Reid TR. Caffeine. Natl Geogr Mag. 2005. 3-32. [Full Text].
Mitchell DC, Knight CA, Hockenberry J, Teplansky R, Hartman TJ. Beverage caffeine intakes in the U.S. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014 Jan. 63:136-42. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Branum AM, Rossen LM, Schoendorf KC. Trends in caffeine intake among U.S. children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2014 Mar. 133 (3):386-93. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Miller KE, Dermen KH, Lucke JF. Caffeinated energy drink use by U.S. adolescents aged 13-17: A national profile. Psychol Addict Behav. 2018 Aug 20. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Laszlo SP. Caffeine Intake By the U.S. Population. US Food and Drug Administration. Available at https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170406012103/https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofFoods/CFSAN/CFSANFOIAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM333191.pdf. December 2012; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
US National Archives and Records Administration. Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Caffeine. 2011. Available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2011-title21-vol3/CFR-2011-title21-vol3-sec182-1180/content-detail.html. April 1, 2011; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Questions and Answers: Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Available at http://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170723105406/https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/FoodAdditivesIngredients/ucm233726.htm. November 17, 2010; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Guidance for Industry: Highly Concentrated Caffeine in Dietary Supplements. US Food and Drug Administration. 2018 April 16. Available at https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/ucm604318.htm.
Clauson KA, Shields KM, McQueen CE, Persad N. Safety issues associated with commercially available energy drinks. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2008 May-Jun. 48(3):e55-63; quiz e64-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Heckman MA, Weil J, Gonzalez de Mejia E. Caffeine (1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) in foods: a comprehensive review on consumption, functionality, safety, and regulatory matters. J Food Sci. 2010 Apr. 75 (3):R77-87. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA). Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. European Food Safety Authority. Available at https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2015.4102. May 25, 2015; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Mortelmans LJ, Van Loo M, De Cauwer HG, Merlevede K. Seizures and hyponatremia after excessive intake of diet coke. Eur J Emerg Med. 2008 Feb. 15(1):51. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kromhout HE, Landstra AM, van Luin M, van Setten PA. [Acute caffeine intoxication after intake of 'herbal energy capsules']. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2008 Jul 12. 152(28):1583-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2000 Aug. 39(2):127-53. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
The DAWN Report: Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks. Rockville, MD. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (November 22, 2011).
Energy Drinks. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Available at https://nccih.nih.gov/health/energy-drinks. July 2018; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Gummin DD, Mowry JB, Beuhler MC, Spyker DA, Bronstein AC, Rivers LJ, et al. 2020 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS): 38th Annual Report. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2021 Dec. 59 (12):1282-1501. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Fact Sheets - Alcohol and Caffeine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/caffeine-and-alcohol.htm. April 14, 2022; Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Hartley TR, Lovallo WR, Whitsett TL. Cardiovascular effects of caffeine in men and women. Am J Cardiol. 2004 Apr 15. 93(8):1022-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Turley KR, Desisso T, Gerst JW. Effects of caffeine on physiological responses to exercise: boys versus men. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007 Nov. 19(4):481-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Turley KR, Gerst JW. Effects of caffeine on physiological responses to exercise in young boys and girls. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Mar. 38(3):520-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Malinauskas BM, Aeby VG, Overton RF, Carpenter-Aeby T, Barber-Heidal K. A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students. Nutr J. 2007 Oct 31. 6:35. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
US Food and Drug Administration. CAERS Reports Allegedly Related to Multiple Energy Drinks. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Available at https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/foia-energy-drinks.pdf. Accessed: June 12, 2022.
Torraca L, Wang RY. Emergency toxicology. Methylxanthines: Theophylline and Caffeine. 2nd ed. 1998. 775-83.
Blake KV, Massey KL, Hendeles L, Nickerson D, Neims A. Relative efficacy of phenytoin and phenobarbital for the prevention of theophylline-induced seizures in mice. Ann Emerg Med. 1988 Oct. 17(10):1024-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kapur R, Smith MD. Treatment of cardiovascular collapse from caffeine overdose with lidocaine, phenylephrine, and hemodialysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Feb. 27(2):253.e3-6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Laskowski LK, Henesch JA, Nelson LS, Hoffman RS, Smith SW. Start me up! Recurrent ventricular tachydysrhythmias following intentional concentrated caffeine ingestion. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2015. 53 (8):830-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Caffeine Content of Drinks. Caffeine Informer. Available at https://www.caffeineinformer.com/the-caffeine-database. 2022 Jun 1; Accessed: August 24, 2022.

Media Gallery

Caffeine content of various foods, beverages, medications, and supplements. Caffeine content is approximate for brewed beverages and chocolate).
Chemical structure of caffeine.

of 2

Table 1. Reported Caffeine Content of Common Beverages^[4]

Table 1. Reported Caffeine Content of Common Beverages ^[4]

Item	Amount	Caffeine Content, mg
Milk chocolate	8 oz	5
Dark semi-sweet chocolate	1 oz	20
Brewed green tea	8 oz	20
Anacin	1 tablet	32
Coca-Cola Classic	12 oz	35
Pepsi cola	12 oz	38
Espresso	1 oz	40
Fiorinal/Fioricet	1 tablet	40
Mountain Dew	12 oz	54
Brewed Coffee, generic	8 oz	57
Midol	1 felcap	60
Excedrin pain reliever	1 tablet	65
Brewed black tea, generic	8 oz	45-74
Dexatrin Natural	1 tablet	80
Jolt cola	12 oz	80
Red Bull Regular	8.4 oz	80
Monster energy drink	16 oz	80
Jolt caffeine energy gum	2 pieces	100
Penguin caffeinated mints	6 pieces	100
No Doz	1 tablet	100
Rockstar	16 oz	160
Monster Energy	16 oz	160
Espresso, generic	1 oz	170
Vivarin	1 tablet	200
Alani Nu	12 oz	200
5 Hour Energy	1.9 oz	200
Ripped Fuel Extreme Ephedra Free	2 capsules	220
Taiwanese Milk Tea	24 oz	226
NOS	16 oz	280
Bang Energy	16 oz	300
Starbucks Tall Americano	16 oz	330

Back to List

Author

David Yew, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine; Medical Director and Flight Physician, Hawaii Life Flight, AirMed International

David Yew, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Air Medical Physician Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

John G Benitez, MD, MPH Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Managing Director, Tennessee Poison Center

John G Benitez, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Medical Toxicology, American College of Preventive Medicine, Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Wilderness Medical Society, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael A Miller, MD Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicologist, Department of Emergency Medicine, Texas A&M Health Sciences Center; CHRISTUS Spohn Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Michael A Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Medical Toxicology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

James E Keany, MD, FACEP Associate Medical Director, Emergency Services, Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission

James E Keany, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, California Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

China N Byrns Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa

China N Byrns is a member of the following medical societies: Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sophie Kim Boston College

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Jeffrey T Laczek, MD Gastroentology Fellow, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Caffeine Toxicity Questions & Answers

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures

What would you like to print?