A 15-year-old girl from Oklahoma, Leah Presson, is in intensive care after consuming a large amount of Benadryl as part of a viral TikTok challenge known as the "Benadryl Challenge." This challenge encourages participants to take excessive doses of the allergy medication to induce hallucinations. Following her consumption of the drug, Presson suffered seizures and cardiac arrest, leading to her being found with no brain activity. She is currently receiving treatment at Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Leah's father, Richard Presson, initially thought her seizures were due to her asthma history but later recognized the symptoms were consistent with the effects of the Benadryl Challenge. He stated that Leah had previously engaged in this trend. Richard expressed hope for his daughter's recovery, saying, "I believe in miracles, that she’s definitely a miracle baby."
Benadryl, an antihistamine, is used to relieve allergy symptoms but can be dangerous in high doses, potentially leading to severe side effects or death. Earlier this year, another Oklahoma girl, 11-year-old Molly Miller, died from a diphenhydramine overdose linked to the same challenge. Additionally, three children in Connecticut also died from similar overdoses in recent months.
In response to these incidents, the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate has warned parents about the risks associated with Benadryl and urged them to store medications safely. The FDA has also issued warnings about the dangers of overdosing on Benadryl, particularly in relation to the TikTok challenge. Currently, searches for the "Benadryl Challenge" on TikTok now lead to a warning about drug and alcohol use.