PHARMACIST WARNS: Stop Taking DayQuil

@millennialrx

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SoundTikTok sound · original sound - millennialrx

Promoted product

DayQuil

Vicks DayQuil Cough, Cold & Flu medicine is a non-drowsy, multi-symptom relief formula relieve your worst cold symptoms & helps you get through the day.

2 videos

Why it worked

The video leverages the authority of a pharmacist to deliver a contrarian take on a widely used product, creating intrigue and encouraging engagement through a 'stop buying this' hook. It also provides practical, actionable advice by suggesting alternatives and a cost-saving hack.

Summary

A pharmacist explains why DayQuil is an "overhyped" and "waste of money" medication. He argues that its key ingredient, phenylephrine, is a placebo, and the amounts of acetaminophen and dextromethorphan are insufficient compared to other readily available generics like Tylenol, Delsym, and Sudafed PE. He suggests buying individual ingredients or opting for products like Theraflu-D for more effective relief.

Structure

1Pharmacist warns to stop buying DayQuil.
2Explains DayQuil's ingredients (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Phenylephrine) and compares them to generics.
3Argues Phenylephrine is a placebo and other ingredients are underdosed.

Original caption

Replying to @madysenf Why I don’t recommend DayQuil as a pharmacist 👀💊 You may be paying for multiple cold medicine ingredients when you only need ONE of them. Here’s what I’d choose instead based on your symptoms. #DayQuil #ColdMedicine #Pharmacist #PharmacyTips #ColdAndFlu

More from @millennialrx

Product placement

DayQuil (Vicks): Acts as a cold and flu medication. Its effectiveness is questioned by the creator, who states it's a waste of money and contains ineffective ingredients. Removing it would change the video's core message. (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes) Tylenol: Mentioned as a generic for Acetaminophen, an active ingredient in DayQuil. Its extra strength version is used as a comparison point for pain relief. (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes) Delsym: Mentioned as a generic for Dextromethorphan, an active ingredient in DayQuil. Its effectiveness for cough suppression is highlighted. (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes) Sudafed PE: Mentioned as a generic for Phenylephrine, an active ingredient in DayQuil. The creator states it's ineffective (a placebo). (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes) Theraflu-D: Presented as a better alternative to DayQuil, containing more effective ingredients for cold and flu symptoms. (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes) Sudafed: Mentioned as a comparison for the active ingredient Phenylephrine, with the creator implying Sudafed PE is less effective. (Appears: Yes, Acts: Yes)

On-screen text

PHARMACIST WARNS: Stop Taking DayQuil Reply to madysenf: Could you clarify what's wrong with DayQuil?? AS A PHARMACIST, PLEASE STOP BUYING DAYQUIL. THERE'S SO MANY ONLY TO CONFUSE YOU BUT ONE OF THE MOST OVERHYPED MEDICATIONS THAT'S AVAILABLE. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY, BUT ALSO RECOMMEND OPTIONS THAT ACTUALLY WORK SO THAT YOU ARE SAVING YOUR MONEY. SO LET'S REVIEW DAYQUIL. BUT HONESTLY, ANYTHING THAT'S DAYQUIL BRAND IS JUST A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ARE ACETAMINOPHEN, WHICH IS A GENERIC FOR TYLENOL, DEXTROMETHORPHAN, WHICH IS A GENERIC FOR DELSYM, AND THEN PHENYLEPHRINE, GENERIC FOR SUDAFED P.E. REASON WHY I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS MEDICATION IS PRETTY MUCH THE PHENYLEPHRINE COMPONENT, BECAUSE PHENYLEPHRINE IS SIMPLY JUST A PLACEBO. THIS BOTTLE FOR NASAL CONGESTION AND SINUS PRESSURE, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH FALSE MARKETING. AND THEN WHEN THE AMOUNT OF ACETAMINOPHEN THAT'S IN IT, IT'S ONLY ABOUT TWO REGULAR STRENGTH TYLENOL. SO IF SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH PAIN RELIEF. REALLY ANGERS ME TOO IS WHEN THE DEXTROMETHORPHAN, THERE'S ONLY 20 MG FOR A FULL ADULT DOSE, GOING TO BE LESS THAN IF YOU GET IT COUGH SYRUP. DELSYM FOR EXAMPLE. IF YOU LOOK HERE PER DOSE FOR 12 HOURS, BE 30 MG. A COMBINATION OF SOMEONE WHO PREFERS A COMBINATION PRODUCT, TO BE MUCH BETTER THAN DAYQUIL. LIKE THESE INGREDIENTS ARE WE HAVE A FULL DOSE OF EXTRA STRENGTH ACETAMINOPHEN, FULL DOSE OF EXTRA STRENGTH ACETAMINOPHEN, GONNA GET IN DELSYM, AND THEN PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, WHICH IS THE SUDAFED THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOUR NASAL CONGESTION. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THESE SYMPTOMS LIKE, HEADACHE, PAIN, COUGH, CONGESTION, THEN THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST TAKING UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS THAT YOU DON'T NEED. INSTEAD A PHARMACY HACK THAT I USUALLY DO IS I WILL BUY THESE INGREDIENTS INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE ALL CAUSE SOMETIMES I'LL SO THEN I'M JUST TAKING THE

