US teenager dies after trying TikTok ‘Benadryl Challenge’

A 13-year-old boy in the US has died after taking part in a disturbing and lethal challenge that is sweeping popular app TikTok.

A 13-year-old boy in the US has died after overdosing on Benadryl as part of a viral TikTok challenge.

A 13-year-old boy in the US has died after taking part in a viral TikTok challenge.

The challenge involves swallowing up to 14 benadryl pills — an antihistamine allergy medication — to induce hallucinations, with participants then posting videos of their experience on social media.

Believed to have been started in 2022, the trend has already caused a spate of hospitalisations among Australian teens attempting to participate.

Jacob Stevens from Ohio began to seize up after ingesting a lethal dose.

He was immediately rushed to the hospital as his body began to shut down.

Tragically, after six days on life support, his family made the heart-wrenching decision to let him pass, as his brain functions had ceased.

Jacob’s father, Justin, is now dedicated to warning parents and teens of the dangers of social media and has shared a photo of Jacob hooked up to life support in the hospital to spread awareness.

“It was too much for his body,” the grieving father said via ABC 6, recalling the “worst day of his life”.

A 13-year-old boy in the US has died after overdosing on Benadryl as part of a viral TikTok challenge.

“No brain scan, there was nothing there. They said we could keep him on the vent, that he could lay there, but he will never open his eyes, he’ll never breathe, smile, walk or talk.”

“It didn’t matter how bad of a day I was having, no one could make me smile, Jacob could make me smile,” Justin recalled through tears.

Justin and his family have also begun pushing politicians to take steps to prevent other kids from partaking in such challenges by putting age restrictions on over-the-counter drugs like Benadryl.

He has also suggested imposing an age restriction for creating accounts on TikTok, forcing users to provide identification before being allowed on the platform.

Jacob Stevens from Ohio began to seize up after ingesting a lethal dose, and he was rushed to the hospital as his body began to shut down.

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a statement warning of the dangers of participating in the “Benadryl Challenge” and is aware of reports of teenagers ending up in emergency rooms or dying after taking part.

“Taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma or even death,” the FDA wrote.

“We are aware of news reports of teenagers ending up in emergency rooms or dying after participating in the Benadryl Challenge encouraged in videos posted on the social media application TikTok.”

The challenge involves swallowing up to 14 pills of the antihistamine allergy medication to induce hallucinations.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed an alarming number of call-outs in recent weeks after the trend became popular.

Seizures and head wounds were among the injuries sustained for those who took part, QAS said.

“There were four calls in one hour in South East Queensland and all of those children needed transport to hospital,” a spokeswoman said last year.

Among the harmful side effects from high doses are seizures and a racing heart rate.

Its damage has been so far reaching, the trend prompted drug manufacturer Johnson and Johnson to issue a warning in its popularity’s wake.

“We understand that consumers may have heard about an online ‘challenge’ involving the misuse or abuse of diphenhydramine,” the company said.

“This challenge, which involves the ingestion of excessive quantities of diphenhydramine, is a dangerous trend and should be stopped immediately.”