Caffeine Overdose: Facts and Fiction
How common is caffeine overdose?
With the plethora of caffeinated products in the market place, one could assume that overdosing on caffeine would be becoming quite common.
I think with most subjects there is truth and then there are half truths, here say, urban legends, media hype, and even down right lies. Caffeine overdose is no exception. Let’s take an honest look at the subject and try to put all of the information into perspective.
Caffeine Overdose Documented Cases
Caffeine overdose does happen and has been documented. Here are some of the cases easily found on Google;
- 19 year old James Stone dies after taking 25 to 30 No Doz pills in 2007. (at least 2.5 grams of caffeine)
- 40 Seagulls die from caffeine overdose in Canada this year from eating used coffee grinds. (ok, that one is just funny, sorry)
- 17 year old Jasmine Willis, a Durham, UK waitress overdosed by drinking 7 double espressos in 2007. She was taken to the hospital, but recovered soon after. (that’s roughly 1.078 grams)
- In the late 1990’s an Australian women, with a heart condition died after consuming a guarana based shot from her local health food store. This product is no longer on the market. (10g/liter, ok that’s just nuts!)
I’m sure there are more cases, but they certainly aren’t on the first few pages of Google and I think we get the idea.
Caffeine Overdose Facts
Luckily for us, we have mechanisms built into the human body that let us know we’ve had enough of something. This is true with caffeine overdose. Well before we are at a toxic level we experience side effects that prevent us from consuming more, ie. nausea. Well before the 149 or so cans of Red Bull that it would take to kill an average adult male, vomiting would most certainly happen. For me at about can number 5!
In the overdose cases above we can see that what caused the deaths were extremely poor judgment, or an underlying medical condition. As for the girl, her body clearly let her know before she reached the toxic level. The seagulls were just being pigs and the world is fine with a few less.
Caffeine containing beverages are 2nd behind water as the most consumed drinks, so if caffeine overdose was really that common or easy we would have a load of statistics on our hands because of the billions of people who use the drug everyday. The fact is we don’t and the stats we do have on caffeine overdose are few and far between. In fact about 2800 people die a year from choking in the USA alone from eating normal healthy foods. We don’t see the media hyping this up and legislators calling for the ban of solid food.
Conclusions
Instead of banning products and protest, the best caffeine overdose prevention is education. That is part of our mission here at Energy Fiend, to educate the consumer about caffeine and help the consumer to be aware of the caffeine content of products. This way the irrational fear of caffeine overdose that seems to be fed and hyped by the media will be put to rest.
16 Comments
Thank you so much for having common sense. At least someone else knows that education is the best prevention!
Also I love this site!
Here’s a fun website too:
http://camy.org/factsheets/index.php?FactsheetID=7
9 teenagers die an alcohol-related death per DAY. We probably don’t even known of 9 caffeine-related teenage deaths TOTAL
I drink an energy drink a day some times 2
Unless you’re allergic to caffeine, or chugging 2 Redline, the chances of you dying from that is pretty much 0%. Most energy drinks don’t have much over 180 mg., so 2 is nearly harmless. Most packages only warn you after 3. The most I’ve had in like an 8 hour period is 2 cocaines and 2 monsters, that’s 880 mg. but I only had one at a time with probably 1 and a half to 2 hours between. I was fine, I was laughing hysterically while playing Still Alive on Rock Band though.
[...] A little common sense to quell the media frenzy [...]
Yeah, I useally drink 1 to 2 drinks a day always looking for the next “high”. My usual course consists of about 3 8oz Red Bulls, a Rockstar 24oz and a Monster 16oz. Sometimes I’ll throw in a can of Cocaine instead of the bulls. Been doing this for years and the Redlines aren’t too bad. Somedays I drink a whole one in one sitting then I’m falling asleep an hour or two later feeling like a trainwreck 
According to GNC the most “daily” recommended amount of caffeine a day is 700mg. Everyday for a month and then take a little break but then you crash 
I drink so much Pepsi…I Love it!
Products like “Blow” and “Energy Shots” are seriously dangerous. I’m currently writing a report on “energy drinks” for university, and some of the information I have found is really quite disturbing. Did you know that “energy drinks” are only sold in drug stores in Norway? And France and Denmark have banned the drinks altogether? Keep in mind, this information is sourced from academic journals, and not from Wikipedia (like this site).
