
Antihistamine Nasal Spray May Lower COVID Risk, New Study Finds
A phase 2 JAMA trial with 450 vaccinated adults in Germany found that using azelastine nasal spray (3–5 times daily for ~56 days) reduced COVID-19 infection risk to 2.2% vs 6.7% for placebo, shortened illness duration (3.4 vs 5.14 days), and lowered overall viral infections (8.4% vs 18.8%). Side effects were usually mild (e.g., bitter taste, nosebleeds, fatigue). Experts say it could be complementary to vaccines but not a substitute, and more research is needed before recommending it as a preventive measure.













