Ottawa Valley parent warns of lethal Benadryl TikTok challenge after teen hospitalized

An Ottawa Valley parent is warning others after her 13-year-old daughter found herself hospitalized from taking part in a dangerous TikTok challenge.

The trend known as the “Benadryl challenge” emerged on the social media platform in 2020 and encourages young people to take large amounts of the allergy medication to achieve a high similar to alcohol, along with hallucinations.

The challenge has claimed the life of at least one American teen, according to local media in Oklahoma City.

Laura Wesbrook from Arnprior, Ont., says her daughter and a friend each took 36 tablets of the allergy medicine on Feb. 27, which caused her to spend four days at CHEO, including three days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Wesbrook says the experience was “terrifying” and she was left with uncertainty about her daughter’s condition while she was in hospital. She spent several hours at the Arnprior hospital before being transferred to CHEO.

“I was scared I wasn’t going to have my daughter,” she told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal.

“It was all just a waiting game is how they described it to me. The way that it affects your body, you have to just wait it out.”

• 2020 STORY: TikTok ‘Benadryl challenge’ could have lethal consequences: doctor

While she says her daughter has thankfully recovered from her injuries, Wesbrook wants to raise awareness of the dangers of the social media challenge.

“We have to put it out there to parents just to keep an extra eye on their kids, on what they’re watching and what they’re being influenced by,” she said.

She also says she’s concerned that minors are able to buy the medication over the counter.

“It’s mind-boggling to me that these kids can access that much medication and there not being a question as to why two 13-year-olds would be buying so much,” she said.

• READ ALSO: TikTok to continue operating in Canada, subject to safety conditions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a statement in 2020 warning of high doses of Benadryl, also known as diphenhydramine. Taking higher doses than advised can lead to serious side effects such as heart problems, seizures, comas or even death.

Wesbrook says her daughter is very apologetic over the incident and ensures she did not intend to take her life.

“They’re both very lucky to be alive and I think learned to not follow TikTok trends,” she added.

“She just kept apologizing and still keeps apologizing. That gives me a sense of relief knowing that she realizes it was a silly decision and that she’s also realizing the seriousness of it.”

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