Too much of these stimulants and chemicals can cause dependence, dehydration, insomnia, heart palpitations and/or an increased heart rate in both children and adults. But in children, these symptoms are often even more extreme.
A: Kids often think energy drinks are comparable to pop or coffee. But the extreme caffeine content can lead to troubling symptoms including increased heart rate, nausea and vomiting, high blood pressure, tremors, dizziness and numbness.
All that caffeine, sometimes as much as 300 milligrams, can cause vomiting, seizures and serious heart problems.
Energy drinks are heavily marketed to kids, but energy drinks and kids don't mix. Some parents may not know that energy drinks can actually be harmful for kids' health. Most health professionals agree that energy drinks should be avoided among children and limited for adults.
Summary. Experts and energy drink manufacturers advise against consuming energy drinks while pregnant or breastfeeding. That's because ingredients like high levels of caffeine, herbs, and vitamins may not be safe during pregnancy and lactation.
Consuming energy drinks during pregnancy may raise a woman's risk of a stillbirth, research suggests. Stillbirths, when a baby dies after 24 weeks in the womb, affect around one in every 250 pregnancies in the UK.
Children and adolescents are at a higher risk of developing adverse effects from drinking energy drinks. These include palpitations, sleeping problems, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures.
Do under 16 year olds need to provide an ID to buy an energy drink? No, there is no legal requirement for children under 16 years old to produce ID to purchase any caffeine containing foods and beverages including energy drinks.
Due to their high sugar content and stimulants (such as caffeine), the medical community discourages parents from letting their kids consume these drinks at all.
Red Bull Energy Drink is a non-alcoholic beverage. There is no indication that Red Bull Energy Drink has any specific effect (negative or positive) related to alcohol consumption.
Your baby's body can't handle it quite as easily, and a smaller amount can affect their functioning. Whereas you may feel energized, your baby may react to caffeine by acting jittery, anxious, or irritable. Your baby might even experience colic-like symptoms.
Experts say kids should never consume energy drinks.
Too much caffeine can cause issues such as increased anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux and sleep disturbance. Too much caffeine is dangerous for kids, and in very high doses, can be toxic.
One 8.4oz Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine, so it would take 125 cans of Red Bull to overdose on the caffeine alone. That's 1,050oz of liquid; considering fatal water intoxication occurs after around 6 liters (about 202oz) in a short period of time, it seems the liquid would kill you before the caffeine, right?
While safe doses of caffeine vary by individual, current research recommends limiting caffeine to 400 mg per day or less in healthy adults ( 28 ). As one small 8.4-ounce (260-ml) can of Red Bull provides 75 mg of caffeine, drinking more than 5 cans per day could increase your risk of caffeine overdose ( 2 ).
Energy drinks contain large amounts of sugar and caffeine, both of which are stimulants and are known to be a potential trigger for seizures.
Existing research shows energy drinks have been connected to cardiovascular and neurological issues such as seizures, psychosis and cardiac arrest.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that energy drinks should be totally off-limits to kids and adolescents. A cup of cola contains about 45 milligrams of caffeine, while a cup of coffee has about twice that.
The bottom line is that children and adolescents should never consume energy drinks. And they should drink plain water during and after routine exercise, rather than sports drinks, which contain extra calories that contribute to obesity and tooth decay. Sports drinks have a limited function for pediatric athletes.
If you suspect your child may have overdosed on caffeine, you should contact your doctor immediately. Overdoses are rare but do happen. According to Poison Control, signs of a possible caffeine overdose can be mild or severe. Mild symptoms include shaky hands (jittery) and an upset stomach.
As stated on the label, Mtn Dew Energy Drinks are not recommended for children. Research shows most energy drinks are consumed by adults looking for an alternative to products like coffee. Much like coffee, Mtn Dew Energy is a beverage that is not recommended for children.
Caffeine intake may have a negative impact on male fertility, including sperm count and testicular function, especially when used in excess and when found in sugary beverages like cola and energy drinks.
For children older than twelve, caffeine intake should fall between a maximum of 85-100 milligrams (mg) per day. That's the equivalent of about two 12 oz cans of soda or one 8 oz cup of coffee. A child is at risk for caffeine overdose and caffeine toxicity if they ingest over 50 mg per pound, which is toxic.
In children ages 9 to 10 years, greater caffeine intake was associated with reductions in several measures of cognitive functioning. For most assessed cognitive functions, this negative correlation remained after controlling for variables such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, and sleep.