http://abcnews.go.com/Hea...d=17725137

The federal government and the New York Attorney General's office are investigating after the Food and Drug Administration received claims that the drink 5-Hour Energy may have led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past four years.

The popular energy shot – which comes in 2 oz. packages and packs a powerful caffeine punch, equal to two cups of coffee -- led the way in this new and growing energy drink segment over the past eight years. Now government officials are investigating whether the product, made by Michigan-based Living Essentials, does much more.

"If someone is to use multiple cans, now is when we start to see some of the side effects," Dr. Sean Patrick Nord, USC Director of the Section of Toxicology, told ABC News. "You're getting astronomical amounts, 30 to 40 cups of coffee."

The recent FDA filings mark the second time in a month the administration has confirmed it is investigating claims that energy drinks are causing fatal reactions. In October, Monster energy, another popular drink that contains even more caffeine, was allegedly linked to five deaths.

The manufacturers point out that these are just claims, and there is no proven link between the drinks and the deaths.

In a statement overnight, 5-hour Energy said the product is "intended for busy adults." The company says its compact product contains "about as much caffeine as a cup of the leading premium coffee."

During an interview this September, Manoj Bhargava, the founder and CEO of 5-Hour Energy, told ABC News "Nightline" that when used as directed, the caffeine in his product doesn't do any harm.

"It's overblown. When it's in small quantities … It's like this -- water is good, but if you have too much you drown," he said.

Most experts say the fatal dose of caffeine for an adult would be almost impossible to drink – actually 50 to 60 times of what is contained in an energy drink. But critics worry about children with underlying heart problems drinking them, and are warning that energy drinks may be more hazardous than coffee because of the temperature.

i'm soooooooo glad i never seriously got into energy drinks. i thought redbull was cool until one day i experienced a quirky rush in my system. then and there (after using it for about a year and a half) i gave the redbull the boot.

then one day i tasted the 5-hr energy drink out of curiousity. it tasted too nasty on my palete. naw, i'm glad i never bit that energy bullet.

[Edited 11/17/12 18:06pm]

What is up with people drinking those energy drinks obsessively is my question.

Stymie said:

How is it the 5 Hour Energy folks fault if people overindulge?

The problem is that 5 hour Energy (and all other drinks of that nature) are not required by law to say HOW MUCH caffeine is in those drinks.

So people are drinking those drinks not knowing how much of the active ingredient is in them and if a person has a history of high blood pressure, on certain meds, or has heart issues, can not know if they are over doing it on the caffeine.

If one serving (supposedly) has enough caffeine as 5 cups of coffee, and a person with a pre-existing condition drinks one drink and be at risk of heart failure, then how will they know they are over indulging?

[Edited 11/17/12 19:16pm]

I simply don't fuck wit it.

paintedlady said:

those bloody energy drinks will kill ya faster than 10 wanks in a row !

i stick with coffee. although, if i'm driving at night, red bull helps me stay awake. that's as far as i've gone down energy drink road

I used to drink these things but no more.I'll just stick with coffee from now on

Stymie said:

paintedlady said:

The problem is that 5 hour Energy (and all other drinks of that nature) are not required by law to say HOW MUCH caffeine is in those drinks.

So people are drinking those drinks not knowing how much of the active ingredient is in them and if a person has a history of high blood pressure, on certain meds, or has heart issues, can not know if they are over doing it on the caffeine.

If one serving (supposedly) has enough caffeine as 5 cups of coffee, and a person with a pre-existing condition drinks one drink and be at risk of heart failure, then how will they know they are over indulging?

[Edited 11/17/12 19:16pm]

they say in the commercial that its te same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee. People on any type of medication should consult with their doctors before drinking it. Btw, I am on enough meds to choke a horse including blood pressure meds and have never had a problem with this stuff. However my sister has heart issues and is a nurse and won't go near this stuff.

