An over-the-counter nasal spray antihistamine reduced rates of COVID-19 infections and common colds in a midstage trial, German researchers reported in JAMA Internal Medicine, opens new tab.
The 450 study volunteers used either an azelastine nasal spray, typically used to ease allergy symptoms, or a placebo spray three times a day for 56 days.
During that time, COVID infections were confirmed in 2.2% of the participants in the azelastine group and 6.7% of those in the placebo group.
The azelastine group also had fewer symptomatic COVID-19 infections, fewer confirmed respiratory infections, and fewer infections with rhinoviruses, the most prevalent common cold-causing germs.
In the treatment group, 1.8% developed a rhinovirus infection, compared to 6.3% in the placebo group, the researchers found.
If further research confirms these findings, “azelastine nasal spray could provide an additional easily accessible prophylactic to complement existing protective measures, especially for vulnerable groups, during periods of high infection rates, or before traveling,” study leader Professor Robert Bals of Saarland University Medical Center said in a statement.
