One can of a commercial energy drink contains 40–200 mg of caffeine. The lethal oral caffeine dose is 10 grams. The most studied substance in the energy drinks is caffeine. Most of these ingredients except caffeine are in subtherapeutic doses in the energy drinks and therefore, they bear no hazards. Energy drinks contain many ingredients, but the key ingredients of energy drinks include caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng, and sugar. The growth in consumption of energy drink has led to an increase in the number of reports about its life-threatening toxicity. Recently, the recreational use and popularity of the commercial energy drinks have increased worldwide. After appropriate initial resuscitation for the coronary syndrome, the patient was transferred to the catheterization laboratory for the percutaneous coronary intervention. (3) Thrombophilia and drug screen were negative. (2) d-Dimers were 380 ng/ml (normal range <500). Laboratory findings were as follow: (1) an elevated level, 32.22 µg/ml, of 12-h troponin I (normal range <0.07) confirming definite acute coronary syndrome. Chest X-ray was insignificant with no signs of pulmonary congestion. The initial electrocardiogram (EKG) on admission (Figure 1) showed sinus rhythm with ST depression in precordial leads V2-V6. Rest of the systemic examination was unremarkable. On palpation of the chest, there was no point tenderness. Cardiac examination revealed S4 on auscultation of the chest. Pulse oximetry showed 98% oxygen saturation on room air.

His vital signs on examination were (1) Temperature: afebrile, (2) Blood Pressure: 155/95 mmHg in his right arm and 150/90 mm Hg in his left arm, (3) Respiratory Rate: 25 breaths/min, d-Heart Rate: 110 beats/min. The patient reported significant improvement in his chest pain after receiving sublingual nitroglycerin and diamorphine intravenously. A comprehensive history revealed a daily intake of seven to nine cans of caffeinated energy drinks for the past week.

He was a nonsmoker and did not use any illicit drugs. He had no known allergic reaction to food or drugs.

Patient’s past medical, surgical and family history was unremarkable, and he had no modifiable or non-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. He did not have any antecedent infection. He had no associated symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, or rash. The chest pain was slightly relieved on lying flat and aggravated by walking. The chest pain was sudden in onset, 8/10 in intensity, and radiating to his right arm. The popularity and use of energy drinks have accelerated over the past decade and are a health concern worldwide. The key ingredients of energy drinks include caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng, and sugar. Most of the well-known side effects due to consumption of energy drinks include tachycardia, headache, anxiety, and palpitations and are frequently attributed to caffeine. Recently, a few cases of life-threatening cardiovascular events in individuals who overdosed massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks have been reported. In this case report, we are documenting a case of myocardial infarction in a 25-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with chest pain. The patient had been consuming massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks daily for the past week. This case report and the few previously documented studies support a possible connection between caffeinated energy drinks and myocardial infarction. The purpose of this case report is to promote awareness in the general population and the medical staff about cardiac mortality due to overdosing of massive quantities of caffeinated energy drinks.Īn otherwise healthy 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a substernal chest pain for an hour accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.

Chest pain caffeine overdose