Six years after the "Benadryl challenge" first appeared on TikTok, doctors report a resurgence of the trend, which involves taking excessive doses of the antihistamine diphenhydramine to induce a high while resisting drowsiness.
Medical Consequences
Overdosing on Benadryl can cause high heart rate, urinary retention, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, or death. A 14-year-old female had a seizure after participating.
Cook Children's emergency department in Texas reported one recent death and over 100 Benadryl overdose cases in the last six months. Dr. Stephanie Felton, associate medical director, noted that the current number of overdoses is lower than in 2020 but remains concerning.
Background
In 2020, the FDA issued a warning about the dangers of high doses of Benadryl, advised parents to store the medication safely, and urged TikTok to remove related videos. The FDA is investigating reports and will update the public.
Statements
Dr. Stephanie Felton encouraged parents to have open conversations with children about social media content. The FDA advised keeping Benadryl out of reach and warned healthcare workers to be aware of the trend.