In 2006 as many as 500 new energy drinks were introduced worldwide, and this number is growing rapidly. The energy drink industry is extremely lucrative, and competing companies are blatantly ignoring the serious health issues relating to energy drinks, just so they can get a slice of the profits.
I don’t mind the odd Red Bull now and again, but when products which have seriously high levels of caffeine, and are so concentrated, are available to “teens”, some serious action needs to be taken by the government. It’s only a matter of time until a child manages to get hold of some “energy shots” and dies. And please don’t give me the pathetic argument that “the child should know better” or “it’s their own fault”. The blame should, and will, rest solely on the producers.
Some of the arguments posted on this site, such as “lighten up” and “don’t take these sorts of things so seriously” are void of any cognitive process whatsoever. I actually feel sorry for some of you people, because you’re so bild to the real issues in the world.
I personally hope that the government acts swiftly and passes legistation to finally bring these products into line.
Mike why don’t you gather all the documented evidence and research that shows they are so dangerous and then why not compare that to the impact alcohol has on society, health, and kids….Not even in the same ball park my friend. However there is no out cry from any of those countries to ban alcohol is there? How many kids have overdosed on alcohol and died? so as far as real issues are concerned, I agree, energy drinks just doesn’t happen to be one. Why not put your energies into ending poverty, abuse, drug addiction, family violence, disease, smoking etc. They are the real issues not some kids having a bit too much caffeine.
Thanks for your reply Ted; however, I disagree with your logic. I believe this issue has a greater knock-on effect than most people realize. As to your statement regarding alcohol and its affects on teens and health, you only have to look in most bottle shops to see the increasing number of alcoholic energy drinks available, with their attractive packaging and links to extreme sports; it’s becoming hard to distinguish between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Children are being groomed from young ages by large corporations to consume these drinks. Don’t you think this is fueling alcoholism in society (especially teen binge drinking)?
Another point for you to ponder. Since the introduction of “Red Bull and Vodka” in almost every bar around the world, people are drinking themselves into a state of “wide-awake inebriation”, where he or she believes they can operate a vehicle, or do other activities that require absolute concentration, because they are wide awake. Is this not a serious issue? Red Bull claim not to endorse the mixing of alcohol with their product, however, their action speak differently, e.g. promotions in bars.
Alcohol has been around since 9000BC, so there’s plenty of evidence regarding its effects. However, energy drinks have only been around for about 20 years, and the demand has only recently increased in the last few years. Ergo, the documented evidence is limited but still strong. Does this mean we should discount it?
I agree that there are issues in the world which are obviously more serious than this, but I believe it’s an issue that should be addressed before it spirals out of control. How far will these producers and marketers push the envelope? Also, if you didn’t already know, caffeine is a drug, and people suffer withdrawal symptoms after consuming excessive quantities.
I plan to put my time and energy into greater causes (human rights) once I finish my law degree Ted; but I have to study for the time being, and this issue is my focus at the moment. Also, poverty and smoking will never end; don’t be so naive.
I await your reply.
Sincerely,
Mike
Mike, thanks for all your insightful input. Rarely do we get commentary that’s as well thought out and produced as yours. From my point of view, though, your decision to toss around mentions of law school and “greater causes” do not lend your points one bit of credence. Not one, so knock it off it’s embarrassing.
Why did I attack that angle of undermining the integrity of your stance? Because one of your greatest thesis points here seems to be our lack proper information sourcing. You’re accusing us of leaning on transparent terminology like “lighten up” as our primary weaponry. Of making claims from shady information sources. My first request, then, is that you yourself back your self up. You’re making the claims after all making that your duty, AND you’re writing a paper. Those still require proper sourcing, no?
The most important point I want to make, though, is that you’re placing energy drinks and caffeine into the same category. This is odd, because educated opponents of energy drinks realize that caffeine is also found in coffee, and to make a direct stance against energy drinks they must attack the energy drink ingredients that coffee does not have.
This is always fun, because at that point all arguments fall apart. Why? There is NOT ONE body of scientific evidence indicating that energy drinks are more harmful than coffee. Caffeine is the source of the blame game here, and coffee has it in higher concentrations than nearly every energy drink out there.
