Some Doctors Want Regulations On Energy Drinks

By: Carrie Davis | News Channel 7
Published: October 22, 2008

You probably know the names by heart. Red Bull, Full Throttle or maybe Amp. All energy drinks promising to give you that extra boost of energy throughout the day, but now some doctors are claiming they could also give you caffeine intoxication.

Dr. Mark Godenick, a family physician with Spartanburg Regional Medical Center says, "That's when you get more caffeine than what your body is used to."

He says in some cases it has even sent people to the emergency room.

"Feeling real jittery, palpitations, sweaty, you may have to use the restroom diarrhea."

Currently if you look at the cans, the caffeine content is no where to be found and that's where people get in trouble because they don't know how much they are drinking.

Dr. Godenick says, "The recommended daily allowance is 400 milligrams of caffeine.
Usually they are between 80 which is like a Red Bull or an Amp up to 500 which is one called Fix."

Drink makers should post the amount on the can that is according to nearly one hundred doctors and scientist that are petitioning the Food and Drug Administration for regulations.

00:04:27 It might be of danger if you aren't used to drinking anything and all of the sudden you could drink a fix and have caffinism or caffeine intoxication.

Especially for young people who the caffeine packed drinks are marketed towards.

Dr. Godenick says, "I think physicians would look at it as a drug. It is in drugs."

Dr. Godenick says until there is some type of regulation on these drinks parents need to be aware of what their children are consuming because what was intended to boost their adrenaline could actually send them to the hospital.
The doctors petitioning the FDA also say they worry about people drinking energy drinks with alcohol because it can make you think you are less intoxicated than you really are.
If you would like to find out the caffeine content of a particular drink the American Beverage Association says most drink companies have it on their website or they will have a 1-800 number for you to call.