Scientists Say a Common OTC Medication Lowers Your Risk of COVID

Key Points:

• A phase 2 clinical trial published in JAMA found that using the over-the-counter nasal spray azelastine may reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other viruses, including the common cold, with azelastine users being about three times less likely to test positive for COVID-19 than those using a placebo.
• Participants using azelastine also experienced shorter durations of illness and viral positivity compared to the placebo group, with fewer overall viral infections and milder symptoms reported.
• Azelastine works as an antihistamine that may block viral attachment and moderate immune response, potentially reducing local inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, although the exact mechanism behind its antiviral effects remains unclear.
• While azelastine is generally safe, it can cause side effects such as bitter taste, nosebleeds, and fatigue, which were more common among users in the study.
• Experts caution that more research is needed before azelastine can be recommended as a COVID-19 preventative, emphasizing that it should not replace vaccination or other proven measures like masking and hand hygiene, though it may serve as a complementary option.