So why aren’t you attacking Star Bucks? Because their packaging doesn’t come in satanic colors that dupe children into killing themselves? That’s a joke. At least energy drink companies make efforts to put warning labels on their containers. It’s my stance that energy drink vendors are responsible for not heading the risks of the products they sell. You say it’s always the producer who’s responsible for their products problems once in the hands of a free consumer? That’s a downright silly statement. Seriously, ask yourself where our economy would be today if we always blamed product manufacturers for the improper use of their products. Car makers would be out of business, dog breeders would be put in jail, it’d be a beautiful world.
Your point about alcoholic energy drinks grooming children into alcoholism is not even worth my time. You’re reaching way too far.
Seriously, the biggest task I ask of you is to give me scientific evidence of how energy drinks are more harmful than coffee. You do that and I will step down. All I ask of is hard correlation data, really of any kind. If you keep going on about everything else and tainting it with “greater cause” crap then I’m done. Just go join Green Peace if that’s all you’re here to argue.
I await your reply.
Sincerely,
Dusty
…and that’s why I friggin love Dusty. =)
Here is what I believe to be a good
lifestyle and a normal environment in
which an adult(probably over 30) can
keep energy drinks and enjoy them in
a reasonable manner.
A place or a home where there is a moderate
level of health standards, heat and air
conditioning, a relatively safe haven for a neighborhood to live in.
Diet should consist of 2 or 3 meals a day
(not junk food), a variety of liquids like
water and juice. Supplements is a plus.
Drinking a mixture of energy drinks and
light spirits such as vodka sounds like
something a very stable person with
military history might do. I don’t know
why but it sounds like risk-taking on
one or more levels, one social.
Energy drinks are a great media football,
and on the internet at least it sounds
like a new game for the in-health crowd.
Using common sense is the highest precept,
but being as the drinks are new means
going somewhere for straight answers.
Thanks David, all very well put!
I wrote this a couple years ago in response to a flailing dramatic “OMG U guise, dun drink energy drinks!!!! They’ll keeel uuuuuu! My friend drank 1 and she totally amost died!!!!” type post on a forum I post on. This is my opinion of death by energy drinks.
Ok so I avoided heatbeatpleasure.com for the last few days as the flame war that seemed to be getting ready to happen was just stressing me out. So I come back and the thread as been locked, so I’m going to post this here.
If it was my friend who ODed on caffeine I’d call him/her a moron. Because that’s what they would be. Ok I’m trying to stay calm here but, like I ranted in a previous post, there are thousands of brands of energy drinks, each with different levels of caffeine, taurine, guarana, and other things.
If it was my friend after calling her an idiot I’d ask how much caffeine was in the drink(s), how much caffeine she normally has a day, if she drank it on a empty stomach, and other question to try to drill it into her head that energy drinks are not evil, but if you’re stupid with them you can get sick.
For instance. Are you a one cup of coffee in the morning person, or do you drink a whole pot? Do you drink it weak, normal, strong, or so strong you could remove paint with it? Do you drink soda? Are you a Coca-Cola person?( 34.5mg per 12oz can) or a Pepsi One person? (55mg per 12oz can)
Try adding up how much caffeine you have over the course of a normal day. Now how much caffeine is in that energy drink? If it’s more then you drink over a whole day then YES it’s a pretty good bet you will get sick if you drink it. If you normally over the course of a whole day have like 200mg of caffeine then buy and drink within a short amount of time(ie anything other then the course of a whole day) something like Rockstar Zero Carb which has 240mg of caffeine per 16 ounces, then you’re going to get very sick.
If you drink coffee, soda, energy drinks, anything with a lot of caffeine in it on a empty stomach you’re going to get sick. End of story. Even someone who has 1000mg of caffeine a day with no ill affects will get sick if they have it on a empty stomach.
My point over this whole thing is moderation! If you want to play with caffeine to make your heart fast, great. But do it intelligently. Start with small doses and add a little more more till you get the affect you want. Don’t do for multiple drinks unless you have a lot of experience with it and know how it will affect you. And if you do get sick, don’t go whining that energy drink are evil just because you can’t control your self and/or happen to be one of those people who can’t handle energy drinks.
wow. I’m probly gonna die soon…I’m not even 16 yet!