Connecticut Officials Issue Warning After 3 Children Die From Apparent Diphenhydramine Overdoses

The state's Office of the Child Advocate urged parents to store all medications safely.

Published: 6/11/2026, 4:49:17 PM EDT

Connecticut Officials Issue Warning After 3 Children Die From Apparent Diphenhydramine Overdoses — Benadryl sits on a shelf in a pharmacy in New York City, N.Y., on Dec. 11, 2002. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Connecticut officials have issued a warning to parents following a recent spate of children's deaths linked to diphenhydramine misuse.

The state's Office of the Child Advocate confirmed in a statement shared with NTD via email on Thursday that three children had died in the past two months from apparent diphenhydramine overdoses.

Diphenhydramine is an over-the-counter antihistamine commonly sold in generic form and as an active ingredient in many products, such as Benadryl, Nytol, and Sominex, to treat allergy and cold symptoms, motion sickness, and insomnia, according to MedlinePlus.

The medication can be fatal if more than the recommended dosage is consumed. Symptoms of a diphenhydramine overdose can include blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, seizures, nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations.

The Office of the Child Advocate did not release the names or ages of the children but said it had worked with the Department of Public Health on efforts aimed at preventing similar deaths, including reaching out to treatment providers about the risks of diphenhydramine and the importance of discussing safe storage practices with parents and caregivers.

"We want parents to be aware that any medication, including prescription and non-prescription medication, is potentially dangerous to children of all ages," the agency said. "We strongly encourage parents to store all medications safely, to ensure they are not easily accessible to children."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration previously warned of the dangers of diphenhydramine in 2020 after reports emerged of teenagers being hospitalized or dying after taking part in the "Benadryl Challenge"—a social media trend that encourages participants to take excessive amounts of the medication to induce hallucinations.

Connecticut's Office of the Child Advocate did not confirm that the three children's deaths were connected to the social media challenge, but said parents and providers should "be aware that adolescents may misuse the medication."

NTD reached out to Kenvue, the owner of Benadryl, for comment, but a response was not received by publication time. However, a statement posted on Benadryl's website acknowledged that consumers may have heard about the online challenge, which it said was "a dangerous trend [that] should be stopped immediately."

"Abuse or misuse of this product can lead to serious side effects with potentially long-lasting or even life-threatening consequences," the statement continues.

The brand noted that Benadryl products and other diphenhydramine medications "should only be used as directed by the label" and said anyone who misuses them should contact their local poison control center.