Halodine Nasal Antiseptic: Everything You Need to Know
Overview
Many experts predict now the start of a powerful second wave of COVID-19 will occur during the upcoming months (similar to what happened with the Spanish flu in 1918).
The probable reason behind this is: the virus that causes COVID-19 (i.e., SARS-CoV-2) acts similar to other flu viruses, which means that it will peak during the flu season. Additionally, the relatively confined environment that the cold weather mandates will contribute to the transmission of the virus.
With that being said, the same precautionary measures will mitigate the risk of transmission and shield you and your family from contracting the virus.
In other words, you should keep wearing masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing even after one of the vaccines becomes commercially available.
The good news is that there is a new player in the field that is thought to reduce the transmission of the virus and the risk of contamination by targeting the viral particles found in the nose. The halodine nasal antiseptic is an over-the-counter topical antiseptic that has shown to disintegrate the structure of SARS-CoV-2.
In this article, we will briefly discuss the nature of halodine nasal antiseptic then see how it may be of benefit in the ‘COVID-19 Age’.
What is a halodine nasal antiseptic?
Halodine nasal antiseptic is a generic product that contains povidone-iodine (PVP-I), which is a well-documented antimicrobial agent that has been used for decades. PVP-I is extremely effective at eradicating germs, especially when applied topically.
In fact, doctors and surgeons regularly use PVP-I to disinfect an area of the skin before any medical procedure (e.g., surgeries). Furthermore, doctors use this substance to prevent infections of wounds (e.g., cuts, gazes, burns).
Overall, the primary ingredient of halodine nasal antiseptic is a potent antimicrobial agent that kills pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi).
Using this information, experts developed the nasal form of PVP-I to halt the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. According to one study, halodine nasal antiseptic killed 99.99% of the coronavirus species in the laboratory.
Currently, this product is being tested to see its effects on human subjects. As of the writing of this article, it reached phase 4 of clinical trials, which is the last step before becoming commercially available.
The bright side is that halodine nasal antiseptic successfully completed 3 phases of the clinical trials, which is not an easy task.
To give you an idea about what occurs in these phases, let’s briefly detail each one:
Phase one
This step is the transition point from doing laboratory experiments on rats and rodents to actually testing the drug on humans.
The number of participants in this phase ranges from 20–100 individuals, and the main goal is to determine the safety of the drug on healthy volunteers. 30% of new drugs fail at this phase and never proceed to the efficacy-check of the 2nd phase.
Phase two
In this phase, more participants will get involved (100–300) to test the efficacy of the drug and its potential side effects.
Unfortunately, more than 70% of drugs fail at this phase due to a lower than expected efficacy compared to substances available on the market or serious adverse effects that were missed during the 1st phase.
Phase three
Out of all phases of clinical trials, phase three is by far the most important one. The number of participants is huge, with approximately 100–3,000 volunteers.
Approximately 70-75% of clinical trials fail at this phase.
The number of phases, as well as participants involved in these clinical trials, might seem like overdoing it for some people. However, these steps are absolutely crucial to ensure the safety of patients before commercializing any new product.
After finishing the three main clinical phases and getting approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), phase four begins.
This phase involves the follow-up of the drug’s efficacy, as well as the long-term side to confirm the safety of the drug.
Note that halodine nasal antiseptic is currently at this phase (4), which means it’s widely available for the public.
How does halodine nasal antiseptic work?
The good news about halodine nasal antiseptic is that we know a lot about PVP-I and its mechanism of action. After all, we have been using it for decades in the medical field.
In short, PVP-I exhibits its action on pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi) by the iodination and oxidation of cellular membranes. In plain English, this substance pokes holes in microbes, which disrupt the equilibrium and movement of water, eventually leading to the destruction of the pathogen.
Fortunately, the toxic effects of PVP-I on microbial cells are not the same for our tissues. Therefore, we can use it on our skin without the fear of serious side effects.
The indications to use this antiseptic
Unlike the broad uses of PVP-I, halodine nasal antiseptic has one specific indication, which is to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
When tested in the lab, it eradicated the vast majority of the coronavirus species in 15 seconds. As a result, scientists were intrigued to see whether it produces similar results in real people.
The potential side effects
According to the manufacturers of halodine nasal antiseptic, their product was specifically designed to take into account the sensitivity of the tissue in your mouth and nose. Therefore, there is little to no actual side effects.
As far as research is concerned, there are no reported cases of side effects after using this product. However, and due to the recency of its release, we don’t have enough data about its side effect profile.
Takeaway message
COVID19 (caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2) can enter your body through your nasal passage. The halodine nasal antiseptic is a potent product that eradicates viral particles of foreign pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. However, we don’t have enough research to completely understand all the possible side effects. So this product has a good likelihood of being safe to use when instructions are followed.
Hopefully, this article successfully introduced this innovative product and its potential effects on the COVID-19 global pandemic.
If you have questions or concerns, we urge you to share your thoughts in the comment section below or reach out to us by emailing [email protected]