NOT A DRILL

FDA Tells TikTok Teens: Please Don’t Do the ‘Benadryl Challenge’

The FDA has urged TikTok to remove videos of the challenge and to look out for new posts.

The Food and Drug Administration has been forced to issue a warning following reports that “Benadryl Challenge” videos on TikTok have landed teens in hospital, and may have caused a death. This month, it was reported that a 15-year-old girl in Oklahoma City died after taking part in the challenge, in which users take a dozen doses of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in Benadryl. The FDA cited reports of teens ending up in hospital or dying after taking part, saying: “We are investigating these reports and conducting a review to determine if additional cases have been reported.” The FDA has urged TikTok to remove videos of the challenge and to look out for new posts. “Health-care professionals should be aware that the ‘Benadryl Challenge’ is occurring among teens and alert their caregivers about it,” the agency said.