Published: December 12, 2024
Energy drinks, sports drinks and other beverages with high amounts of caffeine and added sugar can make kids and adults, sleepless, jittery and anxious. Increased heart rate and high blood pressure are other risks of highly caffeinated energy drinks.
Call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you think someone has been poisoned, call us right away. Do not wait for the person to look or feel sick. Do not try to treat the person yourself.
(800) 222-1222
In children and teens, the child and parent may not be aware of all that’s in an energy drink and may not realize the beverages could be the cause of sleeplessness, anxiety and other symptoms. While many of the health effects are short term, there hasn’t been any conclusive research yet on the long-term health risks for the heart and potential for developing heart disease later in life.
“Something to think about is the long-term implications, especially if a child has an underlying heart condition like arrhythmia. They’re going to be at higher risk of heart-related issues, such as an increased heart rate that can trigger an abnormal heart rhythm. That could land someone in the emergency room,” said Jennifer H. Stiff, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group.
Underlying conditions, such as seizure disorders or migraine, can make kids more sensitive to the side effects of energy drinks, according to Dr. Stiff.
In addition to large amounts of caffeine, added sugar and other additives, energy drinks often contain legal stimulants such as guarana, taurine and L-carnitine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Energy drinks can increase alertness, attention and energy, as well as blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
Energy drinks are often used by students, and it’s not uncommon to mix them with alcoholic drinks. About half of adolescents report drinking energy drinks, according to the CDC.
Adverse health effects include:
“We see a lot of kids who have trouble sleeping, and one of my first questions is, ‘How much caffeine are you having in the afternoon?’” Dr. Stiff said.
We offer convenience for your busy family.
Options for scheduling:
The caffeine makes it difficult to fall asleep and leads to hyperactivity, nausea, headaches, dizziness or poor appetite because of all the sugar and caffeine, according to Dr. Stiff. Dehydration can be a problem, because the energy drink isn’t providing proper hydration and actually is making the body work harder.
In addition, headaches, irritability or fatigue can accompany caffeine withdrawal after energy drink consumption.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescents should not consume energy drinks, and parents should avoid giving sugary drinks to all children, sticking with plain water for hydration, or milk for calcium, vitamin D, protein, vitamin A and zinc.
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA) advises energy drinks should not be used for hydration before, during or after physical activity by athletes or others. The NFSHSA also warns that athletes taking over-the-counter or prescription medicine are at increased risk for potentially fatal complications from energy drink consumption.
Examples of drinks, with their caffeine content in milligrams, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest:
Keurig K-Cup, 1 pod (makes 8 ounces): 75 to 150 milligrams