Energy drinks are a popular beverage on college campuses and are favored by teenagers and young adults as an alternative to coffee for getting a fast energy boost. While these drinks with their high caffeine content can be quite effective at boosting energy levels, there has been increasing concern about the effects they have on health, particularly when drunk in large quantities or mixed with alcohol, a popular trend on college campuses. Can you overdose on energy drinks?

The Caffeine Issue

The caffeine content of energy drinks can vary widely, from a low of fifty milligrams all the way up to four hundred milligrams, depending upon the brand. The energy drink with the highest caffeine content is Fixx Extreme at four-hundred milligrams. In contrast, a cup of brewed coffee averages around one-hundred twenty-five milligrams of caffeine. How much would it take to overdose on energy drinks such as Fixx Extreme? According to calculations, it would take around twenty shots of Fixx Extreme to deliver a lethal dose of caffeine to a 120 pound person. While this sounds like a lot, serious caffeine side effects could be seen at much lower doses, depending upon the individual’s susceptibility and whether or not they have high blood pressure or underlying heart disease.

Mixing Them With Alcohol

Combine the use of energy drinks with alcohol and the risk of an energy drink overdose increases. College students typically chug energy drinks with alcohol in an attempt to get a “buzz” without feeling sleepy. There are a variety of dangers to mixing energy drinks with alcoholic beverages. Not only is there an increased risk of heart rhythm problems and elevated blood pressure, but the energy drink boost may motivate the student to drink more alcohol, increasing the risk of dehydration and alcohol related side effects. The energy drink can give a false sense of invincibility when combined with alcohol, making a drinker more likely to take unnecessary risks such as driving after drinking.

It’s More Than Caffeine

In terms of the potential of overdosing on energy drinks, caffeine isn’t the full story. These drinks also contain other stimulants including taurine, ginseng, and guarana seed extract which can have additive effects, giving rise to energy drink overdose symptoms such as heart palpitations, muscle weakness, vomiting, agitation, and dizziness. When combined with caffeine, these ingredients can have even more profound stimulating effects and side effects.

The Bottom Line?

Most experts recommend that caffeine intake be limited to less than 300 mg. per day. Drinking just one serving of Fixx Extreme easily exceeds this recommendation, so it’s not hard to see how energy drink overdoses can occur. Although these drinks may provide a short-term energy boost, it’s safer to boost your energy by eating a nutritious diet and practicing a healthy lifestyle.