HANNIBAL (WGEM) — Store shelves, medicine cabinets, nightstands — these are a few of the places Benadryl and other antihistamines can be found. Antihistamines are considered harmless by many — but a newly resurfaced social media trend says otherwise.
Videos encouraging students to ingest large amounts of Benadryl to get high are circulating through social media feeds.
A student in South Carolina was rushed to her local hospital with a heart rate of 200 beats per minute after taking part in the challenge.
This is not the first time the viral challenge has made troubling headlines. An Ohio teen passed away in April 2023 — he reportedly overdosed on Benadryl while hanging out with his friends.
One local pharmacist said taking any medication in excess is dangerous.
“The general feeling that medications, because they’re over-the-counter, are safe, and that you can’t be harmed from them, it’s just not true,“ said Greg Gilmore, owner and pharmacist at Grand Pharmacy in Hannibal.
Gilmore explained antihistamines slow bodily functions like breathing, which can lead to cardiac issues or even a coma.
Parents and guardians should always be on the lookout for overdose symptoms like drowsiness, slurred or confused speech, hallucinations and seizures.
TikTok and Benadryl both previously released statements condemning the challenge.
Gilmore advises anyone who suspects their child may be overdosing to contact Poison Control.
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