title: Energy drink use and adverse effects among emergency department patients.
abstract: Energy drink usage is common and contains caffeine or other stimulants. We evaluated demographics, prevalence, reasons and adverse effects with consuming energy beverages. Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of patients recruited from two San Diego Emergency Departments from January to December 2009. One-thousand-two-hundred-ninety-eight subjects participated of which 52.6% were male. Ethnicity: Caucasian 48.3%, African American 17%, Hispanic 18%, Other 16.7%. Age ranges: 18-29 years (38.4%), 30-54 years (49.6%) and greater than 55 years (12%). Reasons for use: 57% to "increase energy", 9.5% for studying/work projects, 2.4% while prolonged driving, improve sports performance 2%, with ethanol 6.3%, "other" reasons 22.1%. Adverse reactions reported by 33.5% (429) patients. Two-hundred-eighty report feeling "shaky/jittery", insomnia 136, palpitations 150, gastrointestinal upset 82, headache 68, chest pain 39, and seizures in 6. Eighty-five patients reported co-ingestion with illicit "stimulants" including cocaine and methamphetamine. We identified one-third of patients reported at least one adverse effect. Whilst most were not severe, a small number were serious e.g., seizures. In addition, some report purposely ingesting with illicit drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Section of Toxicology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, Room 1011, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. spnordt@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sean Patrick
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nordt
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Vilke
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lee Cantrell
authors.forename: Theodore C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galinato
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Castillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult