorded 13 deaths and 90 incident reports that may be linked to 5-Hour Energy.  To put that into context, in 2010 the FDA logged a total of 17 fatality reports with possible links to a dietary supplement or weight loss product.  These categories account for more than 50,000 different products.

Most 5-Hour Energy side effects can be linked to excessive caffeine intake.  A caffeine overdose is always dangerous, but caffeine toxicity is especially a risk for younger energy drink consumers whose bodies are less able to process the high levels of caffeine.  According to a recent article in the medical journal Pediatrics, researchers noted that 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults consume energy drinks.  In 2007, 5,448 caffeine overdoses were reported in the United States, and nearly one-half of these cases occurred in patients under 19 years of age.

Potential 5-Hour Energy side effects for which young consumers are at a heightened risk include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Caffeine withdrawal
• Cardiac arrest
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Heart palpitations
• Allergic reactions
• Death

Children and young adults who have the following conditions are at an even higher risk for 5-Hour Energy side effects:

• Heart problems
• Epilepsy
• Seizures
• Mood or behavioral disorders
• Take certain medications

Some experts put partial blame for 5-Hour Energy drink side effects and injuries on aggressive and misleading advertising.  5-Hour Energy ads often feature athletic men and women performing in high-endurance physical activities like rock climbing, biking, and playing sports, sending the message that these athletes perform better after drinking 5-Hour Energy.  The truth is that caffeine is a diuretic, which means that it can contribute to dehydration which will certainly limit an athlete’s ability to perform.