Warning: This article contains discussion of drug addiction which some readers may find distressing.
A children’s hospital has shared an urgent warning for parents following a risky Benadryl trend circulating on TikTok.
Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth says its emergency department has treated more than 100 related cases in the past six months, and that one of those incidents ended in a death.
The trend is commonly referred to as the ‘Benadryl challenge’. It first gained attention during the Covid pandemic in 2020 and involves people taking far more than the recommended amount of the over-the-counter allergy medication.
Videos connected to the challenge show participants consuming excessive doses, with some claiming it can make users feel intoxicated or experience hallucinations.
Medical staff are stressing that taking too much of any medication can be extremely dangerous. With visits continuing to rise, the hospital has issued a renewed message urging families to take the issue seriously.
“We are seeing either children are taking the medication in an inappropriate amount intentionally or accidentally ingesting it,” Dr. Stephanie Felton, associate medical director for the emergency department said.
Alongside the medical warning, the hospital is encouraging parents and guardians to speak openly with children about online challenges and the real-world consequences that can follow.
The dangers were highlighted in 2023 with the death of 13-year-old Jacob Stevens, who reportedly overdosed after taking around 12 to 14 pills.
In an interview with ABC6, Jacob’s father described it as the ‘worst day of his life’.
Jacob was filming the challenge with friends when he began to have seizures. After he was rushed to hospital, the family was told he would not regain consciousness.
“They said we could keep him on the vent so that he could lay there but he will never open his eyes, he’ll never breathe, smile, walk or talk,” his father recalled.
The Benadryl challenge is one of several social media trends that have raised alarm in recent years. In 2023, the One Chip Challenge spread widely online and was linked to the death of a teenager.
That challenge involved eating a single tortilla chip made with Carolina Reaper peppers, known for extreme heat.
It was originally marketed by tortilla chip company Paqui with packaging that warned the product was intended for adults only. Following the reported fatal incident, the company removed the product from store shelves.
Another trend that has led to multiple deaths is the Blackout challenge, where participants restrict their breathing until they lose consciousness due to oxygen deprivation.
Some videos show individuals using everyday household items such as ropes, belts, or strings in attempts to pass out, creating a high risk of fatal injury.
In response to concerns connected to the Benadryl challenge, the FDA has advised families to keep medications secured and out of children’s reach, and to discuss the potential harm of imitating online challenges.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.