Benadryl Challenge

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Part of a series on Internet Challenges. [View Related Entries]

About

The Benadryl Challenge is a purported internet challenge in which TikTok users take large amounts of the allergy medication Benadryl until they hallucinate. The trend purportedly became popularized on the app in 2020, later leading to the reported hospitalization of several teens and the death of one. In mid-April 2023, a 13-year-old boy reportedly died after attempting the challenge, subsequently causing a resurgence of interest in the trend online.

Origin

The exact origins of the rumored "Benadryl challenge" are unknown. However, on July 14th, 2020, CBS News^[1] reported that three Texas teens were hospitalized after ingesting "excessive amounts" of Benadryl following the group purportedly being encouraged to do so by a TikTok video. Dazed^[2] reported on the same story on July 30th, including a screenshot of a now-deleted TikTok video about taking Benadryl. These are the first known reports of the reported challenge. TikTok has blocked searches for the terms "Benadryl" and "Benadryl challenge," presumably due to the news of the challenge.

Later that year on August 28th, KFOR News^[3] then reported that a 15-year-old Oklahoma girl's death was suspected to have been a result of the Benadryl challenge, specifically linking it to TikTok (shown below).

Spread

The Benadryl challenge has become a topic of discussion online since it was first reported in 2020. On September 1st, 2020, YouTuber^[4] GCP posted a video about the challenge that gained over 367,000 views in three years (shown below, left). On September 24th, the FDA^[5] notably released an official statement about the challenge and dangers of taking too much Benadryl.

On January 13th, 2023, YouTuber^[6] Maverick Files posted a video titled "The Benadryl Challenge" in which he discusses the hallucinations some people have purportedly seen while tripping on Benadryl, including The Hat Man, garnering over 100,000 views in three months (shown below, right). On March 4th, TikToker^[10] @luo881954la posted a video discussing the Benadryl challenge as one of the dumbest TikTok trends to ever exist, garnering over a million views in a month.

2023 Death Of Ohio Teen

On April 17th, 2023, an Ohio teenager name Jacob Stevens reportedly died at the age of 13 after purportedly attempting the Benadryl challenge. A report by the New York Post^[7] claims that Stevens was at home with some friends when he overdosed and that the friends filmed him taking the pills.

The story gained viral spread online shortly after. On April 17th, Twitter^[8] user @DailyLoud shared the story, garnering over 104,000 likes in a day. Oli London also shared the story on Twitter,^[9] garnering over 4,000 likes in the same span of time.