Bars typically cut patrons off when they have had too much to drink. However, there is no similar monitoring system when it comes to energy drinks.
Although they may seem harmless, energy drinks are being investigated as potential causes of death. The popular 5-Hour Energy drink is under investigation for 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years.
Each two-ounce shot of 5-Hour Energy contains the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee, which is not detrimental in small amounts. However, many people do not stop at just one.
“If someone is to use multiple cans, now is when we start to see some of the side effects,” Dr. Sean Patrick Nord, USC Director of the Section of Toxicology, said in an ABC News interview. “You’re getting astronomical amounts, 30 to 40 cups of coffee.”
The sheer amount of caffeine consumed can lead to the dangerous side effect of heart racing.
The manufacturer says that the claims of energy shots being deadly are just that—claims. A link between the energy drink and the deaths has not yet been proven and, when the product is used properly, there should not be any negative side effects.
“It’s overblown,” said Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-Hour Energy. “When it’s in small quantities … It’s like this — water is good, but if you have too much you drown.”
5-Hour Energy is not the only energy drink being investigated for its potential deadly side effects. In October 2012, Monster energy drinks were cited as potential factors in five deaths.
Monster contains even more caffeine than 5-Hour Energy.
A 2012 lawsuit against Monster referred to autopsy and medical examiner reports saying that a teenaged girl died of “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity” that had intensified an existing cardiac problem.
Although not every case ended in death, those who consumed the drinks mentioned other side effects, including abdominal pain, vomiting, tremors and abnormal heart rate.
Links between the cases have yet to be proven, but the companies caution against excessive consumption of the beverage, consumption by young teenagers and by those who already have pre-existing heart conditions.
