Energy Drink Hospital Visits Skyrocketing Nationwide

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The heart attack death of a 14-year-old Maryland girl allegedly caused by caffeine toxicity is an example of an alarming trend seen in hospitals around the country: children requiring emergency medical attention after consuming energy drinks. According to a Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality study, there has been more than a 1000% increase in hospital visits involving energy drinks since 2005. Side effects commonly associated with energy drinks include dizziness, irritability, nausea, nervousness, heart problems, and severe allergic reactions.

Energy Drink Update 11/15/12: Federal health regulators from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) have launched an investigation into the popular 5-Hour Energy drink after it was linked to at least 13 deaths over the past four years. According to the FDA, since 2009 there have been 90 adverse event reports (AERS) filed with the administration over 5-Hour Energy, more than 30 of which were ultimately determined to be ‘serious or life-threatening.’ Click here to learn more.

Energy Drink Lawsuit Update 10/23/12: Monster Energy Drinks have been cited in the deaths of at least five people over the past year, according to adverse event reports (AERS) submitted to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. The new AERS are being used by the parents of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who sued Monster Beverage Corp. last week, claiming their daughter died from caffeine toxicity after consuming the company’s popular energy drinks. Click here to learn more.

Free Energy Drink Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after consuming an energy drink, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of the energy drink and we can help.

What’s the problem?

Anais Fournier, who had a serious pre-existing heart condition, reportedly went into cardiac arrest after drinking two 24-ounce Monster energy drinks at the mall last December. Sadly, the 14-year-old was dead less than a week later. Fournier unknowingly consumed 480 milligrams of caffeine – the equivalent of 14 cans of Coke – and nearly five times the limit recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A spokesperson for Monster told NBC news,”we vehemently deny that drinking two cans of Monster Energy by itself can cause a death from caffeine toxicity.” The company was also quick to point out that their beverages contain less caffeine than many of the drinks sold at Starbucks and other popular coffee shops.

Since 2005, U.S. health professionals have reported a staggering 1000% increase in hospital emergency room visits involving energy drinks. In 2005, 1,128 such visits were reported. By 2008, that number jumped to 16,053, and in 2009, 13,114 ER visits involved energy drinks.

Energy Drink Side Effects

According to information gathered from a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, energy drinks are consumed by an estimated 30 to 50% of adolescents and young adults. Often containing extremely high and unregulated levels of caffeine, these beverages have been reportedly connected to serious side effects including:

• dizziness
• irritability
• nausea
• nervousness
• jitters
• allergic reactions including rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the (mouth, face, lips, or tongue), diarrhea, shakiness, trouble sleeping, vomiting
• headache
• severe fatigue from withdrawal
• breast shrinkage in females

The risk for these types of side effects is greatly increased in children, adolescents, and young adults with the following health issues:

• epilepsy
• seizures
• diabetes
• cardiac abnormalities
• mood and behavioral disorders
• users of certain prescription medications

Need More Info?

Click on the link below if you’d like additional information on this topic from Schmidt & Clark, LLP:

• Energy Drink Lawsuits

Do You Have an Energy Drink Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in energy drink lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new energy drink injury cases in all 50 states.

Free Energy Drink Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury after consuming an energy drink, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing an energy drink injury suit and we can help.