Monster Energy Drink Lawsuits Filed Over Heart Attacks, Strokes, Kidney Failure

A group of five new lawsuits have been filed over side effects of Monster energy drinks, alleging that the products caused plaintiffs to suffer heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and other injuries. 

The complaints were filed earlier this week in Florida, involving individuals between the ages of 14 and 42, who suffered Monster energy drink injuries.

According to a local medial report by WESH.com, each of the plaintiffs indicate that they had no pre-existing conditions before consuming the energy drinks, alleging that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the health risks associated with their drink.

Monster is a popular energy drink, which contains high levels of caffeine and other stimulants that are designed to provide consumers with a boost of energy. However, the energy drink has been linked to several reports involving heart problems and other health risks associated with caffeine overdose.

The WESH.com report suggests that additional energy drink lawsuits are likely to be filed against the makers of RockStar and other similar products, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among teens and young adults.

In the lawsuit over Monster Energy, plaintiffs allege that the manufacturer concealed information about the energy drink health risks from the public, using a “dietary supplement” classification to avoid scrutiny from the FDA.

Energy Drink Litigation

The lawsuits are the latest of in a growing litigation over energy drink products that has emerged in recent years, often involving allegations that manufacturers placed their desire for profit before consumer safety by recklessly marketing the products to children, who are particularly vulnerable to heart problems caused by caffeine overdose.

A Monster wrongful death lawsuit is slated to go on trial in California Superior Court of Alemeda County in April, over claims that a 19-year-old died of a heart attack in 2012 after consuming at least two cans of Monster Energy a day over a period of three years.

Another wrongful death lawsuit over Monster Energy was filed in 2012, by the family of a 14 year old girl who died after going into cardiac arrest after consuming multiple cans of the heavily marketed beverage within a short period of time. Another Monster Energy lawsuit was reportedly settled out of court in August for an undisclosed amount.

Energy drink manufacturers have compared the amount of caffeine in their products to that of hot beverages sold in coffee houses, but the products are often packaged in very large sizes and they are not sold in controlled environments like coffee shops, which typically would not serve young children.

Energy drinks are widely available in convenience stores next to traditional soft drinks, typically packaged in very similar cans and using similar marketing techniques.

Many of the products contain pharmaceutical grade caffeine and additional caffeine from other natural sources. This much caffeine in one serving can cause a person’s heart to beat rapidly, increase blood pressure, or other nervous, digestive or cardiovascular system side effects, health experts warn.

Some energy drinks in many of the popular lines, such as Monster and Red Bull, contain up to 400 mg of caffeine per can. In comparison, a cup of coffee typically has around 100 mg of caffeine.

Caffeine poisoning can occur in adults at levels higher than 400 mg a day; however children under 12 can experience caffeine poisoning at only 2.5 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight.

The FDA is currently investigating health concerns surrounding the drinks after a number of adverse event reports were submitted in recent years connecting energy drinks to severe injuries and deaths. According to information released in 2012, at least 37 adverse event reports had been received by the FDA involving health problems from Monster Energy drinks, including at least six deaths.

Amid aggressive marketing by the manufacturers, energy drink sales increased 240% between 2004 and 2009, and the number of caffeine overdose emergency room visits increased from 1,128 in 2005 to 16,055 in 2008. Approximately 56% of those visits involved individuals between the ages of 12 and 25 years.