FDA Posts Adverse Event Reports Related to Energy Drinks

The FDA publicly released the adverse event reports for four energy drinks — 5-Hour Energy, Monster Energy, Rockstar Energy, and Red Bull. Thus far, 18 fatalities have been linked to the highly caffeinated energy drinks (5 to Monster Energy, 13 to 5-Hour).

Some of the symptoms mentioned in the reports include increased heart rate, fatigue, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and cardiac and respiratory arrest. A federal report also found that an energy drink was listed as a possible cause for over 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009, the New York Times reports.

The FDA says that important information may be missing from the adverse event reports, making it "difficult ... to fully evaluate" whether the energy drinks caused the injuries reported. Nevertheless, the agency advises consumers to consult a healthcare provider before using the products.