U.S. ED visits following energy drink consumption by reason 2005-2011

* Within DAWN, an ED visit is categorized as an adverse reaction when the chart documents that a prescription or over-the-counter pharmaceutical, taken as prescribed or directed, produced an adverse drug reaction, side effect, drug-drug interaction, or drug-alcohol interaction. Although energy drinks are not treated as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration, ED visits involving energy drinks were classified as adverse reactions if the chart documented them as such. If other substances are reported on the chart as involved in the visit, an energy drink is not necessarily the sole reason for the adverse reaction.
** Misuse or abuse cases within DAWN are broadly defined to include all visits associated with illicit drugs, alcohol use in combination with other drugs, alcohol use only among those younger than 21 years old, and nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals.