Caffeine Inhaler: Revolutionary or Dangerous?
A new caffeine inhaler may be a new trend, but Senator Chuck Schumer has called for the Food and Drug Administration to investigate.
AeroShot Pure Energy is a lipstick-like tube that provides users with 100 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of one large cup of coffee. Instructions from the website say that to use AeroShot, "Pull the yellow end open, put the other end in your mouth, gently puff into your mouth and swallow. The powder dissolves almost instantly."
While the company claims it is perfectly safe, many are wary of the inhalant. New York Senator Chuck Schumer has told the FDA he wants an investigation of the inhaler. According to reports, Schumer is afraid that young adults may use the drug in a harmful manner, such as an "upper" in the club so they can keep drinking.
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AeroShot's creator, David Edwards, is a biomedical engineering professor and stated, "Even with coffee- if you look at the reaction in Europe to coffee when it first appeared- there was quite a bit of hysteria. So anything new, there's always some knee-jerk reaction that makes us believe 'Well, maybe it's not safe.'"
The product's website assures users, "AeroShot isn't about switching away from coffee… However, as a great new addition to your daily routine, AeroShot can be used in a variety of settings inconvenient for liquids."
It is described as "a revolutionary new way to get your energy. It delivers a unique blend of caffeine and B vitamins in a fine power that dissolves quickly in your mouth. So you get a quick boost of energy that starts working right away. The energy of the future is here."
"In my view, frequent use of caffeine inhalers has the potential to lead to abuse," Dr. Robert Glatter told HealthPop. "Significant public education is paramount in order to avert dangerous outcomes."
The FDA has not publicly responded to Schumer's request but has agreed to look into the matter.
