Just when you think your liver has had enough over-the-counter medication, Vicks comes out with “PainQuil,” a pain reliever that has people online spooked. One man on TikTok revealed the medication’s fine print, leaving viewers shocked at the company’s audacity.
In a viral clip, Julian (@juliancampillo1), who goes by theaerobaticdoc on TikTok, was stunned to see a new Vicks product at the grocery store. His alarm skyrocketed when he picked up the bottle and read the label.
“Guys, I just found this on the grocery store aisle,” Julian begins, showing viewers the bottle filled with red liquid. “PainQuil? Pure acetaminophen? Plus alcohol? I’m going to see so many overdoses on this, guys, nooo.”
The bottle, which is black cherry flavored, states that the product “starts working fast” for aches and pains. It also states that it contains 10% alcohol.
‘Your Liver Has Left The Chat’
Julian’s clip earned over 1.4 million views as of Wednesday, with viewers horrified but also intrigued by PainQuil.
“Dang new lean dropped,” one top comment read, with another calling the FDA “almost useless.”
One user joked, “Omg that’s terrible! Where is it available tho?” with several folks asking, “how is this legal?”
Several were concerned about the consumer’s liver, with one writing, “Your liver has left the chat.”
One person asked, “I thought mixing alcohol and acetaminophen was toxic for your liver?”
As it turns out, they’re not wrong.
Is PainQuil Bad For You?
Acetaminophen, which is the drug found in Tylenol, is the most widely used drug ingredient in the U.S. “More than 50 million Americans use acetaminophen each week,” per WebMD. Because of this, folks must know the proper way to use Tylenol and its counterparts. Especially because the National Institute of Health (NIH) says acetaminophen can cause acute liver failure or damage when taken in high doses. Combined with alcohol, which stresses out the liver, there is cause for potential concern.
A doctor said as much in a TikTok warning against PainQuil.
In a clip from 2024, Dr. Ethan Melillo also went viral after criticizing Vicks for releasing PainQuil to the public. The pharmacist, who uses his TikTok account to educate others on the drug industry, called the product a “scam medication.”
“Just when I thought I couldn’t hate the makers of DayQuil and Nyquil even more, they decided to come out with ‘PainQuil,’” Melillo said in the clip.
He continued that it was basically “liquid Tylenol,” and customers would just be paying for the name.
Melillo pointed out the alcohol content in the product, stating, “Alcohol plus acetaminophen is just a terrible combination for your liver.”
The pharmacist called the Vicks products a scam, accusing them of using marketing tactics to trick customers. He suggested buying the generic store brand of acetaminophen instead.
Why Is There Alcohol In PainQuil?
The reason certain pain relievers like PainQuil contain alcohol has to do with their delivery method. The alcohol is used to dissolve the active ingredients, according to Medical News Today. So while 10% is a bit high compared to other products, at recommended doses, there shouldn’t be a cause for concern.
Still, even if you’re taking acetaminophen at the recommended doses, “you shouldn’t take acetaminophen for more than 10 days for pain, or 3 days for fever,” WebMD states. If you ever feel like you may have overdosed, the online resource lists some signs to look out for:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
At this point, you should go straight to the doctor (or ER) or even call 911.
@juliancampillo1 Bro whyyyyy 😩
BroBible has reached out to Julian via TikTok message and to Vicks via web contact form.