Caffeinated energy drink intoxication

Abstract

In recent years an increasing number of different energy drinks have been introduced to provide an energy boost. They contain high levels of caffeine and other additives that act as stimulants. Several recent studies present that energy drinks could increase the risk of seizures, acid-base disorders and cardiovascular events. The authors report a 28-year-old man who was brought to the emergency room after sudden onset of tonic-clonic seizures and metabolic acidosis after drinking several cans of a caffeinated energy drink. The authors believe that this clinical picture was caused by caffeine intoxication from an energetic drink causing a syndrome of catecholamine excess. The patient was discharged within a week with no complaints and no neurological signs. Finally, recognising the features of caffeine intoxication and its potential health consequences may be especially relevant when treating younger persons who may be more likely to consume energy drinks.

Risk of caffeine toxicity associated with the use of ‘legal highs’ (novel psychoactive substances)

“…There have been numerous case reports of individuals presenting to the emergency department with acute caffeine toxicity following the ingestion of similar or smaller volumes of caffeine-containing drinks [11][12][13][14][15]. Whilst there have been no published case reports of acute caffeine toxicity associated with the use of novel psychoactive substances, given the caffeine content of the products reported here, there is the risk that use of these products could result in significant acute caffeine toxicity.…”

“…There are numerous reports of acute toxicity associated with the excessive consumption of caffeine-containing drinks [11][12][13][14][15]. Based on the potential for acute toxicity related to the high caffeine content of some energy drinks, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to makers of caffeine-containing energy drinks about the potential health consequences of the high caffeine content [16].…”

Refractory ventricular fibrillation caused by caffeine intoxication

“…Caffeine intoxication has been seen in settings of suicidal attempts with taking tablets of caffeine or accidental overdose intakes of caffeine-containing health supplements or antidrowsiness drugs [1][2][3][4][5]. In symptomatic cases, however, caffeine was usually taken in combination with other drugs or alcohol or in association with significant systemic disorders involving the heart, liver, or kidney [4,6]; these settings could increase the risk of adverse effects or modify caffeine metabolism.…”

“…It is broadly believed that caffeine can exert cardiotoxicity at overdose intakes. Several reports have described cardiac arrest or acute arrhythmia in individuals with caffeine intoxication [1,2]. However, clinical observations on patients with pure caffeine intoxication have been strongly limited, hence its cardiotoxicity remains to be elucidated.…”

Ventricular Dysrhythmias Associated with Poisoning and Drug Overdose: A 10-Year Review of Statewide Poison Control Center Data from California

“…These agents are known to stimulate catecholamine release, particularly dopamine and norepinephrine [26,27]. One common source of caffeine is the caffeinated energy drinks that have been reported recently to cause toxicity [28,29]. Cocaine has been well described to be associated with cardiovascular toxicity due to both catecholamine mediated effects as well as direct sodium channel blockade [30,31].…”