FDA Investigates 5-Hour Energy Following 13 Deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Thirteen deaths and 33 hospitalizations prompt an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration into 5-Hour Energy.

"I hope they get to the bottom of it and I actually hope that it isn't the 5-hour energy just because so many people drink them," said college student, Danielle Petersen.

In a statement, the FDA says these products are marketed as "energy shots" and labeled as dietary supplements.

Petersen says she tried her first energy shot while cramming for her college courses, but she was careful.  "I only drank half of it, said Petersen.

While she didn't experience any side effects, some people do. "After that I was a little jittery," said college student, Alan Matthew.

Dr. Kevin Couloures is a pediatrician at OU Medical. Couloures says the younger you are, the worse the drink may make you feel, "The combination of a lower weight and immature brain and organs puts them at a higher risk for having complications."

Add to that a pre-existing condition and he says it could be cause for concern. "If you have a child who has perhaps and underlying cardiac problem it can cause arrhythmias and it could even lead to them blacking out," said Couloures.

"That's kinda scary actually," said Petersen. "You can get them anywhere."

"I think it's definitely imperative that they look into to that to make sure that they're aren't health risks, said Mathew.

The FDA released this statement:

As a scientific public health agency must carefully investigate and evaluate all possible causes before deciding whether the product actually caused the medical problem.
 
The existence of an adverse event report does not necessarily mean that the product identified in the report actually caused the adverse event.  FDA assesses the relationship, if any, between a product or ingredient and the reported adverse event.
 
If we find a relationship between consumption of the product and harm, FDA will take appropriate action to reduce or eliminate the risk.
 
In addition, while the FDA investigates all reports to the best of its ability, it does not always have access to all the information needed to conclusively determine the cause of the event.
 
The agency continues to work with the complainants, medical professionals, state and local health authorities, and dietary supplement manufacturers and distributors, who are required by law to report any new medical information received within a year of the adverse event report.
 
FDA cautions consumers that 5-Hour Energy and other products marketed as "energy shots" or "energy drinks" are not alternatives to rest or sleep. If someone is  thinking about taking one of these products, they should consult with their  health care provider to ensure that there are no  underlying or undiagnosed medical conditions that could worsen as a result of using them.

The founder and CEO of 5-Hour Energy  denies that his company's popular drink is responsible for 13 deaths in the past four years.

"It's just false," said 5-Hour Energy CEO Manoj Bhargava.

FDA Investigates 5-Hour Energy Following 13 Deaths

Posted: Friday, November 16 2012, 12:00 AM CST