Energy drinks and mental health: what the science actually says

Written by: Therapy Near Me Editorial Team

Clinically reviewed by: qualified members of the Therapy Near Me clinical team

Last updated: 10/12/2025

This article is intended as general information only and does not replace personalised medical or mental health advice. Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Why this topic matters

Energy drinks sit at the intersection of stimulation, sleep, mood, and risk‑taking. They combine high doses of caffeine with sugar and other bioactives (for example, taurine, guarana, B‑vitamins). In Australia, these products are regulated as formulated caffeinated beverages and may contain up to 320 mg of caffeine per litre with mandatory advisory statements (FSANZ, 2023; FSANZ, 2025). A single 500 mL can can therefore deliver ~160 mg caffeine—roughly two cups of instant coffee—often alongside ~50–80 g of sugar (Nuss et al., 2021).

This piece synthesises what peer‑reviewed research says about energy drinks and mental health, with practical guidance you can actually use.

What’s in the can and why it matters to your brain

Caffeine antagonises adenosine receptors (A1, A2A), reducing sleep drive and increasing alertness; downstream, it modulates dopamine and noradrenaline signalling (EFSA NDA Panel, 2015). Guarana adds extra, often undeclared caffeine. Taurine may alter calcium handling and neurotransmission but human neuropsychiatric effects at beverage doses are uncertain. Sugar produces rapid glycaemic swings and is independently linked with depressive symptoms in prospective cohorts (Knüppel et al., 2017; Chen et al., 2024).

The evidence at a glance

• Sleep disruption: In a randomised study, caffeine consumed even 6 hours before bed significantly curtailed total sleep time (Drake et al., 2013). Observational work in Australian students links weekly energy‑drink use with short sleep duration (Nuss et al., 2021).
• Anxiety and stress: Reviews and cohort studies associate higher energy‑drink intake with greater stress and anxiety symptoms in adolescents and young adults (Richards & Smith, 2016; Owens et al., 2014; Ajibo et al., 2024).
• Depression and suicidality: Cross‑sectional and cohort analyses report associations between frequent consumption and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation/attempts, particularly in teens (Park et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2020; Masengo et al., 2020). A recent meta‑analysis examining caffeine beverages and suicide risk signals possible increased risk at higher intakes, though causality remains unresolved (Low et al., 2025).
• Risk‑taking when mixed with alcohol: Caffeine can mask perceived intoxication, encouraging heavier drinking and injury‑prone behaviour; mixing energy drinks with alcohol is consistently linked to binge drinking and risky choices (Marczinski, 2014; CDC, 2024).
• Vulnerability in existing psychiatric conditions: Case reports describe mania and psychosis after large caffeine/energy‑drink loads in susceptible individuals (Hernandez‑Huerta et al., 2017; Mannix et al., 2024). While rare, clinicians advise caution in bipolar spectrum and psychotic disorders.

Bottom line: most studies are observational and cannot prove causation, but the pattern is consistent—more frequent energy‑drink use co‑occurs with poorer sleep, more anxiety and distress, and riskier substance use, especially in adolescents.

Australia‑specific context

Under Standard 2.6.4, energy drinks in Australia must contain 145–320 mg caffeine per litre and carry advisory labels stating they are not suitable for children, pregnant or lactating women, and individuals sensitive to caffeine(FSANZ, 2023; FSANZ, 2025). Retail sales to minors are not banned nationally, and marketing frequently targets youth‑oriented settings, which helps explain observed consumption clusters with other unhealthy dietary behaviours and short sleep (Nuss et al., 2021).

How energy drinks can affect mental health

1) Sleep architecture and mood

Reduced slow‑wave sleep and curtailed total sleep time impair next‑day mood regulation and cognitive control (Drake et al., 2013). Adolescents often use caffeinated drinks to counter sleepiness, creating a stimulate‑then‑compensate loop that sustains low mood and irritability (Chawla et al., 2024; Nuss et al., 2021).

