1 child dead, dozens hospitalized from ‘Benadryl Challenge’
Fort Worth Star-Telegram • • health
Key Points:
- A social media trend called the Benadryl Challenge is causing children to intentionally overdose on Benadryl to induce hallucinations, leading to dozens of hospitalizations and one reported death at Cook Children’s Medical Center.
- Over the past six months, over 100 patients, primarily teens and pre-teens, have been treated for Benadryl overdoses at the hospital, with symptoms including high heart rate, arrhythmia, and kidney dysfunction.
- The FDA issued a warning in 2020 about the dangers of high doses of Benadryl, highlighting risks such as serious heart problems, seizures, coma, and death.
- Medical experts urge parents to have open, honest conversations with their children about social media influences and to monitor medication access at home to prevent overdoses.
