Parents Beware! TikTok's Benadryl Challenge Could Kill Your Children

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Three teenagers reportedly got the idea of overdosing after they watched videos on TikTok that said, 'They could get high and experience hallucinations' by taking Benadryl tablets in a dozen quantities or more.

TikTok challenges, and even before this popular mobile app, challenges which many teenagers in general today, engage in, are not new.

Since the onset of this global pandemic, teenage individuals have focused mainly on discovering more of their talent and skills. 

However, a more dangerous TikTok challenge has emerged recently. Specifically, recent reports said, the so-called "Benadryl challenge" is for teenagers to take "large amounts of Benadryl to 'trip.'

On July 14, a new report was published highlighting doctors who disclosed that in May, three teenagers were confined at the Fort Worth, Texas hospital system. 

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Fractured Sentences and Hallucinations

The youth's confinement at the hospital was due overdosing on Benadryl. All three teenagers, reports indicated, got the idea after they watched videos on the popular Chinese firm-owned app that said, "They could get high and experience hallucinations" by taking Benadryl tablets in a dozen quantities or more.

The story of one of the patients, according to the hospital, was that of 14-year-old Rebekah's. She reportedly overdosed on the said medicine after she took 14 tablets of it "in the middle of the night on Memorial Day."

The teenage girl said it was scary as she spoke broken sentences and experienced hallucinations. Meanwhile, Rebekah's mom, Katie, said her daughter's "resting heart rate was 199."

Because of this occurrence, Katie said they rushed Rebekah to their local emergency department, and from ER, they decided to transport her to Cook's Children.

The teenager was confined at the hospital following worrying electrocardiogram test results. Fortunately, though, Rebekah's heart rate, according to reports, "returned to normal overnight."

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How Much is too Much?

 Benadryl is used to treat specific conditions. However, it is important to know the preferred amount to take when one needs to take it.

Indicated in a dosing guide, Benadryl posted on its website, children who are six to 12 years old should take just one tablet with four- to six-hour intervals. For those older than 12 years, the recommended dosage is one to two Benadryl tablets, also with a four- to six-hour interval.

Children aged below six years are not advised to take the said drug at all. Also, according to Benadryl, the medication should not be taken more than six doses within 24 hours.

According to a pediatrician, Ashanti Woods, MD, children are particularly at high risk for a drug overdose, although it still "depends on their size and age."

A similar dosage in a child can lead to severe negative impacts in health, while for an adult, it's not a problem at all, added Woods. The pediatrician also said it might even have a totally different impact on a teenage individual compared to a very young child.

Adverse Effects

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center administration for pharmacy services, Robert Weber, Pharm. D said, "Taking too much Benadryl," regardless of age "is just not a good idea."

Large doses, he added, could lead to some adverse effects including blurred vision, confusion, vomiting, high body temperature, high blood pressure, unsteadiness, seizures, hallucinations, heart attack, brain damage, and even death.

Until, as of this writing, Johnson & Johnson, the parent company of Benadryl, has not commented on the "TikTok Benadryl Challenge" issue yet.

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