2) Anxiety thresholds

At higher doses (often >200 mg in a sitting for non‑habituated users), caffeine can induce jitteriness, restlessness, and panic‑like symptoms. Individuals with anxiety disorders or panic disorder are more sensitive to these effects (Richards & Smith, 2016; EFSA NDA Panel, 2015).

3) Depression and psychological distress

Multiple studies show dose‑response associations between frequent energy‑drink use and psychological distress and depressive symptoms (Masengo et al., 2020; Ajibo et al., 2024). Mechanisms may include sleep loss, glycaemic volatility from sugar, and co‑occurring risk behaviours (Park et al., 2016; Knüppel et al., 2017).

4) Suicidality signals

Population studies in adolescents link high intake with suicidal ideation and, in some datasets, suicide attempts (Kim et al., 2020; Masengo et al., 2020). A 2025 meta‑analysis spanning caffeine beverages suggests elevated risk at higher exposures, warranting precaution (Low et al., 2025). These findings do not show that energy drinks cause suicidality; they indicate a red‑flag association that should prompt assessment of sleep, mood, and substance use.

5) Drug interactions and special groups

• SSRIs (fluvoxamine) strongly inhibit CYP1A2 and can raise caffeine concentrations, amplifying nervousness and insomnia (Culm‑Merdek et al., 2005; NPS MedicineWise, 2024). Heavy caffeine can also alter levels of antipsychotics such as clozapine via CYP1A2 (Lucas, 2013).
• Pregnancy: major authorities advise keeping total caffeine ≤200 mg/day; energy drinks are not recommendeddue to concentration and co‑ingredients (EFSA NDA Panel, 2015; FSANZ, 2023).
• Adolescents: professional bodies advise avoiding energy drinks; neurodevelopment and sleep vulnerability heighten risk (Seifert et al., 2011; Owens et al., 2014).

Practical guidelines you can use today

1. Count the caffeine. In Australia, a 500 mL energy drink can deliver ~160 mg caffeine. Add coffees, teas, pre‑workouts, and cola: aim to keep daily total ≤400 mg for most adults and ≤200 mg if pregnant or sensitive (EFSA NDA Panel, 2015).
2. Do not mix with alcohol. Alertness without sobriety increases injury, driving risk, and binge drinking (Marczinski, 2014; CDC, 2024).
3. Time your last dose. To protect sleep, avoid caffeine after mid‑afternoon—remember the 6‑hour rule (Drake et al., 2013).
4. Switch away from sugar. Sugar‑sweetened energy drinks add substantial glycaemic load; high habitual sugar intake tracks with depressive symptoms in some cohorts (Knüppel et al., 2017; Chen et al., 2024).
5. If you have anxiety, bipolar spectrum, psychosis, or are on CYP1A2‑affected medicines (for example, fluvoxamine, clozapine), discuss caffeine limits with your clinician (Culm‑Merdek et al., 2005; Lucas, 2013).

Safer, workable alternatives

If you are chasing focus or a pre‑workout lift:

• Sleep first: prioritise a regular sleep window and morning light exposure; both beat stimulants for sustained mood regulation (Chawla et al., 2024).
• Low‑caffeine options: try coffee/tea capped at ~1–2 standard serves before noon. If using a commercial “no‑sugar” energy drink, check total caffeine and trial half‑serves.
• Hydration and protein: dehydration and low protein at breakfast can masquerade as “low energy”; fix these before reaching for stimulants.
• Strategic naps (10–20 minutes): effective for alertness without the sleep debt.
• Move briefly: a 2–3 minute brisk walk or stairs bout can lift alertness in the afternoon dip.

What parents and schools can do

• Model and message: make energy drinks an “occasional, not routine” product. Normalise water as the go‑to drink.
• Sleep‑supportive timetables: later‑day assessments and early training sessions increase caffeine reliance. Adjust where feasible.
• Policy levers: advocate for limits on in‑school sales and sponsorships; reinforce that Australian advisory labels flag unsuitability for children (FSANZ, 2023).

Nuance and limitations

Most human data are observational. Confounding by lifestyle (screen time, diet, stress) is likely; reverse causation is plausible (for example, low mood → more caffeine/sugar). Nevertheless, converging evidence across countries and methods ties frequent energy‑drink use with sleep loss, higher psychological distress, and risk‑taking—enough to recommend precaution, especially for teens and people with existing mental‑health conditions.

