A troubling trend fueled by TikTok is sending teenagers to the emergency room at an alarming rate, according to medical professionals. This surge in incidents is raising red flags over a dangerous social media challenge involving the overconsumption of Benadryl, a common over-the-counter medication.
In a concerning development reported by CBS8, Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego has seen five teenagers admitted for Benadryl overdoses within just one week leading up to Memorial Day weekend. These incidents involved individuals ranging from 16 years old to those in their early 20s, all linked to a viral challenge that encourages high doses of diphenhydramine, Benadryl’s active ingredient, to induce hallucinations.
Fortunately, none of the teens suffered fatal consequences. However, the severity of these cases has drawn attention from healthcare professionals who warn of the serious risks associated with this trend. Despite the lack of fatalities, the potential for life-threatening situations is very real, illustrating a dangerous gamble that many are taking as a result of this online fad.
Medical experts emphasize that while participants may seek the hallucinogenic effects, the same dosages can lead to severe health complications. This alarming pattern underscores the need for increased awareness and preventive measures to protect young individuals from the risks posed by such reckless behaviors circulating on social media platforms.
The challenge involves taking large amounts of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, to trigger hallucinations.
But physicians warn the same doses that produce those effects can also have devastating consequences.
“We have seen an uptick in cases of kids who have been overdosing on Benadryl, and this kind of goes in line with the national uptick in cases we’ve seen, especially in Texas, Ohio, and in Virginia,” Dr. Shahfar Khan of Rady’s told CBS 8.
“The dose required to induce hallucinations is also the same dose that can cause cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest,” he added.
Benadryl is a widely used over-the-counter antihistamine commonly taken for allergies and rashes.
Kahn said that easy access can lead families to underestimate its risks.
“That’s the trap,” he said.
Doctors say overdoses can also cause seizures, dangerous heart rhythm problems and stopped breathing.
Depending on the severity of symptoms, treatment may include medications to stabilize heart rhythms and, in extreme cases, defibrillation.
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Peer pressure is often a major factor behind participation in challenges like this.
“There is a lot of peer pressure, and if a group of kids is doing this, you kind of go with the flow. Children think, if my friend’s doing this, it must be safe,” Kahn said. “But just because it’s over the counter, it doesn’t make it safe.”
The San Diego cases mirror incidents reported elsewhere.
Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth has recorded more than 100 emergency department visits related to Benadryl overdoses over the past six months.
One of those patients died.
The so-called Benadryl challenge has been circulating on social media for several years.
The trend was still easily found on the platform as recently as last week, according to CBS.
TikTok said content promoting dangerous behavior that could result in serious injury violates its community guidelines and is removed.
Kahn urged parents to watch for warning signs such as bizarre behavior, unsteadiness, flushed skin and overheating, and to talk openly with children about online trends.
Anyone who suspects a child has taken too much Benadryl or another medication should contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
