3 child Benadryl deaths spark renewed fears of dangerous social media trend
LiveNOW from FOX • • health
Key Points:
- Connecticut health officials report three children have died from diphenhydramine overdoses, though it is unclear if these deaths are linked to the social media "Benadryl Challenge."
- The Office of the Child Advocate urges parents and providers to be vigilant about medication misuse among adolescents and to store all medications securely out of children's reach.
- The "Benadryl Challenge," a dangerous TikTok trend from 2020 encouraging high doses of diphenhydramine to induce hallucinations, has contributed to increased abuse despite efforts to remove related content.
- Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine used safely for allergy symptoms when taken as directed, but misuse can cause severe health issues including heart problems, seizures, coma, or death.
- The FDA recommends storing all medications, including diphenhydramine, locked and out of sight of children, and always reading labels to ensure proper usage.