Calls to U.S. poison centers involving diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl and some over-the-counter sleep aids, among teens more than doubled in the first five months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to America’s Poison Centers.
The organization reported 6,179 diphenhydramine-only cases among teens ages 13 to 19 in the first five months of 2026, indicating a continued risk associated with this medication. For all of 2025, cases rose 31.9% year over year, from 10,068 in 2024 to 13,284. This far outpaced the 5.1% overall increase in teen exposure cases between 2024 and 2025.
The increase is driven largely by intentional misuse rather than accidental exposure, according to America’s Poison Centers. In 2026, 13.2% of teen diphenhydramine-only cases were linked to deliberate abuse, up from 7.3% in 2020.
Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of the medication in an attempt to overcome its drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling, ABC News reported June 11.
The advisory follows Connecticut officials’ warning that three children in the state died from apparent diphenhydramine overdoses over the last two months, according to a June 10 statement.
High doses of diphenhydramine can harm the brain and heart and can lead to hallucinations, seizures, dangerous arrhythmias and loss of consciousness.
America’s Poison Centers advised clinicians and the public to store all medications out of sight and reach of teens, discuss the risks of medication misuse with adolescent patients and contact Poison Control with questions.
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