February 10, 2012 — Men’s Health reports on the dangers of energy drinks. Energy drinks are more popular than ever. Sales of these products have doubled in the last 5 years. Around 35% of men between the ages of 18 and 24 consume an energy drink regularly. As these products have increased in popularity, so has the number of emergency room visits related to side effects. Since 2005, there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of hospital visits. If you consumed an energy drink and suffered a serious side effect, you may want to contact an Energy Drink Lawyer. If you have a lawsuit, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and more.

Non-Caffeinated Energy Drinks: So you’re looking for an energy boost without the caffeine. You may decide to purchase a non-caffeinated version of 5-Hour Energy or Hydrive. By looking at the label, it may be hard to determine what you’re actually consuming. Caffeine-free products often contain B12 and B6 in massive amounts — several thousand times your recommended daily allowance (8,333% Vitamin B12, 2,000% Vitamin B6). They often also contain 100% of your recommended daily allowance of folic acid. If you take a multivitamin or eat foods fortified with folic acid (most grains and breakfast cereals in the United States), you may be getting way more folic acid than you need. Studies have shown that too much folic acid can increase your risk of colon, lung, or prostate cancer. Folic acid is one of the easiest vitamins to overdose, because the liver can only metabolize a limited amount. After the liver stops metabolizing folic acid, it circulates in the bloodstream.

Coffee-Flavored Energy Drinks: Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed energy drinks. On its own, coffee has actually been shown to have amazing health benefits — associated with a lower risk of depression, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Some energy drinks have tried to cash in on this, and you can buy coffee-flavored energy drinks like Java Monster. Even though the label may say “coffee,” beware other ingredients that may have significant side effects. Java Monster contains panax ginseng, an herbal ingredient linked to severe abdominal pain and headaches.

Energy Shots: These are the most popular energy drinks, including Red Bull and 5-Hour Energy, which are basically shots of caffeine. In 2011, people in the U.S. spent $1.3 billion on energy shots. What is the problem with energy shots? Are they dangerous? You’re probably familiar with “caffeine jitters,” a common side effect of these products, caused by over-stimulation of your central nervous system. Some studies have found that these drinks increase the risk of cardiovascular problems when taken in large amounts over long periods of time, but there are no conclusive reports. For most people, the biggest danger is probably dehydration, which can lead to heat exhaustion, and a visit to the emergency room. This happens when people consume an energy drink instead of water and then work out. This side effect may be quite common — the advertisements for 5-Hour Energy show hard-bodied athletes running up and down mountains in the wilderness after consuming the energy drink. The website advertises the products as ideal for workouts and sports, without recommending the additional consumption of water. Caffeine is a natural diuretic, which contributes to dehydration.

Non-Liquid Energy: Rockstar and Amp now come in a chewable gum with 40 milligrams of caffeine per stick, as well as artificial sweeteners and favorings or corn syrup. Each stick has the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. A person could very easily consume the caffeine in a pot of coffee while chewing the gum, or worse, overdose. Furthermore, unlike canned energy drinks, caffeine-spiked gum is easily available to children and pets, who might consumer massive amounts of caffeine accidentally.

Do I have an Energy Drink Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Energy Drink induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by energy drink side effects, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Energy Drink Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.

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