Energy Drinks

“Energy Drinks” have become very popular and can be found in most convenience stores, vending machines, and grocery stores. Some of the common brands of energy drinks and energy supplements include Red Bull®, Alani Nu®, Monster®, Rockstar®, Five Hour Energy®, Celsius®, and others. You may be wondering if these drinks actually give you energy, how they work, and if they are safe to drink.

How do energy drinks work?

Energy drinks have several ingredients that can give you a short term surge of energy. Caffeine is one of these ingredients. Caffeine is a stimulant, which means that it works by exciting your nervous system. The amount of caffeine in an 8–ounce can of an energy drink is about the same as that is in 5 ounces of coffee (about half of a small coffee). However, the standard size can of an energy drink is about 12 ounces, so you may be taking in more caffeine than you realize. Along with caffeine, other common ingredients in energy drinks include added amino acids, herbs, vitamins, and high amounts of added sugar, which claim to make you feel more awake and “energized.”

The amount of added sugar in some energy drinks is about the same amount as in soda. The sugar might give you a burst of energy (on top of the caffeine), but when it wears off, you may have a sugar “crash” and become tired all over again. Eating or drinking too much added sugar can also cause cavities and issues with blood sugar regulation.

Why are herbs added to energy drinks?

The manufacturers of energy drinks claim that added herbs such as ginseng, guarana (gwahr-uh-nah), yerba mate (yer-bah mah-te), cocoa, kola nut, or yohimbine help to boost the energizing quality of their beverages. The problem with taking herbs or other supplements either in pill form or in energy drinks is that they are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, there’s no guarantee that the herbs are actually what they say they are, or that they do what they claim. Herbs such as ginseng, guarana, or yohimbine can even have harmful side effects such as elevated (fast) heart rate, stomach upset, headache, and insomnia.

Are the vitamins and amino acids in energy drinks good for me?

Many vitamins and minerals are added to energy drinks. If you’re eating a well-balanced diet, you’re probably already getting enough vitamins and minerals for your body. However, if your diet is not quite “balanced,” a multivitamin supplement is a much safer way to get in your extra vitamins.

Energy drinks are also known for having additional ingredients such as added amino acids or other substances. You might see them listed on a label as taurine (tawr-in), glutamine (gloo-tuh-meen), arginine (ahr-juh-neen), and L-carnitine. While amino acids are needed by the body to serve as the building blocks of protein, if you’re eating a well-balanced diet, you don’t need these additional amino acids.

Are energy drinks recommended for teens?

No. Energy drinks usually contain some mix of caffeine, added substances that act like stimulants, and excess sugar. Energy drinks are often marketed to teens with claims that they boost energy, decrease fatigue, and increase concentration. These claims mislead many teens and adults into thinking energy drinks are beneficial for attention and sports performance. Don’t be fooled by the marketing claims! These drinks are unsafe for teens, as the consumption of large amounts of caffeine have led to thousands of emergency room visits and in a few extreme cases, even death. Energy drinks can also cause allergic reactions and negatively interact with prescription medications. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend that children and teens avoid them. Some lawmakers are even attempting to ban the marketing and sale of energy drinks to children and teens.

What can happen if I have too much caffeine?

Caffeine may be the most commonly consumed stimulant, but excess consumption has been associated with harmful effects in teens. If you have too much caffeine, you may experience side effects such as jitteriness, dizziness, nervousness, insomnia (trouble sleeping), vomiting, and upset stomach. Caffeine is also a diuretic, which means it makes you need to pee more often. This can lead to dehydration, which can cause headaches, dizziness and tiredness. When you have caffeine regularly, your body can build up a tolerance to (get used to) caffeine. This means you’ll need more caffeine to experience the same stimulant effect. Also, if you suddenly stop drinking caffeine you may get headaches and become cranky or tired for a few days. It can be hard to know how much caffeine you are consuming because there is no requirement for companies to state the amount of caffeine in a beverage.

Should I use energy drinks while I’m exercising?

No. Energy drinks should be avoided before, during, and after exercise. The caffeine and added sugar in energy drinks can make you more dehydrated and raise your heart rate, which can be unsafe, and negatively affect your performance.

What’s the difference between sports drinks and energy drinks?

Sports drinks include carbohydrates, electrolytes, and often vitamins and minerals. They’re made for rehydration during and after intense physical activity to replace nutrients lost when you sweat. Sports drinks only need to be utilized after long periods of endurance activities – in most instances water is the best choice to refuel with during and after being physically active. They do not usually contain caffeine, and are safe to consume in moderate amounts.

Is it safe to combine energy drinks with alcohol?

No. Combining energy drinks with alcohol can be dangerous. Alcohol is a depressant, while the energy drink is a stimulant. When you have the two together, you may not realize how much alcohol you drank and how impaired you really are. Dehydration may also be worse because you’ll have to urinate more often due to the combined effect of the alcohol and caffeine in the energy drink.

So what’s the bottom line with energy drinks?

Skip them. While energy drinks may give you a rush of energy when you first drink them, in the long run, they usually end up making you more tired and may result in harmful effects. There are plenty of other beverages to enjoy. If you feel that you need some instant energy, try having a piece of fruit and a glass of water or eating a snack; you may be surprised that the effects are similar!

Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.