Does "Airborne" work?

[lukenick1]

Sick with the flu right now and want to spare my husband from getting sick. Unfortunately he was exposed to my illness before I knew it was the flu. I was coughing without covering my mouth thinking it was allergies. Has anyone tried Airborne with success? I have a prescription for Tamiflu that I am saving for him, but thought maybe taking the Airborne prophylactically would be a good idea.

 

[IheartMickey]

I don't know if it will work for the flu but it definitely helps me with colds. I take it when I start feeling symptoms and usually it's gone in a day or two.

 

[Baliezer]

Our family uses it all of the time successfully. When I hear that sickness is going around in one of my daughters schools, we take it every morning with breakfast. We usually do not end up getting sick. One year my daughter went to school and she was only one of three children that showed up in her class that day. Everyone else was sick.

It might help if you mix it with Emergen C. I mix the two in a large glass with warm water and drink.

 

[IheartMickey]

Our family uses it all of the time successfully. When I hear that sickness is going around in one of my daughters schools, we take it every morning with breakfast. We usually do not end up getting sick. One year my daughter went to school and she was only one of three children that showed up in her class that day. Everyone else was sick.

It might help if you mix it with Emergen C. I mix the two in a large glass with warm water and drink.

Wow, you're taking 2,000mg of Vitamin C at once by combining them. I hope you only take that once per day, here is what can happen if you take too much Vitamin C.

Are there any risks associated with too much vitamin C?
When obtained from food sources and supplements in the recommended dosages, vitamin C is generally regarded as safe. Side effects are rarely reported, but include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal cramps, and headache. For most healthy individuals, the body can only hold and use about 250mg of vitamin C a day, and any excess is lost though urine. At times of illness, during recovery from injury, or under conditions of increased oxidative stress (including smoking), the body can use greater amounts. High doses of vitamin C (greater than 2,000 mg/day) may contribute to the formation of kidney stones, as well as cause severe diarrhea, nausea, and gastritis.

 

[aaarcher86]

It helped me avoid most of the illnesses that hit my household in the last month.

I was sucking those puppies down I think 3x per day - whatever the max amount it says per day is. I'm not worried the severe reactions to excessive Vitamin C - it wasn't for a prolonged period of time.

 

[Baliezer]

Wow, you're taking 2,000mg of Vitamin C at once by combining them. I hope you only take that once per day, here is what can happen if you take too much Vitamin C.

Are there any risks associated with too much vitamin C?
When obtained from food sources and supplements in the recommended dosages, vitamin C is generally regarded as safe. Side effects are rarely reported, but include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal cramps, and headache. For most healthy individuals, the body can only hold and use about 250mg of vitamin C a day, and any excess is lost though urine. At times of illness, during recovery from injury, or under conditions of increased oxidative stress (including smoking), the body can use greater amounts. High doses of vitamin C (greater than 2,000 mg/day) may contribute to the formation of kidney stones, as well as cause severe diarrhea, nausea, and gastritis.

Actually my doctor was the one that suggested I take it like that. I think he would know better.

 

[ronandannette]

I swear by it; we actually use the generic form of it that you can buy as house-brand at Wal-Mart or many drug stores. I haven't had a "real" cold for so many years I forget actually how long.
(TIP: Take one just prior to getting on an airplane - that recirculated air is like inhaling the contents of a petri dish.)

 

[Nolcrest]

I'm rather happy to read these responses. I just went out last night & bought Airborne. Everybody but everybody is sick and I'm trying to stay healthy as long as possible.

Started w/a tiny itching feeling in my throat 2 days ago. Don't feel that any longer. Not quite sure yet how I feel about the Airborne but I'm not sick yet.

 

[aaarcher86]

I swear by it; we actually use the generic form of it that you can buy as house-brand at Wal-Mart or many drug stores. I haven't had a "real" cold for so many years I forget actually how long.
(TIP: Take one just prior to getting on an airplane - that recirculated air is like inhaling the contents of a petri dish.)

