The Dangers Of The Benadryl Challenge For Teens

Have you heard about the Benadryl Challenge? I had not until I read a story about a young teen who was brain dead because of doing a silly and stupid challenge.

This latest challenge popped up on Tik Tok about so many kids, looking for the next exciting thing to do, decide why not, I can do that. I will be cool!

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

It’s simple. Teens are taking an excessive amount of Benadryl hoping to induce hallucinations, drowsiness or a huge “high.” Then they shoot a video of themselves while either trying to stay awake or on their “high” so they can post it. Fun, huh?

Can you say danger and possible death?

The New York Post wrote a story just this year about a 15-old girl in Oklahoma who was left with no brain activity after doing the challenge. She suffered seizures and cardiac arrest. How tragic!

👇 BELOW: PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE DRUGS! 👇

Here in Michigan, there have been an alarming number of calls to poison control centers regarding teens taking the Benadryl Challenge. It’s crazy!

HOW DANGEROUS IS IT?

Benadryl has been around for a decades, and we all know it as an antihistamine that we use for allergies, colds and even sometimes for motion sickness. It works fine when taken as directed. Not so much when taken in large amounts in this crazy challenge.

The overdose can lead to:

Seizures
Abnormal Heart Rhythms
Hyperthermia, which is dangerously high body temperature
Coma, or,
Death

The frustrating thing here is Benadryl is so easy to get. It’s sold over the counter, and mom and dad, you probably have it right now in the house.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

For one thing, TALK TO YOUR KIDS! Tell them what you know and have a heart-to-heart discussion.

Monitor what they are doing on social media.

Be on the lookout for odd behavior. Maybe you see confusion, they may go into a seizure, have that rapid heart rate or begin hallucinating. Please get immediate help!

The life you save may be your child!