Poison centers link growing Benadryl abuse among teens to dangerous social media trends

America’s younker person been progressively abusing communal over-the-counter medications, according to poison halfway records.

A wellness advisory from America’s Poison Centers, representing 53 poison centers crossed nan country, alerted a "concerning rise" successful cases of diphenhydramine maltreatment among teens ages 13 to 19.

Diphenhydramine is commonly recovered successful allergy and slumber medications specified arsenic Benadryl and Zzzquil, arsenic mentioned successful nan advisory.

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From 2024 to 2025, nan full vulnerability to immoderate constituent among teens successful this property group reportedly accrued by 5.1%.

But cases involving diphenhydramine unsocial accrued much rapidly, from 10,068 to 13,284 cases, a 32% spike.

Thirteen percent of diphenhydramine cases successful 2026 person been linked to intentional abuse, an summation from 7.3% successful 2020. (iStock)

The inclination appears to beryllium continuing into 2026, arsenic nan first 5 months saw 6,179 diphenhydramine-only cases successful teens — much than double nan anterior year.

According to America’s Poison Centers, nan vulnerability appears to beryllium driven by recreational misuse alternatively than accidental over-medication. Thirteen percent of cases successful 2026 were linked to intentional abuse, up from 7.3% successful 2020.

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Taking diphenhydramine improperly aliases successful ample amounts tin impact nan encephalon and heart, and tin lead to serious aliases life-threatening effects, nan advisory warned.

Diphenhydramine is commonly recovered successful over-the-counter allergy and slumber medications. (iStock)

Some symptoms of diphenhydramine poisoning see drowsiness, agitation, accelerated bosom rate, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, seizures, vulnerable bosom hit and nonaccomplishment of consciousness.

To debar overexposure and complications, America’s Poison Centers advises nan nationalist to shop each medications safely, up high, and retired of scope of kids and teens. Label instructions should beryllium followed carefully.

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"Talk pinch teens astir nan risks of misusing medications, including superior wellness effects and poisoning," nan announcement suggested. "Be alert of societal media trends aliases challenges that whitethorn promote unsafe usage of medications."

Those who fishy misuse should interaction nan section Poison Control Center immediately.

America's Poison Centers advises nan nationalist to "be alert of societal media trends aliases challenges that whitethorn promote unsafe usage of medications." (iStock)

In a connection to Fox News Digital, Benadryl shaper Kenvue commented that nan "health and safety of group who usage our products is our apical priority."

"The social media inclination promoting misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products is highly vulnerable and should beryllium stopped immediately," a Kenvue spokesperson said. "Our hearts spell retired to those impacted by nan misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products."

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"We are moving pinch societal media level information teams to region these vulnerable posts and thief extremity this behaviour from spreading," they added. "We are besides taking action to amended connected nan safe usage and retention of over-the-counter medicines, including those pinch nan constituent diphenhydramine."

"The social media inclination promoting misuse of diphenhydramine-containing products is highly vulnerable and should beryllium stopped immediately."

Mary Leonard, SVP of communications and nationalist affairs for nan Consumer Healthcare Products Association, called nan caller study "deeply concerning."

"OTC medicines should ne'er beryllium utilized for recreational purposes, and intentional misuse should not beryllium confused pinch nan safe, effective usage of these products," she told Fox News Digital. "When utilized arsenic directed, millions of Americans trust connected OTC medicines containing diphenhydramine for alleviation from allergies, acold symptoms, mobility sickness, insignificant tegument irritations and occasional sleeplessness."

"Because misuse of immoderate medicine tin consequence successful superior wellness consequences, nan Drug Facts explanation intelligibly communicates dosing instructions, warnings and different important information information."

"OTC medicines should ne'er beryllium utilized for recreational purposes, and intentional misuse should not beryllium confused pinch nan safe, effective usage of these products," an manufacture spokesperson said. (iStock)

Kenvue shared nan pursuing 3 steps group tin return to thief forestall misuse.

1. Report contented related to this inclination connected nan societal media level wherever it appears.
2. Always shop OTC medicines up and distant successful places children cannot entree — preferably successful locked cabinets aliases containers — and ne'er time off medications connected counters, bedside tables aliases successful unfastened bags, moreover temporarily.
3. Carefully publication and travel nan instructions connected nan explanation and amended children connected safe usage.

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"Dosing instructions and further information accusation are disposable on Benadryl.com, and ever retrieve to consult a healthcare professional should you person questions," nan spokesperson added.

Fox News Digital reached retired to Zzzquil shaper P&G for comment.