Health officials have issued a warning after five teenagers were hospitalised in San Diego following the dangerous 'Benadryl challenge'. The challenge, which has circulated on social media for years, encourages participants to take large quantities of the over-the-counter allergy medication to induce hallucinations.
The five patients were treated at Rady Children's Hospital in late May, according to local outlet KUSI. Dr. Shahfar Khan, a paediatrician at the hospital, said the challenge poses serious health risks, including agitation, hallucinations, rapid heart rate, seizures, and potential cardiac arrest. None of the five required ongoing hospital care.
Kenvue, the maker of Benadryl, described the challenge as 'dangerous' and said it should be stopped immediately. The company stated it is working with social media platforms to remove harmful content and educate the public on safe use of the medication, whose generic name is diphenhydramine.
The challenge has previously led to fatalities. In 2023, 13-year-old Jacob Stevens from Ohio died after attempting it. His father, Justin Stevens, urged parents to monitor their children's phone activity and talk to them about the risks. The US Food and Drug Administration first warned about the challenge in 2020, advising parents to lock up Benadryl to prevent misuse.
