Benadryl Challenge: What NJ Parents Need To Know

NEW JERSEY— A New Jersey teenager landed in the hospital after intentionally taking a large dose of Benadryl to hallucinate as part of a broader social media trend known as “Benny tripping.”

The trend recommends people to misuse diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, in an attempt to experience hallucinations.

Unlike psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin or LSD, diphenhydramine can cause hallucinations as a sign of poisoning, along with severe confusion, seizures and dangerous heart rhythm problems.

The teen initially seemed “not acting like themselves,” then developed confusion, disorientation and slurred speech before requiring hospitalization, according to the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

"It’s not unique to teenagers, but people often think that because something is over-the-counter, it is safe at any dose," Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center, told Patch.

Diphenhydramine exposures frequently prompt calls to poison control, but accidental ingestion and intentional overdoses account for more calls than recreational misuse, Calello said.

The center sees fewer cases involving teenagers or young people who deliberately take diphenhydramine to get high or hallucinate, she said.

How Can Parents Prevent Medication Misuse?

Parents should talk with children and teenagers about medication misuse and social media challenges, Calello said.

Families should watch for online challenges involving medicines, monitor medication quantities and avoid keeping unnecessary or expired drugs at home. Unused medications can go to safe disposal sites.

Parents also should discuss counterfeit pills, Calello said. A pill that looks like a prescription drug can contain dangerous substances, including fentanyl.

What Should Parents Watch For?

Sleepiness, a fast heart rate, flushing, unusual behavior and enlarged pupils can signal a diphenhydramine overdose, Calello said.

Taking too much diphenhydramine can cause hallucinations, severe confusion, seizures, dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, loss of consciousness and death.

"A 'legal' high can still be a deadly one," she said.

Symptoms can worsen quickly after an overdose, Calello said.

Parents should not wait for symptoms to appear or become more severe before calling poison control.

Poison specialists can assess the exposure and determine whether the person needs emergency medical care.

The New Jersey Poison Control Center provides guidance at 1-800-222-1222.