Symptoms of caffeine intoxication include nausea, headache, heart palpitations, insomnia, anxiety or daily headaches.

The "boost" from energy drinks comes from the high levels of caffeine and sugar they contain. An 8.3oz, popular energy drink has 280mg of caffeine (about two to three cups of coffee). This represents a moderate, daily dose of caffeine, but when combined with other stimulants, especially alcohol, it can be dangerous.

According to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, students who drink alcohol mixed with energy drinks are at a dramatically higher risk for injury and other alcohol-related consequences.

"Students whose motor skills, visual reaction times, and judgment are impaired by alcohol may not perceive that they are intoxicated as readily when they're also ingesting a stimulant," said lead researcher, Mary Claire O'Brien, M.D. "Only the symptoms of drunkenness are reduced -- but not the drunkenness. They can't tell if they're drunk; they can't tell if someone else is drunk. So they get hurt, or they hurt someone else."

From the November 24, 2008, Prepared Foods e-Flash