Texas Energy Drink Lawyer

Energy drinks have been linked to heart palpitations, high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and death. Some of the most popular products include 5-Hour Energy, Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster, Amp, and more. Hospitalizations related to energy drinks has increased 10-fold between 2005 and 2009, with more than 13,000 incidents in 2009.

Do I Have an Energy Drink Lawsuit? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one has been injured after consuming an energy drink, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing an Energy Drink lawsuit.

UPDATE

January 4, 2013 – Monster Energy Drink is facing multiple class action lawsuits in California. Click here to read more.

November 29, 2012 – FDA concerned about energy drink risks in pregnant women and children, seeks outside expert advice. Click here to read more.

November 19, 2012 – The FDA confirms that Red Bull Energy Drinks are associated with 21 adverse event reports, including 10 reports involving hospitalization or serious, life-threatening injuries. Click here to read more.

November 15, 2012 – The New York Times is reporting that 5 Hour Energy has been linked to 13 deaths in the last 4 years. Click here to read more.

October 25, 2012 – Study finds that most popular energy drinks either do not list caffeine content or contain a different amount of caffeine than is on the label. Click here to read more.

October 22, 2012 – The family of Anais Fornier, the 14 year-old girl who died after drinking two Monster Energy drinks, has filed a lawsuit against the beverage company in California Superior Court in Riverside. According to the lawsuit, Fournier died Dec. 23, 2011, from “caffeine toxicity.” The family alleges that six deaths and 15 hospitalizations have been associated with Monster Energy since 2009. Click here to read more.

August 15, 2012 – Monster Energy Corp. has announced that they are under investigation from an unnamed state attorney general, following the death of a 14 year-old girl. The girl consumed two 24-ounce Monster energy drinks in quick succession, and suffered a fatal irregular heartbeat.

Energy Drinks Linked to Cardiovascular Problems

February 13, 2012 — The journal Pediatrics published a study that found a link between the use of energy drinks and many serious side effects, especially in children. Some of the most serious side effects include heart palpitations, high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and death. In the analysis, the researchers also found that some children may be more likely to suffer side effects than others. The children who take medications, suffer from chronic illnesses, have heart conditions, mood disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or diabetes may all have a higher risk of serious side effects caused by energy drinks.

Energy Drink Overview

Due to massive advertising, you’ve probably heard of the most popular energy drinks: Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, Monster, Rockstar, and more. The most potent, active drug in these drinks is caffeine, a mild stimulant drug. Caffeine itself is well-studied, and is relatively safe. The most common side effect is “caffeine jitters,” which are relatively minor. Caffeine stimulates a person’s metabolism, and large amounts of it can increase blood pressure and heart-rate. It is also a diuretic.

Much of the advertising for energy drinks depicts hard-bodied athletes working out, climbing mountains, biking, and more, apparently after consuming the energy drinks in the advertisements. The website for 5-Hour Energy markets the product to people who work out and play sports.

These advertisements do not warn people to also consume water in addition to the energy drink, even though the diuretic effect of caffeine can contribute to dehydration, and the advertising shows athletes in the wilderness performing high-intensity workouts.

Energy drinks and sports might not be a good combination, especially without enough water. Exercise causes increased blood pressure and heart rate. Energy drinks could cause further increases that might be dangerous in some individuals, leading to heart problems during exercise.

Energy Shots

The most popular energy shots are 5-Hour Energy, Red Bull, and more. 5-Hour Energy has cornered 75% of the 2-3 ounce energy shot market. Though each product has a different cocktail of stimulants, the most common ingredients are caffeine, B-vitamins, taurine (amino acids from animal sources), artificial flavoring, coloring, and sweeteners. They are marketed toward athletes and people who “get that 2:30 feeling” while on the job. They are also commonly used as mixers for alcohol at bars and clubs.

How much caffeine is in an energy shot? Because the manufacturers are not required to list the amount of caffeine on the label, a consumer really has no idea how much caffeine (or any other ingredient) is in the drink. The makers of 5-Hour Energy claim the amount of caffeine is comparable to a cup of coffee. A strong cup of coffee can contain 180-mg of caffeine. Experts warn that people should limit their daily caffeine intake to 200 or 300 milligrams each day.

People who drink an energy shot instead of water and participate in a high-intensity physical exercise are at risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and hospitalization. What about people who don’t work out? 5-Hour Energy is commonly used by people on the job. You might be concerned about folic acid. Many energy drinks contain 100% of your daily recommended amount of folic acid. Though your body needs some folic acid, it is very easy to consume too much. Because deficiencies in folic acid can cause birth defects, the substance is added to fortified grains and breakfast cereals. Eat a bowl of cereal and an energy shot, and suddenly you have too much folic acid. Unfortunately, the liver can only handle so much. After the liver stops metabolizing folic acid, the rest floats around in your bloodstream. This may be wy studies have shown that too much folic acid can increase your risk of colon, lung, or prostate cancer.

Non-Caffeinated Energy Drinks

For people who don’t want caffeine, there are non-caffeinated energy drinks (5-Hour Energy and a drink called Hydrive have non-caffeinated versions). These products often have a lot of sugar and B-vitamins. The link between B-vitamins and energy is misunderstood by most people. 5-Hour Energy contains thousands of times your recommended daily dose of B-vitamins (8,333% of B12, and 2,000% of B6). Unlike caffeine, B-vitamins are not stimulant drugs. Though the body needs some B-vitamins to extract energy from food, it only needs a small amount. The rest is excreted. Most of the energy from non-caffeinated energy drinks comes from sugar.

Coffee-Flavored Energy Drinks

Coffee is one of the best-known, widely-used energy drink in the world. There have been many scientific studies of caffeine, with several finding that the drink actually has health benefits — lower risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. Some canned energy drinks have tried to hop on the coffee band-wagon by including “coffee” on their labels, and adding artificial coffee flavorings. Java Monster is an example. People who consume these beverages should watch out for other ingredients — like panax ginseng, which can cause headaches and abdominal pain.

Non-Liquid Energy

For people who want to chew their caffeine instead of drinking it, the manufacturers of Rockstar and Amp now sell caffeine-spiked chewing gum. Each stick contains about 40 milligrams of caffeine, which is comparable to a cup of coffee. Like any candy, it is easy to over-indulge. If you eat a few sticks of this gum, however, you may suddenly find that you have eaten as much caffeine in a pot of coffee. Caffeine candy could also appeal to children, who might accidentally eat a lot of the gum and suffer side effects.

Energy Drink Side Effects

Side effects of energy drinks may include:

• Caffeine Jitters
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Cardiovascular problems
• Dehydration, leading to heat exhaustion
• And more

Do I have an Energy Drink Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $60 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact us for a free Energy Drink lawsuit review.

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