Transcript

AS A PHARMACIST, PLEASE STOP BUYING DAYQUIL. THERE'S SO MANY ONLY TO CONFUSE YOU BUT ONE OF THE MOST OVERHYPED MEDICATIONS THAT'S AVAILABLE. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY, BUT ALSO RECOMMEND OPTIONS THAT ACTUALLY WORK SO THAT YOU ARE SAVING YOUR MONEY. SO LET'S REVIEW DAYQUIL. BUT HONESTLY, ANYTHING THAT'S DAYQUIL BRAND IS JUST A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ARE ACETAMINOPHEN, WHICH IS A GENERIC FOR TYLENOL, DEXTROMETHORPHAN, WHICH IS A GENERIC FOR DELSYM, AND THEN PHENYLEPHRINE, GENERIC FOR SUDAFED P.E. REASON WHY I ABSOLUTELY HATE THIS MEDICATION IS PRETTY MUCH THE PHENYLEPHRINE COMPONENT, BECAUSE PHENYLEPHRINE IS SIMPLY JUST A PLACEBO. THIS BOTTLE FOR NASAL CONGESTION AND SINUS PRESSURE, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH FALSE MARKETING. AND THEN WHEN THE AMOUNT OF ACETAMINOPHEN THAT'S IN IT, IT'S ONLY ABOUT TWO REGULAR STRENGTH TYLENOL. SO IF SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH PAIN RELIEF. REALLY ANGERS ME TOO IS WHEN THE DEXTROMETHORPHAN, THERE'S ONLY 20 MG FOR A FULL ADULT DOSE, GOING TO BE LESS THAN IF YOU GET IT COUGH SYRUP. DELSYM FOR EXAMPLE. IF YOU LOOK HERE PER DOSE FOR 12 HOURS, BE 30 MG. A COMBINATION OF SOMEONE WHO PREFERS A COMBINATION PRODUCT, TO BE MUCH BETTER THAN DAYQUIL. LIKE THESE INGREDIENTS ARE WE HAVE A FULL DOSE OF EXTRA STRENGTH ACETAMINOPHEN, FULL DOSE OF EXTRA STRENGTH ACETAMINOPHEN, GONNA GET IN DELSYM, AND THEN PSEUDOEPHEDRINE, WHICH IS THE SUDAFED THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOUR NASAL CONGESTION. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THESE SYMPTOMS LIKE, HEADACHE, PAIN, COUGH, CONGESTION, THEN THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST TAKING UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS THAT YOU DON'T NEED. INSTEAD A PHARMACY HACK THAT I USUALLY DO IS I WILL BUY THESE INGREDIENTS INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE ALL CAUSE SOMETIMES I'LL SO THEN I'M JUST TAKING THE