How to Make Povidone Iodine 1% Nasal Spray (2024)

Is povidone iodine the next ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine? Is there any evidence that povidone iodine can treat COVID-19?

Iodine 1% Nasal Spray is part of the FLCCC I-CARE early treatment protocol: 

• Nasal spray with 1% povidone-iodine: 2-3 times a day. Do not use for more than 5 days in pregnancy. If 1% product is not available, dilute the more widely available 10% solution and apply 4-5 drops to each nostril every 4 hours.

Use 1 % povidone iodine commercial product as per instructions 2–3 x daily. If 1 %-product not available, must first dilute the more widely available 10 %-solution.

To make 1% povidone iodine concentrated solution from 10% povidone iodine solution, one dilution method is as follows:
– First pour 1½ tablespoons (25ml) of 10% povidone/ iodine solution into a nasal irrigation bottle of 250ml.
– Then fill to top with distilled, sterile or previously boiled water.
– Tilt head back, apply 4–5 drops to each nostril. Keep tilted for a few minutes, let drain.

- Not recommended in pregnancy.

To make 1% povidone iodine nasal spray from 10% povidone iodine solution, it must be diluted first. 10% Povidone Iodine is available OTC (Over the Counter) without a prescription at any drug store for a few dollars. 

This 10% Povidone Iodine must be diluted by one tenth, to 1% strength before use as a mouth wash, otherwise it is too strong and irritating. You should have someone double check your work if you're doing your own math or triple check your work because higher concentrations can cause damage to the nasal tissue.

Dilute by adding 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the 10% Povidone Iodine into a full glass of water (300 ml). This will make the product diluted enough to use as a mouth rinse or nasal spray, (approximately 1.0%)

Note:
2 tablespoons = 30ml povidone iodine
1 glass water = 300 ml

Do we have any evidence that povidone iodine is effective against COVID-19? 

The Choudhury study in which 606 COVID infected patients in Bangladesh were randomized to 1% povidone iodine, or saline placebo mouthwash and gargle. Patients were followed with PCR testing for viral load. Dr. Choudhury writes:

The group of patients used 1% PVP-I [One per cent Povidone Iodine Solution] have shown tremendously reduced mortality, morbidity and hospital as well as financial burden in this COVID situation.

A study by Avinash Bidra found complete inactivation of the virus after 15 seconds of gargling with a 1% Povidone Iodine Solution. According to the authors:

PVPI (povidone iodine) oral antiseptics at all tested concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%, completely inactivated COVID-19 virus within 15 seconds of contact. The 70% ethanol control group was unable to completely inactivate COVID-19 virus after 15 seconds of contact, but was able to inactivate the virus at 30 seconds of contact.

More Evidence

There are 20 published studies supporting povidone-iodine for COVID-19. You can check out the list below (c19pvpi.com).

Povidone-iodine is ranked no. 3 in this COVID-19 early treatment death-rate league table below.

Do Not Use Iodine-Based Skin Disinfectant for Gargling

Importantly, Neal Naito (M.D., M.P.H., a former director of public health for the U.S. Navy) stresses that povidone-iodine solutions sold as skin disinfectants are NOT suitable for gargling as they contain potentially harmful ingredients that should not be ingested.

“It’s critical that people not gargle with skin disinfectant solutions, including those that contain povidone-iodine,” he says. So, when using povidone-iodine for gargling, be sure to look for solutions such as Betadine formulated specifically as a sore throat gargle, not products intended for cuts and wound care. (New York Times)

Saline Alternative

You can also do nasal rinses and gargle with saline instead of povidone-iodine. According to research (Double blind randomized controlled trial of saline solution gargling and nasal rinsing in COVID infection) presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in early November 2023, gargling and rinsing your nasal passages with a simple saline solution can ease the respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 and reduce your risk of hospitalization.

The results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. As reported in an ACAAI press release,1 both high- and low-dose saline regimens, consisting of gargling and nasal rinsing four times a day for 14 days, were associated with significantly lower hospitalization rates for COVID-19 infections compared to the reference population.

Where to buy povidone iodine nasal spray:

0.6% Povidone Iodine Nasal Spray - 30ml - ePothex (Amazon)

1.25% Povidone Iodine Nasal Spray - CofixRx (Amazon)

1% Povidone Iodine: Betadine Gargle and Mouthwash (Amazon)

Saline Nasal Spray: Amazon Basic Care Premium Saline Nasal Moisturizing Spray

Amber Glass 1 oz Nasal Sprayer. EMPTY, Refillable, Travel Sized, Quality Glass for Saline Applications

Z-Stack Supplement

In an effort to make it easier for patients, Dr Zelenko has developed an oral supplement that contains all four key ingredients: vitamin C, quercetin, vitamin D3 and zinc. It’s referred to as 'Z-Stack Supplement.

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The cost of the Z-STACK vitamin cocktail is $55 per bottle for a one month supply.

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