Add The New York Post on Google An Oklahoma girl was left brain dead after she participated in the dangerous “Benadryl challenge” social media trend, according to reports.
Leah Presson, 15, is in an intensive care unit after the dangerous trend — which encourages teens to overdose on allergy medication — triggered a catastrophic series of seizures and cardiac arrest, NewsNation reported.
The trend, akin to “robotripping,” involves ingesting enormous amounts of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, to experience delirium and hallucinations.
The participants film themselves while intoxicated to showcase their absurd behavior.
“I tell her to keep fighting and stay strong. You got this. You’re a fighter,” Leah’s father, Richard Presson, told KFOR.
Richard described Leah as a compassionate and giving person with an infectious laugh.
“I believe in miracles, that she’s definitely a miracle baby,” he continued.
Searches for “Benadryl” or “Benadryl challenge” on TikTok reroute the user to community guidelines and substance support resources.
The Food & Drug Administration put out a statement in 2020 warning the public of adverse health effects from consuming too much diphenhydramine, which can cause “serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death.”
“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 statement continued.
Health professionals warn that excessive Benadryl consumption can lead to cardiac arrest.
“When you take the Benadryl or diphenhydramine in excess of that, in excess of this, it can lead to seizures and cardiac arrhythmias, and sometimes those cardiac arrhythmias lead to cardiac arrest, which can lead to no blood to the brain, which can lead to brain death,” Dr. Ryan Brown of Oklahoma Children’s at OU Health told ABC8.
“If your child is acting strange, look around,” Dr. Brown continued.
“Make sure that there’s not an empty pill bottle or something in the vicinity that may lead you to a clue as to what may have been going on.”
The dangers of the “Benadryl challenge” are well-documented by medical professionals: in Connecticut, authorities recently linked the drug to three teen deaths.
Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego reported at least five emergency department visits in a single week due to the challenge, while Fort Worth Children’s Hospital in Texas recorded more than 100 patient visits over a six-month period, including one death, according to KFOR.
