Energy
Drinks
What
is
an
energy
drink?
Energy
drinks
are
beverages
that
are
marketed
to
enhance
performance
and
boost
energy.
These
usually
contain
various
quantities
of
sugar,
caffeine,
guarana,
taurine,
ginseng
and
other
proprietary
ingredients.
Energy
drinks
can
be
purchased
at
grocery
stores,
convenience
stores
and
gas
stations.
What
is
the
difference
between
energy
drinks
and
sports
drinks?
Energy
drinks
contain
stimulants,
primarily
caffeine,
which
is
perceived
to
give
a
temporary
boost
in
performance.
Sport
drinks
are
fluids
used
for
hydration
during
strenuous
activity.
They
contain
no
stimulants,
and
primarily
contain
carbohydrates
(sugar)
and
electrolytes
(salt,
potassium
for
example)
to
replace
those
lost
and
used
during
exercise.
What
age
group
generally
consumes
these
energy
drinks?
Energy
drinks
are
very
popular
among
youth
and
are
regularly
consumed
by
31%
of
12-‐
to
17-‐year-‐olds
and
34%
of
18-‐
to
24-‐year-‐olds.
What
are
some
of
the
ingredients
found
in
energy
drinks?
The
main
ingredient
of
importance
in
an
energy
drink
is
usually
caffeine.
Caffeine
is
a
CNS
(central
nervous
system)
stimulant,
and
also
has
the
ability
to
increase
heart
rate
and
blood
pressure.
While
the
caffeine
concentration
in
an
8-‐
to
12-‐oz.
bottle
is
about
72
to
150
mg,
the
University
of
California
Davis
reports
that
larger-‐size
bottles
may
contain
as
much
as
294
mg.
In
comparison,
Pepsi
Cola
has
38
mg
of
caffeine
per
12-‐oz
serving
and
coffee
can
have
between
140-‐200
mg
per
8-‐
to
12-‐
oz.
Other
ingredients
may
include
guarana,
green
tea
extract
and
yerba
mate,
all
of
which
contain
caffeine.
Other
possible
ingredients
include
ginseng,
a
mild
stimulant,
taurine
(an
amino
acid
that
also
is
promoted
for
stimulant
effects),
and
other
vitamins
and
antioxidants.
How
can
these
energy
drinks
be
dangerous?
Energy
Drinks
can
be
dangerous
in
a
variety
of
ways
-‐ Dental
decay
-‐
A
study
published
in
the
journal
General
Dentistry
revealed
that
high
glucose
(sugar)
found
in
energy
drinks
has
the
potential
to
erode
tooth
enamel
more
than
other
drinks,
including
sodas,
sports
drinks
and
root
beer.
-‐ Energy
highs
and
crashes
-‐
In
a
study
that
investigated
the
energy
drink
consumption
by
college
students,
29
percent
reported
experiencing
weekly
highs
and
crash
episodes
(decreased
energy).
People
who
use
energy
drinks,
especially
teenagers,
report
poor
sleep
and
increased
inattention
throughout
the
following
day.
-‐ Headaches
and
heart
palpitations
-‐
In
the
same
college
study,
22
percent
reported
having
headaches,
and
19
percent
had
palpitations
(racing
heart)
related
to
drinking
the
energy
drinks.
-‐ Dehydration/exercise
related
injuries
–
When
energy
drinks
are
used
to
the
exclusion
of
water
or
a
sport
drink
during
vigorous
exercise
this
may
result
in
dehydration,
weakness
and
fainting.
Decreased
sweating
may
also
increase
the
risk
of
a
dangerous
increase
in
body
temperature
(hyperthermia).
Caffeine
in
these
products
may
impair
the
kidney’s
ability
to
conserve
fluids
therefore
urinating
out
high
amounts
of
water,
contributing
to
dehydration.
Complications
of
dehydration
and
hyperthermia
include
renal
failure,
muscle
breakdown
and
heat
stroke.
-‐ Increased
risk
taking
and
higher
risk
of
injury
–
Researchers
found
that
if
someone
drinks
six
or
more
energy
drinks
a
month,
they
have
a
three
times
greater
risk
of
smoking
cigarettes,
abusing
prescription
drugs,
or
engaging
in
a
serious
physical
fight.
They
are
also
twice
as
likely
to
abuse
alcohol
and
smoke
marijuana
compared
to
people
who
don't
drink
energy
drinks.
Why
are
energy
drinks
so
dangerous
when
mixed
with
alcohol?
When
alcoholic
beverages
are
mixed
with
energy
drinks,
a
popular
practice
among
youth,
the
caffeine
in
these
drinks
can
mask
the
depressant
effects
of
alcohol.
By
masking
the
sedating
effects
of
alcohol,
the
co-‐ingestion
of
an
energy
drink
may
result
in
increased
alcohol
consumption
and
increase
the
risk
alcohol
related
complications
and
trauma.
In
fact,
users
of
energy
drinks
mixed
with
alcohol
often
report
feeling
less
drunk
and
better
able
to
perform
complex
tasks,
like
driving.
These
people
fail
sobriety
tests
just
as
often
as
someone
drinking
alcohol
alone,
demonstrating
that
energy
drinks
are
not
a
cure
or
a
fix
for
the
impairment
in
coordination,
alertness,
attention
and
judgment
caused
by
alcohol.
A
person
may
feel
less
drunk
but
they
are
every
bit
as
impaired.
Drinkers
who
consume
alcohol
mixed
with
energy
drinks
are
3
times
more
likely
to
binge
drink
(based
on
breath
alcohol
levels)
and
are
also
3
times
more
likely
to
be
taken
advantage
of
sexually
than
those
who
do
not
consume
energy
drinks
with
alcohol.
Caffeine
has
no
effect
on
the
metabolism
of
alcohol
by
the
liver
and
thus
does
not
reduce
breathe-‐
alcohol
concentrations
or
reduce
the
risk
of
alcohol-‐attributable
harms.
Do
energy
drinks
actually
enhance
performance?
It
is
thought
that
any
increase
in
attention
is
attributed
to
caffeine
only.
Any
benefit
beyond
that
of
simple
caffeine
has
not
been
proven.
What
are
some
of
the
symptoms
that
I
should
be
concerned
about?
Headache,
chest
pain,
weakness,
anxiety,
racing
thoughts,
lightheadedness,
fainting,
tremors
and
seizure
are
all
worrisome
symptoms
after
the
use
of
these
products.
Although
use
of
an
energy
drink
when
mixed
with
alcohol
may
make
an
individual
feel
less
intoxicated
they
are
still
impaired.
What
should
I
do
if
I
have
these
symptoms?
If
you
or
anyone
else
has
any
of
the
above
symptoms,
or
otherwise
feels
ill
after
the
use
of
one
of
these
products,
they
should
discontinue
use
and
seek
further
evaluation
through
their
primary
care
provider
or
local
hospital
emergency
department.
Your
local
poison
control
center
can
also
assist
should
you
feel
ill
from
the
use
of
these
products.
Created
by
Ross
Sullivan,
M.D.
on
behalf
of
the
American
College
of
Medical
Toxicology
