I am very interested in the possibility of using zinc, in the form of an intranasal and oral mucosal topical, for prophylaxis for healthcare workers, post-exposure prophylaxis, and early abortive treatment before the coronavirus gets to the lungs.
I am an emergency physician with over 40 years of practice experience.
Zinc is known to have activity against coronavirus, but to my knowledge it has not been studied in this form. Zicam was originally marketed as a gel on a nasal swab, with some good evidence that it was effective. Oral zinc products have also shown some benefit in colds, but with less impressive results. Zinc intranasal products were banned by the FDA in 2009 because of anecdotal reports of anosmia. This was never objectively studied or validated.
For over 7 years I have used a nasal spray, "First Defence" by Vicks, which is sold in England but has been available online. I have experienced a marked reduction in morbidity from colds, which I am routinely exposed to in my work. I did not find oral zinc as effective for colds, but I am using both in my own prophylaxis for Covid-19.
If oral and intranasal zinc have anything like the effectiveness on coroanavirus that I have experienced with colds, it could be a game changer not only in this epidemic, but also in future coronavirus outbreaks.
Please see the attached information.
Robert (Bob) Apter, MD, FACEP