Think there’s no risk involved in knocking back a Red Bull or a V when you need to stay alert for a big project (or an all-night gaming session)? A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia highlights a massive rise in calls to poison information lines as a result of caffeine toxicity from energy drinks.
According to the study, there were just 12 calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre concerning the effects of energy drinks in 2004. In 2010, that number had risen to 65. While it’s still not a large absolute figure, it is a major increase. The most commonly named brands were Red Bull, V, Pulse, Mother and RockStar. Over the same period, 128 people attended a hospital emergency department to deal with symptoms from energy drinks. Palpitations were the most common symptom, followed by tremors and shaking.
The paper argues that these drinks should be more closely regulated, especially given that they now comprise around one-fifth of all beverages sold in convenience stores:
Given the clear evidence of toxicity and the growing number of hospitalisations associated with consumption of energy drinks, particularly in a vulnerable adolescent population, health authorities should increase awareness of the problem, improve package labelling and regulate caffeine content.
Quite aside from the caffeine-related health risks, energy drinks have a very high sugar content, which has all sorts of medical impacts (alongside the obvious one of making you fat).
Ever felt the need for medical attention after too many energy drinks? Share your experiences in the comments.
Vebi
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:46 AMPersonally? No. I’ve never seen anyone or met anyone who has overdosed on caffeine (though I have read of one case before). I think part of the problem is that the effect is diminished if caffeine is consumed frequently, and so those who drink drinks for “energy” feel they need more.
Mac
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:48 AMThere’re more overdoses because energy drinks’ market penetration has increased over that period. We don’t need to regulate the drink. Monitor the brain capacity of the chimps who drink so much of the stuff they need to be admitted to hosiptal. Morons will find a way to abuse anything.
qbngeek
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:46 AMThe other thing I want to kbnow is how many of these morons were also drinking Vodka and Red Bull or other alcohol mixes with the energy drinks.
I always thought it funny when colleagues told me they drank Vodka and Red Bull to keep them energised on a night out. None of thjem beleived me that drinking a stimulant and a depressant together is not going to keep you energised, it is going to get you a trip to the ED.
DingoJunior
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:02 PMAlcohol is actually a stimulant at blood alcohol concentrations up to about 0.1%. So Red Bull + Vodka can be stimulant + stimulant, up to a point. The “positive” aspects of being drunk are actually a consequence of the stimulant effects of alcohol. And I said “actuallly” too many times :)
Chris
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:37 PM*There are
Lord Crumplebottom
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:51 AMAt least it’s starting to drop, in recreational users, according to the graph.
Of course it would be far less if people weren’t so moronic about downing 4 large cans in under an hour too…
Dan Miller
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:55 AMI had a V once when they where first released and it made me very jittery. I have since never touched them. A few years back I was at a 7/11 with my niece who was 8 at the time. She wanted to buy a Red Bull and I said no. After a hour of her getting upset I told her that those drinks are not good for her. She said she only wanted it because the ad said it will give her wings.
They need to drop the “Energy” out of the title.
andyfitz
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:56 AMthis is about people who “call” with reports? not confirmed reports of liver damage or anything similarly permanent?
“tremors and shaking” can be caused by any placebo on the right moron
i’d say the only dangerous thing about energy drinks is the sugar.
Might as well be calling to report a potential case of diabetes than poisoning.
Dan Miller
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:57 AMBTW how is a story about energy drinks anyway related to someone having gatorade thrown over them? Gatorade is a hydration drink.
Danny Allen
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:21 AMFair point, image swapped.
Jim
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:10 AMI know someone who died probably indirectly due to energy drinks when she pushed herself to almost two days of sleepless review of her school lessons. Her heart just stopped on day 3
Bevan
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:46 AMCoffee or other forms of caffeine are an addiction but also a pretty common stimulant (hello everyone who works an office job!!) with little negative side effects if used sensibly/responsibly. This is a typically disproportionate media beat up completely lacking in context. How does this figure compare to the number of hospital admissions due to people being fat? Or drunk? Or innocent bistanders attacked by drunks? Or speeding cars? Negligible
Ryan
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:08 PMI know of someone that was admitted to hospital due to energy Drinks
two weeks later she was back to having half a litre can each morning as breakfast.
Honestly Energy Drinks are this generations Cigarettes.
Sarah
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 2:10 PM@Ryan “Honestly Energy Drinks are this generations Cigarettes.”
Shhhhhhhh they will start taxing caffine!
I
light487
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 2:17 PMYup, my fiancee drinks coffee like someone would take a prescribed drug. She doesn’t normally drink coffee but she will if she needs a caffeine hit or needs to stay awake. I personaly love the taste and texture of coffee, so I just drink it regularly.. but she does it for the “hit”.
Ozoneocean
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:10 PMThe symptoms and dangers are probably real, but probably due to circumstance- People will often use these drinks in conjunction with other substances, but the biggest issue would be the very reason they’re drinking them in the first place: to combat fatigue.
If you’re extremely overtired and continue to exert yourself, you’re heading for trouble anyway, you just think you’re ok because you drank your silly drink.
Kelvin
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 12:33 PMBeen there done that…. Redbull and vodka all night… next morning i had a purple face and fully red eyes from burst blood vessels… looked crazy as… red eyes lasted about 2 weeks….
ba!
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 1:50 PMMy mate had a Redbull when they first started getting popular, circa 2000. She didn’t know she was allergic to caffeine and had a fit. Unrelated, but interesting.
Kris
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 3:28 PMis it wrong that I am reading this while having a V ?
o.0
Xuchiex
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 4:41 PMNot to be that guy but most of the “Energy Drinks” have a warning on there cans with the statement more then x will cause you to have some sort of issue and not to have any if your a child or pregnant/ lactating women.
like most things in life too much of a thing will always be bad moderation should be minded when drinking this stuff not just downing 5 or 6 a day but possibly one a week
Jake
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:22 PMAbout a year ago I was diagnosed with heart problems with the main symptom being palpitations. I was drinking between 5-6 on a Saturday night at my local Internet cafe all nighter. I never drink them anymore and haven’t had a problem since.
martyfmelb
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:51 PMThe only trouble I’ve had with energy drinks is immediately after quitting smoking — one thing the “quit” campaigns don’t tell you is that nicotine increases your caffeine tolerance (and conversely, quitting decreases your caffeine tolerance). NOT fun.
Sicarius123
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 8:49 PMI work in an IT area that moved into a new building a year ago.
When we moved in, the drinks machine had one row of mother in the machine.
A year later there is almost two entire rows of mother because it sells so quickly. Some guys even go and buy their days supply first think in the morning then keep drinking warm mother all day.
Filthy.
matt
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:54 PM“According to the study, there were just 12 calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre concerning the effects of energy drinks in 2004. In 2010, that number had risen to 65.”
V Representative: “well, clearly that means there are more survivors!, in conclusion, our drinks are getting safer”
also, I swear I remember a time where are a “no more than 2 a day” warning existed… on the cans!!
Brodie
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 11:50 PMthose warnings still exist, people just abuse them.
Like anything, laws are there for a reason
thatonesensibleteen
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:04 PMstop talking about these stupid issues(yes I know I’m being a hypocrite). if some one is too stupid to understand that something is unhealthy for them, like too much caffeine or sugar, then they don’t deserver to pass on there genetics too the next generation. just leave things how they are and don’t ruin something for the people that aren’t abusing it.
chrisp
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:43 PMMy wife works in a convenience store and she despairs of seeing young kids buying can after can of this crap and roaming around the neighbourhood tweaked on the stuff. There oughta be a law. At least with the ciggies she can demand proof of age and send them packing if they don’t have it.