Energy drinks may provoke psychotic relapse in patients with schizophrenia
Consuming energy drinks may lead to psychotic relapse in some patients with treated schizophrenia, an expert says In a letter published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia, Prof David Menkes, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Auckland, describes the case of a 27-year-old New Zealand Maori man with diagnosed schizophrenia
Demon Shots, widely available in Australia and New Zealand, contain 200 mg caffeine, plus taurine, B vitamins and guarana, which may have other stimulant properties
“This case provides evidence that some patients with treated schizophrenia may be vulnerable to exacerbation of their illness by caffeine-containing ’energy drinks’,” Prof Menkes said.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association
and related research:
and
and
and many other studies (these don’t have abstracts unfortunately):
When I was in the sober house people would drink those like fiends…ive never had one…I reckon it hits harder than coffee and I was having enough problems with anxiety from half cup of coffee at the time didn’t seem worth it regardless.
Interesting news, I am a caffeine addict and drink a lot of coffee, it is a habit, I try not to drink coffee in evenings in order to sleep better, but then in the morning I need to have some. I believe that the heavy use of caffeine causes lack of sleep which may result in additional symptoms, I have had this habit since my childhood.
My son drank these when he was on meds. Wonder if that was helping to cause seizures?
He still drinks them-along with lots of soft drinks, but no longer has seizures.
Those drinks are poison!
I definitely had an episode because of excessive caffeine recently. Since then, I limit myself to one small cup in the morning. I tried going cold turkey, but I just couldn’t handle it.
My son (to say he HATES the hospital would be an understatement) drank a Monster energy drink when he was on a high dose of Haldol. He begged me to take him to the hospital right away…said he’d need a good 4 days in there. He was terrified on the reaction, which fortunately calmed after several hours.
I am a strange fella. Caffeine has never done anything for me. It does not give me an energy boost or anything. I drink coffee with flavored creme for the taste. It is so good with toast in the morning. MMMM can’t wait untill morning now.