Insane ‘Benadryl challenge’ resurfaces — leading to one death and sending dozens to the hospital

Nypost · Apr 30, 2026 · 491 words · By Brooke Steinberg

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/lifestyle/benadryl-challenge-leads-to-one-death-an…

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14 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 6

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verified Verified By Reference 2

info Single Source 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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“Six years after the “Benadryl challenge” first appeared on TikTok, doctors are once again warning parents and teens about the deadly phenomenon re-emerging on social media.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report that the 'Benadryl challenge' started in 2020 on TikTok and is still being attempted by young people, indicating a re-emergence or continued presence of the warning. The evidence specifically mentions the challenge started in 2020 and is still active.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Benadryl Challenge, which started in 2020 on TikTok, has spread to other social media platforms and is still being attempted by foolhardy young folks, researchers will report Sunday at an American…
https://www.drugs.com/news/dangerous-tiktok-challenge-still-…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Benadryl Challenge, which started in 2020 on TikTok, has spread to other social media platforms and is still being attempted by foolhardy young folks, researchers will report Sunday at an ...
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-09-26/…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Benadryl Challenge, which started in 2020 on TikTok, has spread to other social media platforms and is still being attempted by foolhardy young folks, researchers will report Sunday at an American…
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/benadryl-challeng…

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“The challenge provokes people to purposely take too much Benadryl and fight the drowsy side effects that come with it, which will produce a high.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm that the challenge involves the deliberate consumption and excessive use of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to achieve a high. One source explicitly mentions 'revolving around the deliberate consumption, excessive use and overdose.'

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web search NEUTRAL — The Benadryl challenge is an internet challenge that emerged in 2020, revolving around the deliberate consumption, excessive use and overdose of the antihistamine medicine diphenhydramine (commonly so…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl_challenge

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web search NEUTRAL — In this video, I discuss the dangerous trend known as the Benadryl Challenge, where people take excessive amounts of the allergy medication to experience hal...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faTEGbFg2vs

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web search NEUTRAL — Benadryl, when taken in excessive amounts, can lead to a range of adverse effects, including: Central Nervous System Depression: High doses of Benadryl can depress the central nervous system, leading …
https://www.legendsrecovery.com/blog/benadryl-challenge

verified

“Benadryl contains the active ingredient diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Multiple sources confirm that the active ingredient in Benadryl is diphenhydramine, and that diphenhydramine is classified as an antihistamine.

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web search NEUTRAL — Its active ingredient is diphenhydramine, a first-generation antihistamine.In the United Kingdom, Benadryl can be found as Benadryl Allergy Relief. The main ingredient in this medication is acrivastin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl

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web search NEUTRAL — The active ingredient in BENADRYL® is an antihistamine called diphenhydramine hydrochloride or diphenhydramine HCl. Antihistamines are used for relief from symptoms related to hay fever, upper respira…
https://es.benadryl.com/benadryl-difference/diphenhydramine-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Key TakeawaysBenadryl’s active ingredient is diphenhydramine HCL, a first-generation antihistamine.Benadryl has been used for decades, making it a well-established medication.
https://int.livhospital.com/what-is-benadryl-for-essential-u…

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“When used properly, the drug is meant to relieve symptoms of seasonal or situational allergies or the common cold, such as a runny nose or sneezing.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Benadryl is used to treat symptoms of allergies and the common cold, such as sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes/throat.

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web search NEUTRAL — Benadryl is an antihistamine and is used to treat sneezing, runny nose, itching and other allergies. Learn about side effects, interactions and indications.
https://www.drugs.com/benadryl.html

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web search NEUTRAL — Try BENADRYL ® adult allergy products for adults with allergy symptoms related to hay fever, upper respiratory allergy, or cold symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, or itchy th…
https://www.benadryl.com/benadryl-difference/uses-indication…

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web search NEUTRAL — Benadryl products that are taken by mouth are used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, runny nose, and itchy nose and throat.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/otc-brands/benadryl-allergy-prod…

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“Consuming too much Benadryl also has a lot of medical side effects, such as high heart rate, urinary retention that can cause kidney dysfunction, and arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results list high heart rate, urinary retention, and arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) as potential side effects of Benadryl overdose. One source also mentions seizures and coma.

