Pensacola doctor warns as social media 'Benadryl Challenge' resurfaces online
WEAR-TV • • health
Key Points:
- The "Benadryl Challenge," a dangerous social media trend from 2020 encouraging teens to take large amounts of allergy medication to get high, is resurfacing and causing concern among doctors.
- Dr. Dawn Walton warns that excessive Benadryl use can cause severe side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias, heart attacks, and even death, with recent cases including three child fatalities in Connecticut.
- Symptoms of overdose include extreme sleepiness, heart racing, disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, and difficulty breathing, prompting urgent medical attention if observed.
- Parents are advised to securely lock away all allergy medications, including Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Claritin, to prevent misuse by children and teens.
- Medical professionals emphasize that the risks extend beyond Benadryl, as teens may misuse any allergy medication in attempts to achieve similar effects.