A jolt of energy in a can sounds like a superpower. Crack it open, take a few sips, and suddenly everything feels sharper, faster, more manageable. That rush hits hard, and it works—until it doesn’t.

For millions, cracking open an energy drink feels like flipping a mental switch, fatigue disappears, focus sharpens, and the day suddenly feels manageable. Yet that burst rarely lasts. When caffeine ...