Beware the Benadryl Challenge

In recent years, social media challenges have taken a dangerous turn, with individuals participating in risky behaviors for online attention. One such challenge, the #BenadrylChallenge, gained traction among young people seeking internet fame. JC, a 21-year-old college student, fell victim to this trend, unaware of the life-threatening consequences that awaited her. JC's descent into a medical crisis began innocently enough, as she ingested two entire bottles of Benadryl. Little did she know that this seemingly harmless act would unleash a cascade of events leading to severe anticholinergic poisoning.

As the hours passed, JC experienced hallucinations, a dry mouth, dilated pupils, and a rapid heart rate-all telltale signs of anticholinergic toxicity. Upon arrival at the emergency room, JC's condition had deteriorated rapidly, with multiple seizures occurring within a short span of time. Her father's revelation of her participation in the #BenadrylChallenge provided crucial insight for medical professionals struggling to understand her symptoms. JC's excessive Benadryl consumption had disrupted her body's normal functioning, affecting not only her histamine receptors but also her cholinergic pathways, leading to a dangerous imbalance.

Treatment for JC's condition was complex, requiring a multifaceted approach to stabilize her heart rhythm, control seizures, and address the underlying toxicity. Intravenous lipid emulsion therapy emerged as a potential lifesaving intervention, leveraging the lipophilic properties of Benadryl to extract it from her organs. Miraculously, this innovative treatment helped restore JC's heart rhythm to normalcy, marking a turning point in her harrowing ordeal.

In the aftermath of her hospitalization, JC grappled with the sobering reality of her brush with death and the lasting impact of her actions.