Local Experts Weigh In On Energy Drink Concerns - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

Local Experts Weigh In On Energy Drink Concerns

SALISBURY, Md. - New research developments into energy drinks, are revealing more concerns for consumers.

From 2007 to 2011, the number of emergency room visits related to energy drink consumption nearly doubled, from 10,000 to 20,000. That's according to a government survey.

The drinks contain high amounts of additives, such as caffeine, taurine, vitamins and sugars. The troubling part, some beverages with high concentrations of caffeine are sometimes unregulated.

"Being unregulated there is not a standardized dose that they're getting. It can be anywhere from, I understand, a cup of coffee is 15 milligrams of caffeine, to some of these drinks that carry approximately 500 milligrams in a can or bottle, which is a phenomenal amount of caffeine," said James Burns, Medical Director for PRMC's Occupational Health and Urgent Care Center in Salisbury.

Many doctors have said they've seen a number of patients experience rapid and irregular heartbeats. In some cases, they say they've seen heart attacks.