A 15-year-old girl from Oklahoma has reportedly been left with no brain activity after allegedly taking part in the viral "Benadryl Challenge," a dangerous social media trend that encourages participants to consume excessive amounts of the antihistamine diphenhydramine in an attempt to experience hallucinations. Her family is now urging parents to educate children about the risks of online challenges before another tragedy occurs.
According to reports by NewsNation and People, Leah Presson remains hospitalized at Integris Health Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City after suffering seizures and cardiac arrest. Doctors reportedly informed her family that tests showed no brain activity.
Leah's father, Richard Presson, said the family initially believed her seizures might be related to her history of asthma. However, the situation became far more serious after hospital evaluations revealed severe neurological damage.
Speaking to abc8News, Richard described his daughter as a caring and compassionate teenager who had dreams of becoming popular on social media. Despite her prognosis, he said he continues to hope for a miracle.
Richard also shared that Leah had reportedly attempted the challenge before. This time, however, the consequences proved devastating.
The "Benadryl Challenge" first gained attention in 2020 and involves consuming large quantities of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in many Benadryl products sold in the United States. Participants reportedly take excessive doses to induce hallucinations or delirium and often record the experience for social media.
Dr. Ryan Brown of Oklahoma Children's Hospital at OU Health explained to abc8News that excessive diphenhydramine consumption can trigger seizures and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
According to Dr. Brown, these abnormal heart rhythms may progress to cardiac arrest, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to the brain. When the brain is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period, irreversible brain injury and brain death can occur.
Dr. Brown also advised parents to be vigilant if a child suddenly begins acting unusually or appears confused. He recommended looking for clues such as empty medication bottles that may indicate an overdose.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning in September 2020 after reports linked the challenge to emergency room visits and deaths among teenagers.
The agency stated that taking higher-than-recommended doses of diphenhydramine can lead to "serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death." The FDA urged parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to discuss the dangers of medication misuse with young people.
Leah's case is not the first incident linked to the challenge. In September 2025, a 13-year-old girl from South Carolina was hospitalized after reportedly attempting the trend. Her mother said the teenager experienced hallucinations and a heart rate approaching 200 beats per minute before receiving emergency medical care.
As Leah remains hospitalized, her family hopes that sharing her story will prevent similar incidents.
Richard Presson urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of online challenges and social media trends. He also revealed that the family has discussed organ donation, saying Leah always wanted to help others and could potentially save many lives through donation.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)
