Viral nasal sprays

[fadingfast]

I remember ages ago that there were studies into whether viral nasal sprays (Vicks First Defence or the Boots equivalent) were effective to use to help prevent or treat Covid. I’m not aware of these studies ever publishing their results (I have tried searching), and I’m sure that if they were in any way effective we would have heard about it by now. Just out of curiosity though, I was wondering if anyone has used these, either as a preventative (if a household member has tested positive), or as an early treatment? Do you think they may have had any effect? (I know it will only be anecdotal evidence, but just interested to hear any views)

Bumping just in case anyone has used these…

No harm in trying.

Lloyds chemist released some about a year ago maybe. I got some to use before vaccinations. Did so sporadically. Never had covid but no idea if that’s anything to do with it! But I believe good results in (?) Israel

I have used First Defence against colds for years and it has saved me from many full-blown colds when used at the very first throat tickle..

I used it prophylactically from the start of Covid any time I knew I would have to be somewhere busy or in close contact with someone. I always have it with me and have been known to have a squirt if a waiter starts coughing or sounds a bit hourse.

I got Omicron in December but other than that I have escaped Covid. No idea if the First Defence has helped but I trust it more than a mask, to be honest, in terms of protecting me rather than others.

@CovidCurious

I have used First Defence against colds for years and it has saved me from many full-blown colds when used at the very first throat tickle..

I used it prophylactically from the start of Covid any time I knew I would have to be somewhere busy or in close contact with someone. I always have it with me and have been known to have a squirt if a waiter starts coughing or sounds a bit hourse.

I got Omicron in December but other than that I have escaped Covid. No idea if the First Defence has helped but I trust it more than a mask, to be honest, in terms of protecting me rather than others.

That’s interesting @CovidCurious. Did you try using it once you tested positive too?

Yes that one was called Viraleze I think, but was withdrawn here due to making unsubstantiated claims about efficacy against Covid I believe.

(Sorry that was to @Wingingit15)

@fadingfast I used it when I started feeling a bit rough but was not yet testing positive. I gave up before testing positive as the spray is quite harsh on the nose. My symptoms started with swollen glands (which is when I used the spray for a few days) and then I got a racing heart, fatigue, muscle aches and night sweats. After a day of that I tested positive. No symptoms really around my nose or in my lungs (thank goodness)

I bought Taffix when it was available. Initial studies seemed to show good efficacy but it’s no longer available in the uk!

I’m sure that if they were in any way effective we would have heard about it by now.

Not necessarily, it takes time for proper clinical trials.

The ICE-COVID clinical trial (the Boots nasal spray) is still ongoing, I believe, with an estimated completion date of Dec 2022.

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04590365

I think Taffix has been withdrawn in the UK. Their observational study has a huge number of limitations. For a start, it only lasted 2 weeks so you can't really conclude much from that, there is a good chance that most of the participants weren't exposed to COVID. That doesn't mean that it doesn't work, just that they haven't proved that it does yet.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33759682/

There doesn't appear to have been a clinical trial into the efficacy of Viraleze, only non clinical in vitro and in vivo studies (so in a "test tube" or animals in a lab) and most of those were looking at other viruses, not SARS-CoV-2. If you want to read the papers, the details are here and I have linked to the most recent study:

starpharma.com/viraleze/spl7013
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8201124/

@Yourway

I bought Taffix when it was available. Initial studies seemed to show good efficacy but it’s no longer available in the uk!

I believe the Nasaleze products are pretty much the same as Taffix. Again, there only appears to have been non clinical in vitro and in vivo studies, no clinical trials.

We use Boots Dual defence as a preventative.
I have been keeping an eye out for the clinical trial results from Swansea University - the lab tests were encouraging. This is the trial info clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04590365
There has been this trial with positive results by Marinomed - as I understand it, it's the same active ingredient www.marinomed.com/en/news/marinomed-biotech-ag-shares-positive-clinical-trial-results-for-iota-carrageenan-nasal-spray-in-the-prevention-of-covid-19-1
This one also suggests that the active ingredient in Boots Dual Defence could reduce covid symptoms www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fviro.2021.746824/full
I don't know if it's made any difference. My son uses it daily before school, I use it before leaving the house. I can't see it doing any harm though.

Thanks @chesirecat99 and @User3456 for the info and the links. I had assumed any trials must have finished by now, but clearly not. It will be interesting to know whether anything comes of it.

I do occasionally use the Boots spray, especially if I’m going somewhere busy and before I visit the office. No idea whether it’s any good for you to do that in the long term though…

We use first defence when going out and used regularly when others in house had covid and nobody else caught it.

It prevented me catching the kids colds so at the very least avoided lots of PCR tests for cold symptoms.