What You Need to Know

Overall, healthcare providers recommend against consuming energy drinks, especially for children, people who have medical conditions, people who have psychiatric conditions, and older people. Energy drinks come in numerous brands and formulations, and many adverse effects have been reported, but no health guidelines exist regarding which brands might be safer than others.

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Energy Drinks?

Energy drinks produce a number of short-term effects that can wear off within a few hours. Some of these short-term effects are the motivation for why people consume energy drinks, but others are unwanted.

Short-term effects of energy drinks include:

• Staying awake 
• Increased physical energy
• Difficulty focusing 
• Agitation 
• Restlessness 
• Increased risk-taking behavior
• Headaches 
• Racing pulse 
• Elevated blood pressure 
• High blood glucose 
• Dehydration 
• Loose stools
• Constipation
• Allergic reaction 

Though it’s not common, the short-term effects of energy drinks can cause consequences that last after the direct chemical effects of the energy drinks have worn off. For example, restlessness and agitation can lead to injuries. And a caffeine overdose can damage your muscles and your heart, which could lead to death.

What Are the Long-Term Health Risks? 

Energy drinks have some documented long-term risks, which may occur if you consume them repeatedly. Research studies haven’t provided reliable evidence regarding how much you would need to consume or how long it takes for these effects to develop.

Long-term risks of energy drinks may include:

• Presence of carcinogens (substances linked to an increased risk of cancer)
• Withdrawal effects, including excessive sleepiness, depression, and insomnia
• Anxiety
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Malnutrition
• Kidney stones
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased risk of stroke
• Personality changes

Most research examining the benefits and risks of energy drinks offers little to no solid evidence of the incidence or prevalence of these long-term side effects or which amounts or brands are more likely to cause adverse effects.

Are There Any Benefits to Energy Drinks?

So far, there’s no evidence of any long-term benefits of energy drinks. Most of the time, people drink them because they like the taste or because they are seeking a quick method of staying alert.

Potential short-term benefits of energy drinks include:

• Adding calories to your diet
• Relieving constipation
• Helping yourself to stay awake
• Getting a quick dose of glucose to treat or prevent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Replenishing fluid and electrolytes (charged minerals in the blood such as sodium and potassium) to prevent dehydration

Each individual may have different personal experiences regarding whether these products are beneficial for the goals they’re trying to reach.

Who Should Skip Energy Drinks? 

Though checking with your own healthcare provider for guidance is important, energy drinks might be contraindicated for you if you have certain health conditions or health considerations. Some of the common ingredients in energy drinks may cause side effects. This could be dangerous if you have an underlying medical problem.

Energy drinks might not be recommended for:

• Babies
• Children
• Adolescents 
• Pregnant people
• Those who have hypertension (high blood pressure)
• People who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Individuals living with heart disease
• People who have digestive problems, liver disease, or kidney disease
• People who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition (including depression or anxiety)
• Individuals who are recovering from or coping with a substance use disorder
• Anyone who has insomnia or other sleeping disorders
• Anyone who has an eating disorder

In addition to these conditions, your healthcare provider might also have additional recommendations for you based on your medical history and risk factors.

How to Consume Energy Drinks Safely

For safety:

• Don’t mix with alcohol or other substances: Mixing energy drinks with other substances (like alcohol) can be dangerous. Energy drinks do not reverse or cancel out the effects of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance.
• Don’t use to “self-treat” conditions: For example, you feel sleepy all the time, aren’t getting enough rest, have low energy, or experience chronic constipation. Rather than use energy drinks for these symptoms, work with a healthcare provider to diagnose the cause and tailor a plan for safe, effective, and reliable therapy.
• Talk to a healthcare provider: Your healthcare provider should become familiar with your health conditions and overall health and can help you decide whether consuming energy drinks is safe.

What Are Healthier Alternatives to Energy Drinks?

You can choose among many healthy alternatives if you want a drink to keep up your energy, add calories to your diet, or quench your thirst. 

Some beverages you might consider: 

• Smoothies, which can include veggies, fruit, oatmeal, or dairy
• Hot or cold herbal tea 
• Caffeinated coffee or tea
• Dairy or nondairy milk 
• Soup, with or without protein 
• Homemade fruit juice 
• Protein shakes
• Electrolyte drinks

The alternatives you select depend on your reasons for considering energy drinks. A smoothie, protein drink, or soup can provide energy, calories, and nutrients. Herbal tea or milk can satisfy your thirst, while caffeinated coffee or tea can provide moderate caffeine. Electrolyte drinks can help prevent dehydration.