Media release

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.

Prof Menkes said that the man had had a good response to antipsychotic drug treatment, including relief from recurrent persecutory thoughts and hallucinations.

But after consuming two 60 mL bottles of Demon Shot energy drink, he experienced recurrent thoughts, lasting several hours, of people wanting to harm him.

“One week later, he drank three Demon Shots over 15 minutes,” Prof Menkes said.

“He was observed to be emotionally labile – initially laughing and talkative, later becoming restless, withdrawn and argumentative.”

Other symptoms including a rapid pulse and insomnia subsided over the next day. He described again having had paranoid thoughts over several hours after consuming the drinks consistent with a psychotic episode.

“Although case reports and a later controlled study suggest that high doses of caffeine may exacerbate psychosis, this has only recently been observed with energy drinks,” Prof Menkes said.

“The fact that our patient had the same reaction on two distinct occasions is important.”

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

 


The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA  reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.

CONTACT:            Prof David Menkes              +64 7839 8750 / +64 2122 97830                                                         David.Menkes@waikatodhb.health.nz

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