Calls to poison centers regarding Benadryl overdoses among teens more than doubled this year compared to last, according to ABC News. The spike coincides with a viral social media challenge encouraging participants to ingest large amounts of the antihistamine. In Connecticut, three children have died from apparent diphenhydramine overdoses, though officials caution there is no confirmed link to the online trend yet.
The challenge, which has circulated on platforms like TikTok, prompts users to take dangerously high doses of Benadryl to induce hallucinations. Public health experts warn that even a single large dose can cause severe heart problems, seizures, and potentially fatal respiratory depression. The phenomenon has reignited concerns among parents and school officials about the reach of viral dares.
ABC News reported that the year-over-year increase in calls to poison centers is significant, though exact figures were not specified in the available coverage. Connecticut authorities disclosed that the three child fatalities involved diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, but they stopped short of attributing the deaths directly to any specific social media challenge. Investigations remain ongoing.
The trend places added pressure on healthcare systems already strained by the ongoing fentanyl crisis and other drug-related emergencies. Emergency rooms may see a rise in adolescent visits for antihistamine toxicity. State health departments in several regions have begun issuing public advisories and coordinating with school districts to educate teens about the risks.
"Parents should talk to their kids about this immediately," one toxicologist told ABC News, emphasizing that Benadryl is not a harmless over-the-counter drug at high doses.