Three Connecticut children have died from apparent diphenhydramine — commonly known as Benadryl — overdoses over the past two months, the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate has reported.
OCA spokesperson Christina Ghio is urging parents to store all medications safely and keep them out of children’s reach, whether prescription or over-the-counter.
“We want parents to be aware that any medication, including prescription and non-prescription medication, is potentially dangerous to children of all ages,” Ghio said.
The agency also pointed to a growing mental health crisis, noting that an average of 17 children arrive at Connecticut emergency departments each day for self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine widely sold under the Benadryl brand name and in generic allergy medications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned that taking higher-than-recommended doses can cause serious heart problems, seizures, coma and death.
The deaths come as health officials continue to warn about the so-called “Benadryl Challenge,” a social media trend that encourages participants to take excessive amounts of the medication in an attempt to induce hallucinations.
The challenge drew national attention following reports of hospitalizations and at least one teen death, prompting warnings from the FDA and Benadryl manufacturer Johnson & Johnson.
Health experts say social media challenges can be especially appealing to teenagers seeking peer validation online, and warn that many young people may not realize over-the-counter medications can be dangerous when misused.
The Office of the Child Advocate did not indicate whether the recent Connecticut deaths were connected to the social media challenge.
Resources are available through Connecting to Care Connecticut, by dialing 211, and through the state’s Urgent Crisis Centers in Hartford, Waterbury and New London.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 for immediate assistance.