I second the generics. I took Wal-born from Walgreens as well. I actually prefer their lemon/lime flavor

 

[tvguy]

They paid fines in 32 states over claims it helped with colds and paid millions in refunds.


http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/makers-of-airborne-settle-false-ad-suit-with-refunds/

 

[ToTLaugher]

My DH takes it everyday and he is the only one in the house who missed out on a week of sickness starting the day after Christmas.

 

[Christine]

I've never taken it. My cousin takes both Airborne and EmerGen-C routinely. She caught a horrible cold with that awful cough last week.

There have never been any studies to prove that Airborne and Emergen-C are effective. In fact, I think they have shown they are not. As tvguy posted upthread, Airborne was actually sued for false claims and had to payout money.

I do believe the only OTC remedy that has proven effectiveness against colds only is zinc lozenges. Their effectiveness on how they help to stop a cold has been studied and proven.

 

[mnrose]

There are no scientific studies which support the claims made by Airborne. None. In fact, scientific studies suggest it is of no more benefit than a run of the mill multi vitamin, priced far lower. OTOH, it does no harm, and the only thing you are out is the money you spent to buy it. If you can afford it, go right ahead.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

They paid fines in 32 states over claims it helped with colds and paid millions in refunds.


http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/makers-of-airborne-settle-false-ad-suit-with-refunds/

There are no scientific studies which support the claims made by Airborne. None. In fact, scientific studies suggest it is of no more benefit than a run of the mill multi vitamin, priced far lower. OTOH, it does no harm, and the only thing you are out is the money you spent to buy it. If you can afford it, go right ahead.

It works like a placebo.

 

[minnie1012]

It works for me! As another poster said I haven't had a cold in years. If I feel that strange feeling in my throat I take it right away. Sometimes I have to take multiple doses to really fight it off. Once I felt like I was getting something for 2 days but I kept taking it and never got what my daughter had, fever, bad cough. She was literally coughing in my face (she is 4) and I never got it. It won't work if you are getting a sinus infection but it does work with colds. My husband also loves it! He works in retail so he has the chewables so he can take any time he is around someone sick.

 

[MIGrandma]

I was going to buy some the last time we flew to Florida, but I looked at the ingredients list on the back of the box and it was basically just vitamins.

DH and I already take a multi-vitamin daily, so adding all those extra vitamins would just make for, as Sheldon Cooper would say..."expensive urine."

I would take Tamiflu for actual flu, but when I feel a cold coming on I suck on zinc lozenges like Cold Eeze and 9 times out of 10 my cold symptoms will be gone the next day.

 

[aprilgail2]

Sick with the flu right now and want to spare my husband from getting sick. Unfortunately he was exposed to my illness before I knew it was the flu. I was coughing without covering my mouth thinking it was allergies. Has anyone tried Airborne with success? I have a prescription for Tamiflu that I am saving for him, but thought maybe taking the Airborne prophylactically would be a good idea.

Why wouldn't you take your own tamiflu and then let him go get his own perscription if he came down with the flu??

 

[lukenick1]

Why wouldn't you take your own tamiflu and then let him go get his own perscription if he came down with the flu??

Because I wasn't that bad that I couldn't just ride it out. Plus the side effects listed are nausea and vomiting. Who wants to deal with that on top of already being sick. Not me.....he said he would take his chances.

 

[goofy4tink]

It works like a placebo.

Yup. It's basically just vitamins. All the doctors we've asked said just take a good multi vitamin every day. Then, addtl C is okay...but not to excess!! Drink lots of water, wash your hands often.
As far as taking it for the flu?? Nope, not going to have any effect.
There's a reason that Airborne had to pay all those fines....there is little reason to take it to ward off illness. If the 'claims' were right on, then there would have been no reason to pay those fines!!!

So, you can pay the money for it, and then the placebo effect will kick in.

 

[Geoff_M]

From Airborne's website, as well as all advertising:

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This is known as the "Quack Maranda Warning". Translated: "We're not really saying that our product does anything regardless of what we just said or hinted at!" Generally speaking, RUN AWAY, if you see this on the same package that the seller trying to imply a medical claim.

But as far as what they say in the ad, can someone point me to a medical definition of what "support" means?