Public Health Officials Fight Benadryl Challenge After 4 U.S. Teen Deaths

3 articles · Updated · health.yahoo.com · Jul 26

Four U.S. teens died in May and June after taking excessive diphenhydramine in the revived “Benadryl Challenge,” prompting renewed public health warnings.
Diphenhydramine overdoses can trigger delirium, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, hyperthermia, coma and death, even though the allergy drug is sold over the counter and often seen as harmless.
A study estimated the challenge may have contributed to as many as 131 U.S. deaths from 2020 to 2024, underscoring how social media can rapidly spread risky behavior among adolescents.
The FDA warned about the trend in 2020 and pressed TikTok to remove related videos, while Canada has again alerted parents and clinicians after reports of youth participation in 2026.
Officials increasingly argue that stopping such viral drug challenges requires earlier education, stronger digital health literacy and more accountability for platforms hosting harmful content.