Don't try 'Nyquil chicken challenge,' it could be fatal

Hyderabad: A new social media video challenge has peoplecooking chicken with NyQuil, a cold and flu medicine. "NyQuil chicken" has become the latest TikTok trend.

Such social media trends and peer pressure are a dangerous combination for the young generation who are ready to be a part of such challenges for fear of missing out. These viral video challenges that target the Gen Z can cause harm and even lead to death.

FACT CHECK

Let's start off by explaining what NyQuil is. It is a cough, cold, and flu medicine that provides relief from headache, fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat etc. Nyquil contains Dextromethorphan which can be harmful in large amounts, according to Mount Sinai.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of social media challenges involving medicines and said, "One social media trend relying on peer pressure is online video clips of people misusing nonprescription medications and encouraging viewers to do so too. These video challenges, which often target youths, can harm people — and even cause death."

Regarding the NyQuil challenge, it said, "The challenge sounds silly and unappetizing — and it is. But it could also be very unsafe. Boiling a medication can make it much more concentrated and change its properties in other ways. Even if you don't eat the chicken, inhaling the medication's vapors while cooking could cause high levels of the drugs to enter your body. It could also hurt your lungs. Put simply: Someone could take a dangerously high amount of the cough and cold medicine without even realizing it."

Poison Control also said that NyQuil chicken challenge is "dangerous and may result in poisoning, both from the ingredients in NyQuil and the undercooked chicken."

So, do not try the NyQuil chicken challenge at home. It could be fatal.