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[leviathan]

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Has anyone noticed these things at convenience stores? They are tiny little 25 mL capsules that contain 830 mg of caffeine. 😱 Do you think that is safe, or could that much caffeine be life-threatening, especially to someone with a heart condition? If not, how much caffeine do you think would it take to start getting into dangerous doses?

 

[v-tach]

That's about the amount of caffeine in 6-7 cups of coffee. I think at the very least it would make a person quite jittery, possibly tachycardic/throwing PVC's, not to mention the diuretic effect (might cause some slight dehydration). Doesn't sound like the best idea to me, but maybe some of you will have a better idea--I'm not even in med school yet.

 

[leviathan]

That's about the amount of caffeine in 6-7 cups of coffee. I think at the very least it would make a person quite jittery, possibly tachycardic/throwing PVC's, not to mention the diuretic effect (might cause some slight dehydration). Doesn't sound like the best idea to me, but maybe some of you will have a better idea--I'm not even in med school yet.

Hey vtach, that's actually more to the tune of anywhere between 8-12 cups of coffee, depending on strength. And given the very small size of these things, I can easily see someone downing three shots of these in the morning without realizing what he/she is getting themselves into.

 

[v-tach]

Hey vtach, that's actually more to the tune of anywhere between 8-12 cups of coffee, depending on strength. And given the very small size of these things, I can easily see someone downing three shots of these in the morning without realizing what he/she is getting themselves into.

Really? I thought an 8-ounce cup of coffee had about 125-150 mg of caffeine, but maybe the info I have is a bit off--where did you get your numbers?. I do, however, see your point about someone taking three of these and not thinking anything of it. That could lead to some problems.

 

[leviathan]

Really? I thought an 8-ounce cup of coffee had about 125-150 mg of caffeine, but maybe the info I have is a bit off--where did you get your numbers?. I do, however, see your point about someone taking three of these and not thinking anything of it. That could lead to some problems.

Back in the good ol' days of organic chemistry, I remember I purified about 85 mg of caffeine from an 8 oz cup of coffee, and that our expected result was supposed to be between 80-120 mg.

Well, looks like I found out the answer anyway. The LD-50 of caffeine is supposed to be about 150 mg/kg, so that a 50 kg person would probably die from about 7500 mg, or about 9 shots of these drinks.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Has anyone noticed these things at convenience stores? They are tiny little 25 mL capsules that contain 830 mg of caffeine. 😱 Do you think that is safe, or could that much caffeine be life-threatening, especially to someone with a heart condition? If not, how much caffeine do you think would it take to start getting into dangerous doses?

They also make caffeine chewing gum now. (Jolt gum)

 

[v-tach]

Well, looks like I found out the answer anyway. The LD-50 of caffeine is supposed to be about 150 mg/kg, so that a 50 kg person would probably die from about 7500 mg, or about 9 shots of these drinks.

So in other words, I had better never drink 9 of these things. 😛 I think even one might be a bad idea--probably would have some unpleasant effects. I don't get why somebody even came up with these things--that is just a lot of caffeine at one time. Sounds like a recipe for feeling pretty messed up and possibly having some arrhythmias.

 

[v-tach]

They also make caffeine chewing gum now. (Jolt gum)

I have seen that gum in my campus bookstore.

 

[v-tach]

http://coffeefaq.com/caffaq.html

This site has all sorts of information, including caffeine content of coffee and other beverages. For coffee there is quite a range depending on the brewing method--leviathan, it looks like we were both right, I was maybe just thinking of rather strong coffee. I'm not sure what "average" would be.

 

[Sessamoid]

That coffee faq has been around forever, and it's a wonderful resource. I remember finding that on the Usenet back in the day....

 

[docB]

Has anyone noticed these things at convenience stores? They are tiny little 25 mL capsules that contain 830 mg of caffeine. 😱 Do you think that is safe, or could that much caffeine be life-threatening, especially to someone with a heart condition? If not, how much caffeine do you think would it take to start getting into dangerous doses?

I hate these kind of things. I see tons of people who use them to treat their hangovers. So they're already dehydrated and didn't get any sleep then they drop a few of these WITH a few cups of coffee at the all-you-can-eat $3.99 prime rib breakfast bar. Believe it or not they come in with N/V, palpitations and often syncope.

Part of it is that many people think that anything you can get over the counter is useless. They don't realize that some of it is the same stuff. I'm waiting to get someone who thought Drano couldn't be dangerous because you can by it at the supermarket.

 

[Sessamoid]

Part of it is that many people think that anything you can get over the counter is useless. They don't realize that some of it is the same stuff. I'm waiting to get someone who thought Drano couldn't be dangerous because you can by it at the supermarket.

s/use/harm

Though I guess it could also be useless as well.

 

[leviathan]

I hate these kind of things. I see tons of people who use them to treat their hangovers. So they're already dehydrated and didn't get any sleep then they drop a few of these WITH a few cups of coffee at the all-you-can-eat $3.99 prime rib breakfast bar. Believe it or not they come in with N/V, palpitations and often syncope.

Not surprised at all. Well, I'm not going to be surprised to see someone down 5 or 6 of these things, be oversensitive to it, and end up with a ventricular tachyarrhythmia and die. Especially after just reading this story about a reasonably young male that had an MI from pseudoephedrine.

 

[v-tach]

Not surprised at all. Well, I'm not going to be surprised to see someone down 5 or 6 of these things, be oversensitive to it, and end up with a ventricular tachyarrhythmia and die. Especially after just reading this story about a reasonably young male that had an MI from pseudoephedrine.

I saw that pseudoephedrine story too. Scary. Especially since that's what I generally tend to take when I have a cold!

 

[Jeff698]

The caffeine content of coffee is near and dear to my heart so I figured I'd try to confirm a rumor I heard (I think from an NPR piece) about how much caffeine was in a Starbucks cup of joe.

Here, it is listed at 550 mg in a 16 oz: cup:http://www.cspinet.org/nah/caffeine/caffeine_corner.htm

Note: I think this is the group that says anything that tastes good must be bad and therefore be banned.

Here, it's 223mg per 16 oz cup. The article's really about economics, but interesting anyway:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2107807/

322 in a 16oz cup:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/living/food/10315496.htm?1c

Regardless of how much is in there, I love the stuff. Of course, I can quit any time I want. 🙂

Take care,
Jeff