Home / Health / Georgia Police Warn: Benadryl Challenge Deadly
Georgia Police Warn: Benadryl Challenge Deadly
3 Jul
Summary
- The Benadryl challenge encourages taking 12 tablets for hallucinations.
- Overdosing on Benadryl can lead to seizures, coma, or death.
- Teens have been hospitalized and suffered cardiac arrest from the trend.
A critical warning has been issued by the Grantville Police Department in Georgia regarding the perilous "Benadryl challenge" prevalent on social media platforms. This dangerous trend reportedly encourages individuals, particularly teenagers, to ingest large quantities of Benadryl, sometimes up to 12 tablets, with the aim of inducing hallucinations. The police department emphasized that such excessive doses far exceed recommended safety limits and can result in severe medical emergencies.
The risks associated with this challenge are substantial. The FDA had previously alerted the public in 2020 about the potential for serious adverse effects, including heart problems, seizures, coma, and fatalities, stemming from doses higher than medically advised. Recent events underscore these warnings, with one Oklahoma teenager requiring intensive care after experiencing seizures and cardiac arrest, reportedly leading to a critical condition with no brain activity.
Another alarming incident involved a 13-year-old girl who nearly overdosed after participating in the challenge. Her mother recounted that her daughter began experiencing hallucinations and a dangerously elevated heart rate, reaching nearly 200 beats per minute. The "Benadryl challenge" has resurfaced multiple times, prompting continuous public health advisories against its hazardous practice.
