Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Acute caffeine ingestion fatalities: management issues

S Shum¹, C Seale, D Hathaway

¹Panhandle Poison Center, Northwest Texas Healthcare System Inc, Amarillo 79175, USA.

Veterinary and Human Toxicology

|August 1, 1997

Summary

Caffeine overdose can be fatal, even from common sources. Prompt recognition of seizures is crucial for managing caffeine toxicity and preventing adverse outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Trial Forge Guidance 4: a guideline for reporting the results of randomised Studies Within A Trial (SWATs).

Trials·2024

Same author

Hypoxaemia during one lung ventilation.

BJA education·2023

Same author

Power spectrum analysis of EEG in a translational nonhuman primate model after chronic exposure to low levels of the common marine neurotoxin, domoic acid.

Neurotoxicology·2020

Same author

The use of patient-reported outcome measures to guide referral for hip and knee arthroplasty.

The bone & joint journal·2020

Same author

Randomized feasibility trial of replacing or discarding the nail plate after nail-bed repair in children.

The British journal of surgery·2017

Same author

The treatment of a rupture of the Achilles tendon using a dedicated management programme.

The bone & joint journal·2015

Area of Science:

Toxicology
Pharmacology

Background:

Caffeine is a widely consumed stimulant found in beverages, over-the-counter (OTC) products, and prescription medications.
Caffeine content varies significantly, from trace amounts in decaffeinated drinks to high doses in medicinal forms (e.g., 200 mg/tablet).

Observation:

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) Toxic Exposure Surveillance System reported 7,655 caffeine exposures in 1995 without fatalities.
In contrast, a 4-month period saw two deaths from caffeine overdose recorded by the Panhandle Poison Center.

Findings:

Caffeine overdose can lead to severe, intractable seizures.
These seizures can occur abruptly and require immediate medical attention.

Implications:

Healthcare providers should anticipate and be prepared to manage caffeine-induced seizures.
Early recognition and intervention are critical for preventing fatal outcomes associated with caffeine toxicity.

Related Experiment Videos