Fatal caffeine overdose: a case report and review of literature.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Single-patient clinical case report and narrative review.
PubMed 24196726 · doi:10.1097/PAF.0000000000000058
What was done
A case report and literature review documenting a fatal caffeine overdose in a 39-year-old male following the self-administered ingestion of pure caffeine anhydrous powder, including postmortem toxicological blood concentration analysis.
What was found
Ingestion of approximately 12 g of pure caffeine anhydrous resulted in death, with postmortem autopsy blood caffeine levels measured at 350 mg/L.
Why it matters
Highlights the extreme acute toxicity and lethal potential of bulk pure caffeine anhydrous sold as a dietary supplement, supporting calls for mandatory warning labels and routine caffeine screening in postmortem toxicology panels.
Limits
As a single-case report (n = 1), findings cannot establish population-level toxicity thresholds. The abstract lacks details regarding medical history, time course from ingestion to death, postmortem interval, or systematic review methodology.
Cited by
- supports There are documented cases of people overdosing and dying from ingesting concentrated caffeine powder.