Why some people are drinking Pedialyte to help with hangovers

It's a supposed hangover remedy that college and university students likely already know about, but in recent years, an increasing number of people have been using the drink to try to dull their next-morning miseries.

Pedialyte, an electrolyte beverage designed to quickly replenish fluids when a child has intestinal issues, has become a popular hangover tonic in recent years. In the U.S., sales of the hydrating beverage have skyrocketed thanks to partying adults who use the drink as a next-day pick-me-up.

The drink has also been touted by a few celebrities. Performer and Hollywood party girl Miley Cyrus has been seen with the drink and singer Pharrell Williams swears by it after a night of partying.

But despite its popularity, Pedialyte is not actually a hangover panacea. Paediatrician Dr. Mary Mitchell says while Pedialyte and other similar electrolyte-restoring beverages can counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol, it doesn't help with the other symptoms.

"Some of the symptoms of a hangover (come from) the breakdown of alcohol which acts on the brain so I don't think Pedialyte itself counteracts anything," Mitchell told CTV Toronto.

She said, however, that Pedialyte is a better option than sports drinks for those looking to rehydrate their body as it contains more salt, less sugar and fewer calories.

"For an athlete, they need that sugar for their power source whereas when you're dehydrated, you need a little bit of sugar but not too much," Mitchell said. "Drinking too much sugar can actually draw water into the bowel and you can lose more fluid that way."

Hangover cure or not, however, the drink may grow in popularity. Pedialyte recently launched a new ad campaign marketed to adults.

The "See the Lyte" advert promises consumers it's "the secret" to a better morning.

"You’'e an adult. You've got things to do. You don't have time for a rough morning," a tag line on the ad says.

Pedialyte comes in a variety of sweet flavours including "Blue Raspberry" and "Cherry Punch."

With a report from CTV Toronto's Pauline Chan