Spray for protecting against flu from other passengers

[jenib]

But the trials showed that there was a reduction in the duration of symptoms.It did not prevent infection which is what the OP wanted.

Yes - but if you read the detail of the trials, the mechanism is to capture the virus and stop it from replicating. This means if you catch it earlier than symptoms appear you might never develop the symptoms (ie prevention). People may never know if the virus was in their system or not. This is my experience. Others can decide to try it or not.

edit: and if they decide not to try it and develop a cold they could use it to reduce the duration of the cold while travelling. I recently had the experience of catching a cold on the day I departed a cruise ship and losing my voice two days before I had to run a workshop. I hadn't thought to use the spray beforehand but then used the nasal spray and had my voice (half/enough) back by the day I needed to run the workshop. My advice would be to buy a bottle and use it if needed if not in advance.

 

[drron]

Yes - but if you read the detail of the trials, the mechanism is to capture the virus and stop it from replicating. This means if you catch it earlier than symptoms appear you might never develop the symptoms (ie prevention). People may never know if the virus was in their system or not. This is my experience. Others can decide to try it or not.

edit: and if they decide not to try it and develop a cold they could use it to reduce the duration of the cold while travelling. I recently had the experience of catching a cold on the day I departed a cruise ship and losing my voice two days before I had to run a workshop. I hadn't thought to use the spray beforehand but then used the nasal spray and had my voice (half/enough) back by the day I needed to run the workshop. My advice would be to buy a bottle and use it if needed if not in advance.

So to prevent a common cold you would have to take it all the time.
As I said I really cant remember the last cold I had-and I get exposed to quite a few.

 

[jenib]

So to prevent a common cold you would have to take it all the time.
As I said I really cant remember the last cold I had-and I get exposed to quite a few.

No I only use it in high risk environments (like a long haul flight, especially with people coughing/sneezing nearby). I don't really care if you want to try it or not. It works for me.

[FONT=&amp]"The way carrageenan works is by sticking to the virus regardless of type and preventing it from attaching to the nasal lining. As such, the virus is unable to enter into the body and cause problems. It essentially blocks the virus like the wall of a castle.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]The caveat is that in order for this nasal spray to work, you have to start using the medication as soon as cold symptoms appear (within 2 days). Remember... it works by blocking the virus from entering the body. If you wait too long, the virus has already entered the body making any type of blocking medication ineffective.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Where can you buy it?[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]It is available over-the-counter in most European countries and Canada. But NOT available in the United States.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]

Read more: Nasal Spray Cure for the Common Cold? | Fauquier ENT Blog"

[/FONT]

 

[drron]

Read what I wrote-taking nothing works for me.

 

[jenib]

Read what I wrote-taking nothing works for me.

Yes. That is great for you and hopefully for others

 

[TheRealTMA]

but I have kindly refused thanks to the uncertainty of not knowing which you'll receive.

Doesn't that negate your argument? You gotta believe, JohnK

 

[opusman]

It did not prevent infection which is what the OP wanted.

The OP also wanted protection against influenza, not the common cold.

 

[JohnK]

Doesn't that negate your argument? You gotta believe, JohnK

Does it? I'm not an optimist. In the trials the placebos worked for some people. And there probably isn't any sensible explanation.

 

[drron]

In the last 20 years drug trials for Depression have been harder to do because the Placebo response has become significantly larger.It is not well understood.
On the other hand there is also a Nocebo response-you feel the drug has caused you harm.This can occur on the Placebo.

 

[opusman]

In the last 20 years drug trials for Depression have been harder to do because the Placebo response has become significantly larger.It is not well understood.
On the other hand there is also a Nocebo response-you feel the drug has caused you harm.This can occur on the Placebo.

Apparently just being enrolled in a clinical trial, even as part of the control group (i.e. no change to existing treatment), can lead to people reporting they're feeling better.

 

[trooper]

And then there is what my family calls the EXTENDED placebo effect.... Simply HAVING suitable medications available seems to help....

The obverse being of course... a LACK of (say) analgesics seems to increase the likelihood of a headache... lol

 

[JohnK]

And then there is what my family calls the EXTENDED placebo effect.... Simply HAVING suitable medications available seems to help....

I panic if I don't have Valium/Xanax with me.

Happened on golf bus trip to Calderwood on NSW mid south coast 2-3 years ago. The anxiety started through the round of golf and got worse by the time we finished. Couldn't breath, very bloated. Luckily someone had some sort of Diazepam or similar and it helped until I got home. Generally 1/4 or 1/3 Xanax are enough.

Not a nice thing to happen. Not a nice feeling. Make sure have spare medication everywhere including golf bag.

 

[trooper]

Me too... but in my case its Mersyndol or at least Panadeine.....

 

[Uncrate]

Yes - but if you read the detail of the trials, the mechanism is to capture the virus and stop it from replicating. This means if you catch it earlier than symptoms appear you might never develop the symptoms (ie prevention). People may never know if the virus was in their system or not. This is my experience. Others can decide to try it or not.

edit: and if they decide not to try it and develop a cold they could use it to reduce the duration of the cold while travelling. I recently had the experience of catching a cold on the day I departed a cruise ship and losing my voice two days before I had to run a workshop. I hadn't thought to use the spray beforehand but then used the nasal spray and had my voice (half/enough) back by the day I needed to run the workshop. My advice would be to buy a bottle and use it if needed if not in advance.

This is precisely in line with my experience. When you start feeling any intial symtoms (for me this is mostly a dry or itchy throat) you start using the spray. Typically the symptoms then go away over night or after a few hours. It's of course impossible to say whether the spray did actually help, or if you wouldn't have developed a cold anyway, but I definitely feel it has helped me steer clear of a number of colds. I would even say this effect is far more attractive than 'only' reducing symptoms.

 

[Conrad_S]

I put my phone in flight mode before take-off. Never had a cold or flu after.

 

[Wingin..it]

Might I mention we are breathing air through our mouths not just nasal.The nasal sprays etc etc most probably do work-and against the bacterial side affects .The virus is most likely in our system and our immune system is fighting it off.
Unless we have a full body armour suit and mask who knows what is happening behind closed doors .But again if you think it might work give it a try .
To OP nothing is guaranteed but if you believe i it or think it has some nutritional or ecological benefit then it may help.So far antiviral spray ,nasal spray ,lozenges,hygeine,flue vacs seem to be the advise .

 

[24601]

I put my phone in flight mode before take-off. Never had a cold or flu after.

this is an excellent point. You may have used spray x before a flight and not caught a cold, but you cannot possibly know or claim that it prevented the cold. One person out and about in the real world is not a controlled clinical study. If you like using the spray, go ahead, but don't make absurd claims about it in an attempt to persuade others to ingest a most-likely unnecessary medication.

Do those surgical-style masks often seen in Asia help at all? I know they are worn as a courtesy when the wearer is sick, but any prophylactic use?

By the way carrageenan is a thickening or stabilising agent added to food made from seaweed IIRC. I doubt it is any kind of "active agent" that cures the common cold. It is used because it is inactive. It is a substance that health food nutters on forums claim causes cancer or something.

 

[Quickstatus]

Do those surgical-style masks often seen in Asia help at all? I know they are worn as a courtesy when the wearer is sick, but any prophylactic use?
.

not much if hands are not disinfected.

Though you could do this: