Sign in Subscribe
Youth

Rise of the "Benadryl Challenge" Sparks Worry Among Health Experts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The trend of teenagers and young adults misusing common over-the-counter antihistamines, including diphenhydramine, began on TikTok in 2020 and has since expanded to other social media platforms. The "Benadryl Challenge" encourages users to ingest high doses of diphenhydramine to induce hallucinations or get "high." Researchers have found a significant increase in diphenhydramine-related adverse event reports to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) among individuals 10-25 years old, with 413 reports meeting the study's inclusion criteria.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "Benadryl Challenge" is a viral trend on social media that encourages users to ingest high doses of diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine with anticholinergic properties.
  • The trend began on TikTok in 2020 and has since expanded to other social media platforms.
  • Researchers analyzed diphenhydramine-related adverse event reports from FAERS and found a significant increase among individuals 10-25 years old, with 413 reports meeting the study's inclusion criteria.
  • Peaks in reporting coincided with the challenge's emergence, while declines may have resulted from public health advisories or other factors.
  • Strengthening preventive strategies, including education and monitoring, may help mitigate future harm.

Statistics:

  • A total of 413 diphenhydramine-related adverse event reports were analyzed from January 2013 to December 2024.
  • The number of reports across years varied, with 2013 and 2016 having the lowest number of reports (n=7) and 2023 having the highest (n=73).
  • The forecasted monthly report counts from May 2020 to December 2024 ranged from 2.13 to 6.63, with reports exceeding forecasted amounts several times after April 2020.

Sources:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025). Toxic Trends: The Hallucinatory Appeal of the TikTok Benadryl Challenge. Abstract presented at the 2025 National Conference & Exhibition.
  • NewsRx LLC. (2025, October 18). The Benadryl Challenge: A Dangerous Social Media Trend Promoting Diphenhydramine Misuse. NewsRx.

Read more