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Monster and many other brands make energy drinks promising people a quick boost after consumption. These energy drinks are heavily marketed and may seem harmless to most users. Unfortunately, the drinks can lead to toxic levels of caffeine in the body, which can be deadly.

Product manufacturers are supposed to make sure the items they sell are safe and they are supposed to provide warnings about potential side effects.  Unfortunately, many who consume energy drinks do not know the dangers. This is especially true as new studies suggest energy drinks may contain “masked” caffeine that is more concentrated and that may cause unexpected harm. 

Lawsuits have already been filed by the family members of those killed after consuming energy drinks. That said, anyone else who has sustained injuries or whose loved ones have lost their lives because of such drinks is encouraged to consult with Ft. Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey to understand their rights.

Energy Drinks Can Cause Death Due to Caffeine

Most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily according to the Mayo Clinic. According to Live Science, children, on the other hand, could develop caffeine toxicity once they have as little as 45 milligrams to 85 milligrams of caffeine, depending upon their weight.  These limits are daily limits, which mean that the caffeine should not be consumed all-at-once. 

Energy drinks can quickly push a child, or even an adult, over the safe limit in a single sitting.  An energy drink may have as much as 242 milligrams of caffeine in a serving according to Web MD, and some cans of energy drinks contain more than one serving. By contrast, an eight-ounce cup of coffee has just 100 milligrams of caffeine. 

Making matters worse, the Canadian Journal of Cardiology published a study this March reported on by Elsevier suggesting the caffeine in energy drinks may be of a different and more potent nature than caffeine in coffee because the caffeine is in a more concentrated form.  The caffeine in energy drinks could be up to twice as concentrated as caffeine from coffee beans and the caffeine could react with other ingredients in energy drinks.

There are serious consequences from consuming too much caffeine. Cardiac problems could develop due to an overdose, including arrhythmia. One of the most famous and tragic cases alleging problems with energy drinks was a lawsuit in which a 14-year-old died of “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity.” The 14-year-old, Anais Fournier, had consumed two energy drinks in two days before dying of cardiac arrest.  A lawsuit was filed by Fournier’s parents against Monster Energy.

WebMD reports that this death was not an isolated incident.  As far back as November of 2012, there were 40 illnesses and five deaths that FDA adverse-event reports said could be linked to Monster Energy. Additionally, there were 13 illnesses and two lasting disabilities linked to the consumption of Rockstar Energy Drinks.  FDA adverse-event reports also linked 92 illnesses and 13 fatalities to 5-Hour Energy Shots. 

The manufacturers of these and other energy drinks need to be held accountable if they are selling unsafe products and failing to provide adequate warning of the very real dangers. Personal injury attorneys in Ft. Myers can provide representation to victims who are hurt or whose loved ones are killed by energy drinks or other unsafe products. Call the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. today to discuss your case.