Caffeine fatalities--four case reports.
Four cases of fatal intoxications with caffeine are described. Caffeine is widely available in beverages and in different OTC-products, in many of them in combinations with other drugs like ephedrine. Caffeine is not as harmless as one might believe. An overdose of caffeine alone, intentional or not, might be deadly. It seems to be warranted to include caffeine in the drug-screening of forensic autopsy cases. It is not motivated from a medical point of view to sell pure caffeine over the counter.
Holmgren
Per
P
Department of Forensic Chemistry, National Board of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital, SE-581 85, Linköping, Sweden.
Nordén-Pettersson
Lotta
L
Ahlner
Johan
J
D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine