‘Benadryl challenge’: South Carolina teen nearly dies after attempting social media crazeKimberley BraddishThe NightlyWed, 17 September 2025 9:19AMCommentsComments
A 13-year-old girl nearly overdosed on Benadryl pills after attempting a dangerous “Benadryl Challenge” seen online, according to her mother.
The teen’s mother said her daughter began hallucinating and her heart rate soared to nearly 200 beats per minute after taking more than the recommended dosage.
The girl’s parents rushed her to hospital in Horry County, South Carolina after they discovered a significant portion of the pill bottle was missing from underneath her pillow.
“I asked her how many she took, and she told me two but I didn’t believe her because the bottle was open and there were pills on the bed,” her mother told WMBF News.
“My husband and I counted them, and we noticed a large amount was missing.”
Doctors were reportedly told by the teen that a friend claimed Benadryl could get her high if she took enough of it, and her social media feed showed several viral videos depicting teenagers taking large doses of the allergy medication for similar reasons.
“They were all kids doing Benadryl, and it just kind of blew my mind. I thought that was a safe medication. Not something a teenager would get into,” her mother said.
The mother tried to report the videos to the app but said they did not violate any policies.
She also learned her daughter had bought the pills herself after entering a store alone to purchase batteries.
“It was really hard,” she said.
“It was really scary. It was one of the hardest things we have been through. It really had an impact on her not being able to remember what happened that night and the next day waking up in the hospital. It scared her a lot.”
She urged other parents to be on “high alert” for the dangerous trend. “I just don’t want any other parent to go through this,” she said.
The US FDA previously warned that consuming excessive Benadryl can cause serious heart complications, seizures, coma or even death, after a series of teens were hospitalised or killed attempting the “Benadryl Challenge.”
If you search the challenge on TikTok in Australia a message saying “be informed and aware” pops up, directing users to sources for substance support.
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