Benadryl Challenge Kills 4 U.S. Teens in 2026 as Study Ties Trend to 131 Deaths
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jul 24
Benadryl Challenge Kills 4 U.S. Teens in 2026 as Study Ties Trend to 131 Deaths
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jul 24
Summary
Four American teens died in May and June after taking excessive Diphenhydramine in the social-media-driven “Benadryl Challenge,” which pushes users to seek hallucinations from overdose.
Diphenhydramine is sold over the counter, but high doses can trigger Anticholinergic toxicity—causing delirium, seizures, dangerous heart rhythms, hyperthermia, coma and death.
A study estimated the challenge may have contributed to as many as 131 U.S. deaths between 2020 and 2024, underscoring how a trend that surfaced in 2020 has persisted despite warnings.
The FDA warned about the challenge in 2020 and pressed TikTok to remove related videos, while Canadian officials again issued alerts in 2026 after reports of youth participation.
The resurgence has sharpened calls for earlier public-health messaging, stronger digital health literacy and tougher platform accountability to curb harmful viral medication trends.