5-Hour Energy Drinks Now Cited In 13 Deaths

And we thought the news about Monster Energy Drinks' link to five deaths was bad enough. New reports show that another popular energy drink, 5-Hour Energy, has been cited in 13 deaths over the last four years. 

The New York Times reports that in the 90 filings to the FDA that mentioned 5-Hour Energy, more than 30 of them noted some very serious side effects, like  heart attacks and convulsions. In one case, the drink was even linked to a spontaneous abortion. The FDA is now investigating the death reports related to the energy drink, just months after its investgation of Monster Energy Drinks. 

However, 5-Hour Energy is technically classified as a dietary supplement, which further confuses what an energy drink is and isn't. (Monster Energy Drinks is labeled as a dietary supplement like 5-Hour Energy, but Red Bull is not.) But the energy shots pack a powerful punch — 215 milligrams of caffeine in one, according to a recent Consumer Reports review. 

The company behind 5-Hour Energy, Living Energy, said in a statement released to The New York Times that the company was "unaware of any deaths proven to be caused by the consumption of 5-Hour Energy."