Are Redline Energy Drinks Bad For You?

It's no secret that some energy drinks pack a bigger caffeine punch than others. In an evaluation of 27 different energy drink brands, Consumer Reports found that caffeine levels in energy drinks can vary from 6 milligrams per serving to as much as 242 milligrams per serving. Energy drinks with a higher caffeine content, particularly those derived from synthetic caffeine sources, are associated with more health risks (via Healthline). Where does Redline fall on the spectrum of healthy energy drinks?

With anywhere from 250 to 316 milligrams of caffeine, Redline energy drinks are ranked by Caffeine Informer as "extreme" when it comes to caffeine strength. But that's not the only stimulant the drink contains. Redline also includes the ingredient Yohimbine, known to cause side effects such as dizziness, tremors, increased blood pressure, vomiting, sweating, irritability, and anxiety (via Drugs.com). Advertised as a workout aid rather than a recreational energy beverage, Redline dons a warning label cautioning consumers to drink no more than half a bottle at one time.

Redline's warning label is there for good reason. Consumers who exceed the recommended quantity have experienced health complications and hospitalizations, according to Caffeine Informer, making it an energy drink with serious risks.

In one example illustrating the dangers of the beverage, reported by The Baltimore Sun, a teen who habitually drank several Redline energy products per day was found to have bleeding, severe inflammation, and ulcerations in the small intestine. This was discovered after the teen visited his doctor for the stomach pain he had been experiencing for the previous two months. The patient was treated with medication and restricted from further caffeine consumption.  

Redline can have serious, potentially life-threatening side effects for certain consumers. To be safe, limit your consumption of the beverage or choose another brand of energy drink not linked to such dangerous side effects.