Q: My teenage son and his buddies are into energy drinks like Red Bull. How do they work and are they safe?

A: The caffeine content of these products gives you a "buzz." They are promoted to fight fatigue and increase alertness, concentration, and reaction speed.

Caffeine is the stimulant present in coffee, tea, and some soft drinks.

Chocolate contains a caffeine cousin.

Energy drinks and supplements have mushroomed into a multibillion-dollar industry thanks to savvy marketing aimed at teens and young adults.

Check out the "cool" names of some of the dozens of brands elbowing for shelf space: Red Bull, Go-Fast!, Monster, Full Throttle.

Remember when the traditional buzz was provided by regular coffee or, if you were really daring, NoDoz and Vivarin?

Energy drinks typically carry about 80 mg of caffeine per 8-ounce can, though some brands up the ante to 400 mg. The same amount of coffee provides about 130 mg; note that just one ounce of espresso tops the chart at 64 mg.

Various non-stimulant ingredients include taurine (an amino acid), glucuronolactone, vitamins (pantothenic acid, niacin, B6 and B12), cordyceps extract, vinpocetine, octacosanol, Siberian ginseng, and Panax ginseng. The rationale for these is questionable.

There are worse things kids could be into, but energy drinks do warrant some cautions.

Moderation is the key to safety. Know the amount of caffeine per can/bottle and keep up with how many you drink. Unfortunately, products may not

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list caffeine content or may provide caffeine in the guise of guarana, yerba mate, cola nut or green tea.

Be wary if you can't decipher the amount of caffeine in a product.

Higher doses can give you the jitters, make your heart race, interfere with sleep, and cause irritability, muscle twitches and diarrhea.

Excessive amounts may induce delirium, irregular heartbeat and seizures.

Your son and his buds may be asking for trouble if they practice the reported trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Likewise for ingesting too much before intensive exercise.

Some countries have placed restrictions on these products. The U.S. market is an unfettered Wild West shootout.

Beware a hidden hazard. If you also take over-the-counter cough or cold remedies containing decongestants, appetite suppressants, or headache products containing caffeine, you are unwittingly double-dosing on stimulants.

Use extra caution if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, or prostate enlargement.

New research suggests caffeine intake above certain levels may boost the risk of miscarriage. Pregnant women might wish to limit caffeine to no more than 200 mg daily.

Finally, a caffeine withdrawal syndrome lurks. Stopping caffeine after several weeks of daily intake can leave you with anxiety, headache, dizziness and lethargy.

Read product labels carefully. Being caffeine-smart can keep you safe.