Quick Review

• The Benadryl challenge encourages taking large amounts of diphenhydramine, the ingredient in Benadryl, to experience hallucinations.
• Over-the-counter medicines can cause severe poisoning when taken in large amounts.
• Store medicines securely, check quantities, and talk with your child about online challenges.
• If you suspect an overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 right away for trouble breathing, seizures, collapse, or if someone cannot be awakened.

The allergy medicine in your bathroom cabinet may seem ordinary, but an online trend can make it a target for teens looking to imitate a video or impress friends. This month, a Georgia middle school student was hospitalized after reportedly taking too much Benadryl, prompting local police to urge parents to talk with their children and secure medicines at home.

By Janice Robinson-Celeste
Audio: Audio version coming soon.

What Is The Benadryl Challenge?

The Benadryl challenge is an online trend that encourages people to take large amounts of diphenhydramine, the antihistamine in Benadryl and some sleep aids. Videos frame the goal as seeing things that are not there. Here is the part every parent needs to hear: high doses disrupt the brain and the heart, and they can kill.

Teens may know it by another name, “Benny tripping.” Rutgers New Jersey Poison Control Center used that phrase in an October 6 report about a teenager hospitalized after intentionally misusing Benadryl. The teen was described as “not acting like themselves” before symptoms moved into confusion, disorientation, and slurred speech.

The FDA warns that taking more than the recommended amount of diphenhydramine can cause serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or death. Over-the-counter does not mean safe in large doses.

Why Parents Are Hearing About It Now

On October 17, St. Marys Police in Georgia issued a warning after a St. Marys Middle School student was hospitalized for reportedly taking too much Benadryl. Police asked families to talk about online videos and challenges and to keep medicines out of children’s reach.

National poison-center data show this is not one town’s problem. America’s Poison Centers reported that diphenhydramine-only cases among teens ages 13 to 19 rose from 10,068 in 2024 to 13,284 in 2025, a 31.9% increase, and 7,292 cases were reported through June 30, 2026, nearly double the same period in 2025. Intentional abuse accounted for 13.7% of those teen cases in 2026, up from 7.3% in 2020.

These numbers describe calls to poison centers, not every teen’s experience. Still, they are reason enough for a simple safety plan at home. In April 2026, Cook Children’s in Fort Worth also reported about 100 emergency-room visits and one death linked to Benadryl overdoses in the preceding six months, and that report counted overdoses of any kind, not only confirmed challenge cases.

Teen diphenhydramine-only cases reported to poison centers increased 31.9% from 2024 to 2025.
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Talk About It Without Making It More Appealing

A calm, direct conversation makes it easier for your child to come to you if they see a challenge or feel pressured to join one. Keep the focus on safety and what to do next, rather than describing videos in detail.

You might say:

• “I saw a warning about people misusing allergy medicine online. Have you come across anything like that?”
• “Some videos make risky things look harmless. Taking too much medicine can seriously affect your heart and brain.”
• “If you or a friend has taken extra medicine, tell me right away. I will help first, and we can work through the rest together.”
• “You can leave a group chat, stop watching, or tell a trusted adult if someone is pressuring you.”

Listen without jumping straight to blame or punishment. Ask what your child has seen, whether friends are discussing it, and which trusted adult they would contact if you were not available.

Secure Medicines And Check Quantities

Store all medicines, including nonprescription products, in a locked cabinet or secured container, out of sight and reach. Keep them in their original packaging so the product and label remain identifiable. And do a quick sweep: bottles in purses, bedside drawers, and backpacks are exactly where curious teens go looking.

If your child needs medicine, follow the label and supervise access as appropriate for their age and maturity. Check quantities from time to time. If a bottle appears open, tablets are missing, or the amount does not add up, ask calmly and contact Poison Control for guidance if there may have been an ingestion.

Recognize Possible Poisoning And Get Help

Diphenhydramine poisoning can cause drowsiness, agitation, fast heart rate, nausea or vomiting, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, dangerous heart rhythms, or loss of consciousness. A person may be unusually sleepy, restless, disoriented, or not acting like themselves. Symptoms can vary, so do not wait for a particular sign to appear.

If you suspect your child has taken too much:

1. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. The service is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the United States. Share the product, approximate amount, time, age, and symptoms if you know them. Do not delay calling to gather every detail.
2. Call 911 immediately if your child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, collapses, or cannot be awakened. Follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
3. Do not induce vomiting. Keep the medicine package available for responders or Poison Control.

The Poison Control guidance explains when to call and what information may help experts advise you. If you are unsure whether it is an emergency, call for professional guidance rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.

Notice Online Content Without Amplifying It

Your child may see challenge-related posts on TikTok, Snapchat, or other social platforms. Terms such as “Benadryl challenge” and “Benny tripping” may help you recognize related conversations, but there is no need to search for or replay harmful videos with your child.

Ask what they have seen in their feed, whether anyone is discussing medicine misuse, and how they would respond if a friend shared such content. If they show you a post, report it through the platform’s safety tools and help them avoid resharing it. The goal is to support a safer choice, not turn the content into a spectacle.

For more practical guidance, explore SCN’s resources for parents and family safety resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benadryl Safe When Used As Directed?

Diphenhydramine is used in some over-the-counter medicines. Follow the product label and a health professional’s advice. Taking more than directed can cause serious harm.

What Should I Do If My Teen Says A Friend Took Some?

Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 promptly for guidance. If the friend has trouble breathing, a seizure, collapses, or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately. Encourage your teen to tell a trusted adult and not leave the friend alone.

Should I Search My Child’s Social Media For The Challenge?

You can check in and use age-appropriate family safety settings, but start with a calm conversation. Ask about what appears in their feed and whether friends are talking about medicine challenges. Avoid searching for or sharing videos that could expose other children to harmful instructions.

Build A Safer Plan Together

You do not need a perfect speech to protect your child. A calm conversation, secure medicine storage, and knowing whom to call can make the next step clearer for your family.

Explore SCN’s parent resources, and join our newsletter for practical guidance and safety updates.

What helps your family talk openly about risky online trends? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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