The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has linked energy drinks like Rockstar to serious side side effects including heart attack, stroke, convulsions, heart failure and even death.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was injured by the side effects of Rockstar energy drink, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
Update: Energy Drinks Worse for your Heart than Caffeine Alone, Study Finds
April 27, 2017 - A new study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) has linked the side effects of energy drinks to an increased risk for heart problems beyond those seen with caffeine alone. The researchers suspect that the “proprietary blend” of ingredients in commercial energy drinks may prolong caffeine’s activity in the body, prevent it from being excreted, or that these substances “may have activity of their own above and beyond caffeine.”
What’s the Problem?
If you’re a parent or teacher, or just someone who’s frequently around teenagers or young adults, you’ve probably noticed how often they consume energy drinks like Rockstar. According to the journal Pediatrics [1], roughly half of all teenagers consume these products, many of whom do so on a regular basis. Unfortunately, these young consumers may be unaware that energy drinks contain high doses of caffeine and other exotic ingredients that make them more likely to produce serious side effects compared to beverages that just contain caffeine alone.
Energy Drink Side Effects
A 2012 study published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) titled Energy Drinks: Health Risks and Toxicity [2] identified the following side effects of energy drinks, in order of most common to least common:
- Heart palpitations / tachycardia
- Tremor / shaking
- Agitation / restlessness
- Gastrointestinal (GI) upset
- Chest pain / ischaemia
- Dizziness / syncope
- Paraesthesia (tingling or numbing of the skin)
- Insomnia
- Respiratory distress
- Headache
FDA Investigates Heart Attacks, Death Linked to Energy Drinks
In October 2012, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a report on adverse events associated with Rockstar, Monster and 5-Hour Energy. The agency identified more than 140 complaints over the beverages from January 2004 to October 2012. Some of the injuries resulted in hospitalization and death.
Also read: Redline Energy Drink Suit
Rockstar Manufacturer Sued After Man Suffers Heart Attack
A man who claims he had a heart attack after drinking up to 4 Rockstar energy drinks within 6 to 8 hours has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, according to NBC News [3]. According to the suit, the Rockstar drinks consumed by plaintiff Oscar Maldonado on June 30, 2013, initially caused him to develop shortness of breath and chest pains. The symptoms grew increasingly worse over the next 3 days, after which he was told by his doctors that he was having a heart attack, according to the lawsuit.
Despite Rockstar's knowledge of the problems associated with its beverages, the manufacturers "mask and otherwise fail to alert consumers like (Maldonado) of the significant risks associated with the consumption of Rockstar energy drinks and did not provide adequate warnings of the dangers of their product to plaintiff," the complaint alleges.
Maldonado filed the suit against Rockstar Beverage Corp. in Los Angeles Superior Court on June 29, 2015. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and alleges strict product liability, negligence, fraud and breach of implied warranties.
Energy Drinks Linked to Hepatitis
November 4, 2016 - A 50-year-old man developed acute hepatitis from excessive energy drink consumption, according to a study published this week in BMJ Case Reports. The man was hospitalized for flu-like symptoms, but was alarmed when he noticed cola-colored urine and yellowing skin and eyes, both of which are signs of liver damage. A subsequent liver biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of acute hepatitis.
Energy Drinks Linked to Increased Incidence of TBI in Teen Athletes
Teens who drink energy drinks are more likely to get traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) compared to those who don't consume the beverages, a new Canadian study [4] suggests. Researchers also found that teens who reported getting a TBI within the past year were at least twice as likely to have consumed energy drinks with alcohol than teens who reported sustaining a TBI more than a year previously.
Do I Have a Rockstar 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 injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: Again, if you suffered health problems after consuming an energy drink, or a loved one died, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a class action suit and we can help.