Yeah, isn't it funny how everyone's bodies can be so different? I bet now since folks are having heart attacks now the FDA wants them to label exactly how much caffeine is in those drinks.

I've never had any of these types of drinks. They scare me.

JustErin said:

I've never had any of these types of drinks. They scare me.

They scared me before I tried them. 5 Hour Energy made my face hot the first time I tried it. But essentially all it is is B vitamins and caffeine.

I don't get why people drink them at all. If you need energy, just drink some coffee or get a soda.

Stymie said:

JustErin said:

I've never had any of these types of drinks. They scare me.

They scared me before I tried them. 5 Hour Energy made my face hot the first time I tried it. But essentially all it is is B vitamins and caffeine.

I have a heart condition (electrical issue), so I'm too spooked to try them.

Just like with drugs and smoking, I'll do everything in my power to discourage my son from drinking them when he is older...but I have a feeling that by then they will probably be banned or heavily regulated in this country.

It is like the drink four loko, which was a flavored malt beverage and enegy drink. Some people drank too much and got sick or died. So they took out the energy part. But it is basicaly a flavored malt liquor.

Timmy84 said:

What is up with people drinking those energy drinks obsessively is my question.

Exactly. I don't get it.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

It is like the drink four loko, which was a flavored malt beverage and enegy drink. Some people drank too much and got sick or died. So they took out the energy part. But it is basicaly a flavored malt liquor.

Graycap23 said:

Timmy84 said:

What is up with people drinking those energy drinks obsessively is my question.

Exactly. I don't get it.

Really? It's a caffeine addiction.

JustErin said:

Graycap23 said:

Exactly. I don't get it.

Really? It's a caffeine addiction.

I don't get that either.

Graycap23 said:

JustErin said:

Really? It's a caffeine addiction.

I don't get that either.

You don't get addiction?

JustErin said:

Graycap23 said:

I don't get that either.

You don't get addiction?

Nope. Why do something that u know will lead 2 addiction? (or "could" lead 2 it?)

Glad I came across this thread. I drank a 5-Hour Energy drink recently, but didn't like the taste of it. All of the energy drinks that I have tried have tasted nasty. So I'm just going to stay away from them from now on.

Recovering Energy Drink Addict here.

I would drink at least a 500ml can of Monster every day and sometimes more a day, for probably 18 months. Went cold turkey last December after discovering that it had caused vein damage. Just last month I had a surgical procedure to prevent blood from going into that vein.

Shit is mad dangerous. I'm not fucking with 'em anymore.

Graycap23 said:

JustErin said:

You don't get addiction?

Nope. Why do something that u know will lead 2 addiction? (or "could" lead 2 it?)

Yeah addiction's no joke. That's why I only drink my caffeine in moderation.

Militant said:

Recovering Energy Drink Addict here.

I would drink at least a 500ml can of Monster every day and sometimes more a day, for probably 18 months. Went cold turkey last December after discovering that it had caused vein damage. Just last month I had a surgical procedure to prevent blood from going into that vein.

Shit is mad dangerous. I'm not fucking with 'em anymore.

Damn...

Seriously, the energy drink addiction affected me worse than smoking. I was never as addicted to cigarettes as I was to those drinks. It's the combination of sugar and caffeine I guess.

I've never had one. They scare me.

I do indulge in a Red Bull every now & then, or a Monster, when the 3:00 energy low hits.

But like ANYTHING...you set yourself up for disaster when you overindulge.

...and on that note...they had these at 7-Eleven the other day...

PurpleJedi said:

I've never had one. They scare me.

I do indulge in a Red Bull every now & then, or a Monster, when the 3:00 energy low hits.

But like ANYTHING...you set yourself up for disaster when you overindulge.

...and on that note...they had these at 7-Eleven the other day...

thoes are way different, thoes are for runners or cyclests that need fule for a long run or ride.

I think there's enough energy boosters in them to kill a horse.

Beautifulstarr123 said:

I think there's enough energy boosters in them to kill a horse.

in the jelly beans?