More than 2,000 bottles of a common allergy medication used by millions have been recalled due to risk of child poisoning.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of Benadryl Liquid Elixir. The medication contains diphenhydramine – an antihistamine used to alleviate the symptoms of allergies and the common cold.
It is sold in a plastic bottle but according to the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, products containing diphenhydramine need to be in special child-resistant packaging to prevent children from accessing the medication, which could result in poisoning.
The PPA defines ‘special packaging’ as a container ‘designed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open within a reasonable time and not difficult for adults to use properly.’
The official recall notice, which applies only to the bottle and not the medication itself, said the Benadryl bottle ‘does not meet these standards.’
The child-proof packaging of medications is meant to protect children from accidentally consuming dangerous amounts of that can cause poisoning or in some cases, death as kids are more susceptible to toxic substances due to their smaller and underdeveloped bodies.
Poisoning can affect many parts of the body, including the lungs, heart, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and kidneys.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of Benadryl Liquid Elixir sold in a plastic bottle
In 2020, 63 children below the age of five died of unintentional poisoning
Some symptoms include difficulty breathing, vomiting, drowsiness, seizures, abdominal pain, breath that smells like chemicals, such as gasoline or paint thinner and falling over.
Each year, poison control centers receive over 1million calls about accidental child poisonings of toddlers aged five and younger that occurred at home.
In 2020, 63 children below the age of five died of unintentional poisoning. Out of this, 45 toddlers (73 percent) had developed poisoning due to medicinal drugs.
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Multiple health experts recommend immediately calling 911 or the Poison Help hotline if you suspect poisoning.
The recall on Benadryl has not reported any poisoning or deaths related to the issue.
The agency noted the recalled bottles were sold on Amazon from July 2023 through October 2024.
The bottle has a white label on the bottom with the code X003VRIGU written in black text.
Arsell, the company listed as the product’s importer, has asked buyers to keep the recalled Benadryl ‘out of the sight and reach of children.’
Consumers have also been asked to contact the company for a full refund.
The company also stated in the notice that customers will be asked to submit their Amazon order number and a photo demonstrating disposal of the recalled Benadryl to [email protected].
The notice clarified: ‘Only the bottle is being recalled, not the medicine itself, but both should be disposed of. All known purchasers are being contacted directly.’