How Much is Too Much Caffeine?

The hype over too much caffeine is based partly on what happened last year to a Maryland teen.  Wendy Crossland believes it was the consumption of too much caffeine in an energy drink that killed her daughter.  In a lawsuit she claims after her 14 year old daughter drank two, 24 ounces cans of Monster Energy she slipped into a coma and died.

Dr. Jess Oren, a cardiologist at Geisinger in Danville did not treat the 14 year old, but says too much caffeine can have detrimental affects on a persons heart, "In ordinary amounts caffeine usually doesn't cause any problems but when you get into excessive amounts over a short period of time, that's when patients can get into trouble."

Dr. Oren says he tells his patients it's safe to drink 200-300 milligrams of caffeine in a day as long as you're not mixing it with medication, alcohol or an underlying heart issue.  One can of Monster Energy contains 240 milligrams of caffeine but finding that number can be tough because energy drink aren't required to post caffeine content or warning labels.

"Caffeine is not a regulated drug.  The FDA doesn't regulate it.  It's more or less a supplement," explains Dr. Oren.

Dr. Oren says he has not treated any patients with problems associated with Monster Energy drinks, but it all boils down to common sense, "Modification is the key to life.  You just need to be smart about it."

The Monster Company defends its product denying that drinking two cans can cause death from caffeine toxicity but the FDA is now looking closely at the deaths of at least 5 people who apparently consumed monster energy drinks before they died.