US schoolchildren suffering seizures from over-the-counter drugs at record rates READ MORE: Teen dies after overdosing on Benadryl and suffering from seizures By Luke Andrews Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 20:22, 16 October 2024 | Updated: 20:32, 16 October 2024 e-mail 4 View comments Parents are being reminded to store medications safely amid a surge in children suffering from seizures caused by over-the-counter pills. US researchers said the number suffering the medical emergencies after swallowing medications or illegal substances had doubled overall over the 15 years to 2023.
Among those aged six to 19 years, it had risen two-fold, while among those under six years old, it had risen by 45 percent. Common hay fever and nasal congestion drug Benadryl was the most common medication that children had overdosed on before having seizures . Antidepressant Wellbutrin was the third most common.
Dr Christopher Holstege, a toxicologist at the University of Virginia who led the research, said: 'It's a stark reminder to parents and caregivers to store medications safely so that children cannot get hold of them. Pictured above is Jacob Stevens, 13, from Ohio, who died after taking 12 to 14 Benadryl tablets at once and suffering from a seizure. He is pictured in the hospital before doctors turned off his ventilator 'The increase in seizures in children exposed to these drugs is extremely worrying and must be addressed.
' He added: 'In the US, we also need to have a s.