New Jersey Poison Control Center warns of ‘Benny tripping’ trend after teen hospitalized
NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Poison Control Center is warning parents, caregivers, educators and teens about the dangers of a social media trend involving the intentional misuse of Benadryl after a New Jersey teenager was hospitalized.
Poison Control experts were involved in the medical management of the teenager, who intentionally took a large dose of Benadryl in an attempt to experience hallucinations, according to the center.
The practice has been promoted online as “Benny tripping” or the “Benadryl Challenge.”
The teenager was described as “not acting like themselves” before developing confusion, disorientation and slurred speech and requiring hospitalization, according to the Poison Control Center.
“Many families have Benadryl and other over-the-counter medicines at home and would never expect it to send a child to the hospital,” said Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “What may look harmless on a screen can become a medical emergency in real life.”
Diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, is a commonly used over-the-counter antihistamine. The Poison Control Center said taking excessive amounts can cause hallucinations, severe confusion, seizures, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, loss of consciousness and death.
Poison Control experts recommend that parents and caregivers talk with teens about the dangers of social media challenges and medicine misuse and keep medications, including over-the-counter products such as Benadryl, locked up and out of sight.
Parents and caregivers should also monitor medication quantities when possible and maintain oversight of medicines rather than allowing children and teens unsupervised access, according to the center.
The center also recommends teaching children and teens that over-the-counter medicines can be just as dangerous as prescription medications when misused.
Anyone who has taken too much Benadryl or another medicine should not wait for symptoms to worsen before seeking help, according to the Poison Control Center.
Free and confidential medical guidance is available 24 hours a day through the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or through the New Jersey Poison Control Center’s online chat service.
For life-threatening emergencies, including difficulty breathing, difficulty waking or seizures, call 911 immediately.