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References

Ajibo, C., et al. (2024) ‘Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: associations with physical and mental health’, Public Health, 226, pp. 1–10.

CDC (2024) ‘Effects of mixing alcohol and caffeine’. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/alcohol-caffeine.html (Accessed 9 December 2025).

Chen, Y., et al. (2024) ‘Consumption of sugary beverages and depression risk considering genetic predisposition’, General Psychiatry, 37(4), e101446.

Chawla, J., et al. (2024) ‘Optimising sleep in adolescents: the challenges’, Australian Journal of General Practice, June issue.

Culm‑Merdek, K.E., et al. (2005) ‘Fluvoxamine impairs single‑dose caffeine clearance without affecting caffeine disposition’, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 60(5), pp. 486–493.

Drake, C., Roehrs, T., Shambroom, J., and Roth, T. (2013) ‘Caffeine effects on sleep taken 0, 3, or 6 hours before bedtime’, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 9(11), pp. 1195–1200.

EFSA NDA Panel (2015) ‘Scientific opinion on the safety of caffeine’, EFSA Journal, 13(5), 4102.

FSANZ (Food Standards Australia New Zealand) (2023) ‘Caffeine’. Available at: https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/prevention-of-foodborne-illness/caffeine (Accessed 9 December 2025).

FSANZ (2025) ‘Proposal P1056: Caffeine review—second call for submissions’. Canberra: FSANZ.

Hernandez‑Huerta, D., et al. (2017) ‘Psychopathology related to energy drinks: a psychosis case report’, Case Reports in Psychiatry, Article ID 7923036.

Kim, H., et al. (2020) ‘Association between energy drink consumption and depression and suicide ideation in adolescents’, International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(6), pp. 557–565.

Knüppel, A., Shipley, M.J., Llewellyn, C.H., and Brunner, E.J. (2017) ‘Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages and common mental disorder and depression’, Scientific Reports, 7, 6287.

Low, C.E., et al. (2025) ‘Association of coffee and energy drink intake with suicide attempts and suicide ideation: a systematic review and meta‑analysis’, Journal of Affective Disorders Reports.

Lucas, C. (2013) ‘Smoking and drug interactions’, Australian Prescriber, 36(3), pp. 102–104.

Marczinski, C.A. (2014) ‘Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: what are the risks?’, Nutrition Reviews, 72(S1), pp. 98–107.

Mannix, D., Mulholland, K., and Byrne, F. (2024) ‘Caffeine‑induced psychosis: a case report and review of literature’, Cureus, 16(8), eXXXXX.

NPS MedicineWise (2024) ‘Fluvoxamine—consumer medicine information’. Available at: https://www.nps.org.au/(Accessed 9 December 2025).

Nuss, T., Morley, B., Scully, M., and Wakefield, M. (2021) ‘Energy drink consumption among Australian adolescents associated with unhealthy dietary behaviours and short sleep duration’, Nutrition Journal, 20, 64.

Owens, J.A., Mindell, J., and Baylor, A. (2014) ‘Effect of energy drink and caffeinated beverage consumption on sleep, mood and performance in children and adolescents’, Nutrition Reviews, 72(S1), pp. 65–71.

Park, S., Lee, Y., and Lee, J.H. (2016) ‘Energy drink intake, sleep, stress, and suicidality in adolescents’, Nutrition Journal, 15, 87.

Richards, G., and Smith, A.P. (2016) ‘A review of energy drinks and mental health, with a focus on stress, anxiety and depression’, Journal of Caffeine Research, 6(2), pp. 49–63.

Seifert, S.M., Schaechter, J.L., Hershorin, E.R., and Lipshultz, S.E. (2011) ‘Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents and young adults’, Pediatrics, 127(3), pp. 511–528.

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How to cite this article

Therapy Near Me (2025) ‘Energy drinks and mental health: what the science actually says’. Available at: TherapyNearMe.com.au (Accessed 9 December 2025).