What is the Benadryl Challenge?
The Benadryl challenge is a dangerous social media trend that emerged in early 2020 on the platform TikTok. It involves taking excessive, dangerous doses of the over-the-counter medication Benadryl (diphenhydramine) in an attempt to induce hallucinations and intense drowsiness.
The challenge encourages participants, often teenagers, to take up to 12 or more Benadryl pills at once. The standard adult dosage of Benadryl for treating allergies is just 1-2 pills. Taking such excessive doses can lead to serious health consequences like seizures, coma, and even death.
According to a report from Drugfree.org, the Benadryl challenge likely started as a prank or joke among teenagers on TikTok, with some videos showing participants taking multiple pills while filming themselves (Drugfree.org). However, the viral nature of social media led to the spread of imitative and dangerous behavior.
When did the Benadryl Challenge Start?
The origins of the Benadryl challenge can be traced back to early 2020. Though taking high doses of Benadryl was discussed in online forums prior to that, the craze of intentionally overdosing on the medication started gaining popularity as a “challenge” on the social media platform TikTok that year.
According to a report by ABC News, the earliest evidence of the Benadryl challenge being promoted on TikTok dates back to May 2020. Videos tagged #BenadrylChallenge began circulating on the app, with teenagers recording themselves consuming dozens of Benadryl tablets to induce hallucinations and “trip out.”
By summer 2020, poison control centers across the United States started reporting a dramatic uptick in calls related to teens being hospitalized for Benadryl overdoses. The dangerous challenge continued trending on TikTok into 2021 and 2022, resulting in numerous hospitalizations and even deaths.
Dangers of the Benadryl Challenge
The Benadryl Challenge poses serious health risks and life-threatening dangers. Benadryl contains diphenhydramine, an antihistamine that causes drowsiness. Taking excessive doses of Benadryl leads to an overdose that can result in frightening hallucinations, seizures, irregular heart rhythms, coma, and even death.1
The active ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is safe when used as directed but can be dangerous in high doses. Teenagers participating in the Benadryl Challenge on TikTok have been taking up to 14 times the recommended dose. This can cause severe side effects including blurred vision, vomiting, fever, confusion, dizziness, and difficulty urinating.2
Taking too much Benadryl suppresses the central nervous system and can lead to seizures, irregular heartbeats, and even death. Health experts warn that the Benadryl Challenge is extremely dangerous and can have tragic consequences.1 Parents, educators, and doctors need to spread awareness about the lethal risks of this social media trend.
Deaths Linked to the Challenge
The Benadryl challenge has sadly resulted in serious harm and death for some participants. In May 2020, a 15-year-old girl from Oklahoma City died after overdosing on Benadryl as part of the challenge, according to local news reports. Another teen was hospitalized after taking 14 Benadryl pills. More recently in April 2023, a 13-year-old boy from Ohio named Jacob Howard Stevens died after reportedly taking 12-14 Benadryl pills and suffering immediate seizures, according to his father. The dangerous challenge puts participants at risk of overdose, seizures, coma or even death, as warned by the FDA.
Warning from FDA
In September 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about the dangers of taking higher than recommended doses of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl (1). This warning came amid reports of teenagers hospitalized for taking excessive amounts of Benadryl as part of the “Benadryl Challenge” on TikTok.
The FDA stated that taking too much diphenhydramine can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death. These risks are heightened for teenagers participating in the Benadryl Challenge who often take doses much higher than the recommended amount. The FDA strongly advised consumers not to take higher than directed doses and warned parents to be aware of the dangerous online trends encouraging harm.
TikTok’s Response
As the Benadryl Challenge went viral on TikTok in 2020, the platform faced criticism for allowing videos promoting the dangerous dare. According to an article by People, TikTok responded by expressing that its “deepest sympathies go out to the families affected.”
TikTok officially condemned the challenge and began removing videos spreading it. The company said ingesting large amounts of Benadryl can lead to serious harm and advised against viewing, sharing or participating in the dangerous dare.
TikTok also reiterated its community guidelines prohibiting content that encourages, promotes, or glorifies dangerous challenges. The platform says it works to promote an experience that prioritizes safety, inclusion and authenticity.
Parental Concerns
Many parents are worried about the rapidly growing popularity of the dangerous Benadryl challenge on TikTok (1). A mother from Columbus, Ohio is sharing her tragic story after losing her 13-year-old son to an overdose from the challenge (2). She and other parents want to raise awareness and warn families about monitoring their kids’ social media activity. With the viral nature of TikTok, harmful challenges can spread almost instantaneously to teens across the world.
According to experts, parents should have open and honest conversations with their children about the life-threatening risks involved with overdosing on medications (3). They recommend keeping medications locked away and monitoring dosages given to children. Parents can also use parental controls on apps and social media platforms to limit exposure. Being actively aware of popular social media trends is key to helping teens avoid risky viral challenges.
Expert Medical Advice
Medical professionals strongly advise against participating in the Benadryl challenge. Dr. Michael Lynch, medical director of the Pittsburgh Poison Center, said taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl) can lead to “potentially serious health outcomes” (https://bcmj.org/blog/tiktok-benadryl-challenge-alert-physicians). The FDA warned that taking too much diphenhydramine can cause “serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death” (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-about-serious-problems-high-doses-allergy-medicine-diphenhydramine-benadryl).
Doctors recommend not exceeding the recommended dose of diphenhydramine and to avoid attempting viral challenges that encourage overdosing on medications. Parents should monitor their children’s social media usage and have open conversations about online safety and the dangers of risky challenges.
Preventing Harmful Challenges
So how do we prevent dangerous viral challenges like the Benadryl challenge from causing harm? According to experts, education and awareness are key.
Parents should talk to their kids about the potential dangers of overdosing on medications and encourage them to make smart choices online. Let them know that even if something is framed as a “challenge,” it can still be extremely dangerous. Stress that likes and views are not worth risking their health or lives over.
Schools can also get involved by informing students about the risks of viral challenges and asking them to alert teachers or the nurse if they hear about anything dangerous circulating online. Counselors and administrators may want to address concerns in health classes or assemblies.
Doctors can help by warning parents about concerning online trends like the Benadryl challenge. They can provide safety information and advise parents to monitor medications and social media use. Getting the word out through pediatricians and poison control centers can make a difference.
Social media platforms must also take action by identifying and removing dangerous challenges before they go viral. TikTok did eventually ban the #BenadrylChallenge hashtag. But faster response times could prevent harmful content from spreading in the first place.
With collaborated efforts to spread awareness and promote safe, responsible internet use, hopefully the loss of life from dangerous online challenges can be avoided.
The Allure and Risks of Viral Challenges
Viral challenges spread rapidly on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram because they tap into key human motivations like the desire for attention, validation, and a sense of belonging. Participating in a popular online trend can make people feel part of a greater community and give them a rush of dopamine when their videos start racking up likes and comments (Healthy Children). There is also an element of peer pressure, as users feel compelled to join in on viral stunts and stunts their friends are doing in order to fit in.
However, many viral challenges pose serious physical, mental, and legal risks. Dangerous stunts can lead to injuries, poisoning, and even death in some tragic cases (Hunter Everage). Challenges that encourage self-harm, like the Tide Pod challenge, can exacerbate mental health issues. Participants also risk facing criminal charges if their viral stunts cause damage or harm others.
While the social rewards of online challenges can be alluring, it’s important for users to carefully weigh the potential risks before participating. Challenges that spread positivity or raise awareness for social causes demonstrate there are safer ways to get attention on social media.
