The FDA has announced that 40 illnesses and five deaths have been linked to Monster Energy, and 13 illnesses and two lasting disabilities are linked to Rockstar Energy. 5-Hour Energy shots have been linked to 92 illnesses and 13 deaths. Though these adverse-event reports (AERs) warn a product may have harmed someone, the FDA cannot remove the product until an investigation proves that the product actually caused the harm.
AERs are filed by patients, families, or doctors, but do not offer details on any underlying medical conditions that may have led to product-related illnesses. However, this could be under-reported, as many people do not know how to report AERs and a doctor might not know that the energy drink caused the harm, even if it did. According to FDA public information officer Shelly Burgess, ‘If we find a relationship between consumption of the product and harm, FDA will take appropriate action to reduce or eliminate the risk’.
Among the reported wellbeing damage people have users of 5-Hour, Monster, and Rockstar energy drinks have suffered are heart-attack, loss of consciousness and suicide-relates death, a miscarriage, convulsions, deafness, and haemorrhage, as well as hospitalisation due to irregular heartbeat, severe diarrhoea, migraine, psychotic disorder, heart attack, vomiting and disability from irregular heartbeat or stroke.
These effects could come from the high caffeine content of the drinks, as caffeine is the main active ingredient in each product alongside herbal supplements. According to Consumer Reports, 5-Hour Energy contains 215 milligrams of caffeine per serving, which rises to 242 milligrams in the Extra Strength variety. Monster Energy contains 92 milligrams, Rockstar Energy Drink, Double Strength contains 80 milligrams and the caffeine per serving of Rockstar Energy Shot is 229 milligrams.
To put that into context, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 100 milligrams of caffeine, and safe limits of caffeine are up to 400 milligrams per day for healthy adults, which are halved for pregnant women, and lowers to 45-85 milligrams per day for children, depending on weight. The reason this is cause for concern is that high doses of caffeine can result in restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, and tremors, as well as triggering seizures and an unstable heart rhythm.
Monster and Rockstar Energy are yet to respond to interview requests, but Living Essentials, the maker of 5-Hour Energy, stated that the company ‘takes reports of any potential adverse event tied to our products very seriously’. However, the company maintains that its products are safe when used as directed.