In August 2025, videos of people claiming that Alani Nu's Witch's Brew energy drink caused stroke-like symptoms in consumers spread across social media. Alani Nu is a company that creates supplements and health foods. It sells over a dozen flavors of energy drink, one of which is Witch's Brew.
According to a person in one TikTok video (archived) viewed over 5 million times, she experienced stroke-like symptoms after drinking Witch's Brew on more than one occasion. Similar claims were made in other videos posted to TikTok (archived) and X (archived). Other social media posts, such as this TikTok video (archived) viewed more than 2.5 million times and multiple Facebook (archived) posts (archived), claimed the energy drinks were causing chest pains and heart issues. Many people searched Snopes to find out if the claims were true.
While the exact link between energy drinks and stroke risks is understudied, according to MDLinx, an online resource for healthcare professionals, there is limited research to suggest that energy drinks, particularly when consumed regularly, may increase the risk of stroke or stroke-like symptoms. Snopes cannot independently verify whether Alani Nu's Witch's Brew is any likelier to cause these symptoms than other energy drinks, but its ingredients are largely the same as the ingredients in other Alani Nu energy drink flavors.
Snopes reached out to Alani Nu by email to ask whether there were any major differences between its formulation for Witch's Brew and the formulations it uses for its other flavors but did not receive a response prior to publishing.
MDLinx referenced various studies that suggested energy drinks could have adverse impacts on the heart and blood pressure, which increase the risk of stroke. MDLinx said the authors of one of these studies noted that the risks "may be more closely linked to mass consumption of energy drinks rather than the ingredients of one specific formula."
Cleveland Clinic said that energy drinks could cause a condition called reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS), which could in turn lead to a stroke. RCVS is a condition that causes blood vessels to spasm and tighten in the brain, causing sudden intense headaches and symptoms similar to those associated with strokes, according to Cleveland Clinic. Caffeine and energy drinks can cause or contribute to RCVS, Cleveland Clinic said.
RCVS is a medical emergency, but most people who experience it will have a full recovery without lasting symptoms, according to Cleveland Clinic and HCA Healthcare Far West. About 10% to 30% of patients will have lasting minor issues, such as difficulties with balance. About 5% to 10% may experience more severe complications, including stroke.
Some studies have suggested long-term exposure to caffeine and other substances in energy drinks may increase the risk for stroke, according to the Mayo Clinic, but for most adults with healthy hearts and no genetic history of heart disease, energy drink consumption in moderation should be safe. However, there are challenges for health experts in determining just how much energy drink consumption is "moderate" and "safe."
While health experts say a safe recommended daily limit of caffeine intake for adults is 400 mg, energy drinks may also contain other ingredients at varying levels that make it difficult to recommend a universal safe limit on energy drink consumption, according to Cleveland Clinic and VeryWell Health.
The listed ingredients in Alani Nu's Witch's Brew didn't differ all that much from the listed ingredients in three other Alani Nu energy flavors analyzed by Snopes: Blue Slush, Cosmic Stardust and Orange Kiss. The only Witch's Brew ingredient not in any of the other flavors was green tea extract. Witch's Brew, as well as Blue Slush and Cosmic Stardust, contained erythritol, an artificial sweetener that research has also linked to risks of heart issues and stroke, while Orange Kiss did not.
Erythritol is also used in other low or no sugar products, including energy drinks such as Red Bull Zero.
All of the sources above stressed that health risks associated with energy drinks are even greater for teenagers and children. Even Alani Nu's product page for its energy drinks notes that the drinks are "not recommended for children."