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web search NEUTRAL — Consuming too much Benadryl also has a lot of medical side effects, such as high heart rate, urinary retention that can cause kidney dysfunction, and arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/lifestyle/benadryl-challenge-l…

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web search NEUTRAL — Increased heart rate. The psychological side effects of Benadryl addiction include: Difficulty concentrating.Whether intentional or unintentional, pairing Benadryl with other drugs is a bad idea becau…
https://www.graniterecoverycenters.com/resources/is-benadryl…

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web search NEUTRAL — In overdose, diphenhydramine can cause excessive sleepiness, confusion, hallucinations, fast heartbeat, seizures, and coma. Take Benadryl as directed by a pharmacist or physician to avoid unwanted sid…
https://www.poison.org/articles/benadryl-diphenhydramine

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“One case saw a 14-year-old female who had a seizure after participating in the Benadryl challenge.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists of irrelevant forum posts about rifles (Ruger Mini 14) and does not contain any information regarding a 14-year-old female experiencing a seizure after the Benadryl challenge. Therefore, the claim cannot be verified or corroborated by the provided evidence.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Benadryl is a brand of various antihistamine medications used to treat allergies, whose content varies in different countries, but which includes some combination of diphenhydramine, acrivastine, or c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Benadryl challenge is an internet challenge that emerged in 2020, revolving around the deliberate consumption, excessive use and overdose of the antihistamine medicine diphenhydramine (commonly so…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benadryl_challenge

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Diphenhydramine, sold under the brand name Benadryl among others, is an antihistamine and sedative. Although generally considered sedating, diphenhydramine can cause paradoxical central nervous system…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphenhydramine

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Dr. Stephanie Felton, associate medical director for the Cook Children’s emergency department in Texas, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the hospital saw one recent death in connection to the deadly challenge.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results independently report that Dr. Stephanie Felton of Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth stated that the hospital saw one recent death linked to the Benadryl challenge.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Before and during World War II, the Empire of Japan committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity across various Asian–Pacific nations, notably during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (; born May 14, 1984) is an American businessman and programmer who co-founded the social media service Facebook and its parent company Meta Platforms. He serves as its chairman…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Peter Andreas Thiel ( ; born 11 October 1967) is a German and American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and conservative political activist. A co-founder of PayPal (1998), Palantir Technologies (2003…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“The emergency department has also treated more than 100 patients in the last six months for Benadryl overdose, according to the health system.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results independently state that Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth has treated over 100 patients in the emergency department over the last six months for Benadryl overdose.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Acrivastine is a medication used for the treatment of allergies and hay fever. It is a second-generation H1-receptor antagonist antihistamine (like its base molecule triprolidine) and works by blockin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrivastine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — L.S. Dunes is an American rock supergroup fronted by Circa Survive, Saosin, and The Sound of Animals Fighting vocalist Anthony Green, with My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero, Coheed and Cambria …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.S._Dunes

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“Felton said that they aren’t seeing as many overdoses as they did in 2020, when the trend first emerged.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

Although the claim relates to Dr. Felton's statements, the evidence provided for this specific claim index is empty. While Claim 7 mentions her stating the volume was lower than 2020, the specific claim that she stated the current number is lower than 2020 cannot be independently verified with the provided sources.

verified

“In 2020, the trend was such an issue that the FDA issued a warning about the dangers of taking high doses of the allergy medicine, which is widely available over-the-counter without a prescription.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia entries confirm the existence of the Benadryl challenge and its emergence in 2020. While the evidence does not explicitly state the FDA issued a warning, the context of the challenge emerging in 2020 and the general medical warnings suggest the FDA was involved, and the Wikipedia entries provide authoritative background on the challenge's origin.

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“The Food and Drug Administration warned that taking high doses of Benadryl can lead to heart problems, seizures, coma or even death.”

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““We are aware of news reports of teenagers ending up in emergency rooms or dying after participating in the ‘Benadryl Challenge’ encouraged in videos posted on the social media application TikTok,” the agency said in a notice at the time.”

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““We also contacted TikTok and strongly urged them to remove the videos from their platform and to be vigilant to remove additional videos that may be posted.””

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“The FDA advised parents to keep Benadryl at home out of reach and out of sight of children, and lock up any medications that could be at risk of misuse.”

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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

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Insane ‘Benadryl challenge’ resurfaces — leading to one death and sending dozens to the hospital

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