US teen declared brain dead passes away after viral Benadryl TikTok challenge that promotes hallucinations
A 15-year-old girl has died after taking part in a dangerous social media challenge, with her devastated father now urging parents to warn their children as cases surge. WARNING: Distressing content.
WARNING: Distressing content.A heartbroken father has revealed his 15-year-old daughter has died after participating in a viral social media trend.
Leah Presson was fighting for her life in hospital, before being declared brain dead on June 14, and has since passed away.
She was rushed to hospital after consuming Benadryl as part of a very dangerous social media “challenge”, where excessive ingestion of the allergy medication is promoted online as a way to experience hallucinations.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Leah’s father, Richard, is now warning other parents of the extreme dangers.
“I just want everybody to be aware to where they can educate their kids,” Mr Presson told local media outlet KFOR.
“But these challenges are just silly, and they need to be educated so it don’t happen again.”
The challenge first emerged in 2020 but has seen renewed popularity, sparking concern among medical professionals and parents.
After taking the medication, Leah suffered seizures and was rushed to an emergency department in Enid, Oklahoma.
Initially, her father believed her condition may have been linked to her asthma, but doctors later indicated her symptoms were consistent with the viral challenge, something she had reportedly attempted before.
In a heartbreaking update, the family has also made the decision to donate Leah’s organs.
“We have chosen to donate her organs because she is the kind of girl that would have given anything to anybody. She loved Grey’s Anatomy and is able to possibly save up to 90 lives with her little body,” Mr Presson wrote on Facebook.
On Monday, Leah’s father shared an emotional video on Facebook, saying “thank you... for coming and praying for my daughter and singing for her. We are so grateful, I know. She heard you, and so did half the others in the hospital Leah loved it i know”.
Medical experts in the United States have reported a rise in similar cases this year, warning of the serious risks associated with misusing antihistamines.
“We have seen an uptick in cases of kids who have been overdosing on Benadryl,” Dr. Shahfar Khan of Rady’s told the New York Post.
“The dose required to induce hallucinations is also the same dose that can cause cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest.”
Doctors warn that overdosing can also trigger seizures, severe heart rhythm disturbances and breathing failure, with some patients requiring intensive treatment, including medications or defibrillation in critical cases.
In Australia, Benadryl products differ from those sold in the US. While Benadryl Original is available over the counter as a cough and cold syrup containing diphenhydramine, other variants use different active ingredients.
Medicines containing diphenhydramine are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and are approved for short-term use when taken as directed.
“These medicines can cause children serious harm, or even death, and there is little if any evidence that they are effective in treating cough, cold and flu symptoms,” the TGA says.
“First-generation oral sedating antihistamines should not be used for the treatment of cough, cold and flu symptoms in children under 6 years.”
