Girl, 15, dies of overdose while attempting TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’

Описание: A 15 year-old girl has died after overdosing on Benadryl as part of a ‘dangerous’ viral challenge sweeping TikTok.


The unnamed teenager died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, last week while attempting the ‘Benadryl Challenge’ that sees participants take at least 12 capsules of the anti-allergy medicine in an attempt to get high.

But Scott Schaeffer, from the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information, told KFOR that the margin of error between hallucinating and killing yourself is extremely narrow. He explained:

The dose that can cause a hallucination is very close to the dose that can cause something potentially life-threatening. Large doses of Benadryl can cause seizures and, particularly, problems with the heart.

The heart tends to go out of rhythm and not pump blood effectively.
The victim’s family described her as happy, faith-driven and completely untempted to take any illegal drugs.

Experts fear Benadyl’s status as a common over-the-counter drug used to treat common allergies including hayfever, and alleviate symptoms of the common cold may mask its potential dangers.

Schaeffer said he works with teachers and schools to try and underline the potential dangers of such challenges, with educators already under pressure as the coronavirus outbreak forced classes online.

Three teenagers were hospitalized in Dallas in May after attempting the Benadryl challenge.

In 2018, public health officials across the US issued similar warnings after the Tide Pod challenge saw youngsters film themselves eating corrosive plastic sacs filled with laundry detergent. #SchengenStoryNews