The Airborne dietary supplement, which claims to help ward off the cold and flu, has reached a tentative settlement in a class action lawsuit that the company misrepresented its product. You can file online or by mail here. Boxes of Airborne used to cite a study by “GNG Pharmaceutical Services Inc” that said it tested 120 people and 47% showed little or no cold flu symptoms, versus 23% of a placebo. However, an ABC news investigation revealed that GNG was a two-man operation started up just to make the Airborne study, and had no clinic, scientists or doctors. Following the negative publicity, Knight-McDowell Labs removed references to the GNG study from its packages. Maybe people just weren’t reading the box carefully and failed to apply directly to the forehead.
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As for Zicam, my stepfather started losing his sense of taste quite a bit a couple of years ago. Then the reports of people losing their sense of smell from Zicam came out, and we figured out he starting losing his taste right around when he started using Zicam. I never used the stuff myself because I really don’t believe shooting gels up my nose is going to shorten a cold (load of crap if you ask me), and I don’t know whether or not zinc destroys nasal tissue, but Zicam sounds like a lot of snake-oil and I’d rather just let my body work through the cold itself and build up its defenses than risk losing my sense of smell. And them’s my two cents.
And here’s a fact apart from all that: Zicam has not been, and is not required to be, approved by the FDA because it is considered a “natural remedy.”
@alhypo: I was always confused by the school teacher thing too! What the hell does a school teacher know about medicine?? Shouldn’t this teacher be pushing antibacterial wipes instead?
@Dead Wrestlers Society: Zinc tabs. Way better than vitamin C.
Hey, even though the ‘study’ isn’t what it is cracked up to be, this stuff works. I have used this stuff for the last 3 years and my husband started it 2 years ago. Yes, it is vitamins in large doses, but it has worked well at the first signs of a cold. When we haven’t remembered to take it ASAP, it still has helped by reducing the length and severity of the cold.
No complaints. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Thanks, guys. I just bought Airborne for the first time today. Couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow to shoot down the placebo effect?
Whatever…put in you bought 6 packages (no proof required) and you get an easy $50 or so…
@SomeoneGNU: But there’s a difference between the daily recommended value and how much your body can actually absorb. The amount that can be absorbed also varies based on need (i.e. it will absorb more when you’re getting sick). You may not absorb everything you take, but by giving yourself a megadose you’ll get the maximum amount, and the rest will just be expelled.
That being said, Airborne is way overpriced. You can buy a huge bottle of vitamin C for a fraction of the cost of Airborne. I personally take 2000mg a day because my girlfriend is a pediatric nurse and brings home all sorts of diseases. Thanks the vitamin C I almost never get sick.
@monkey33: I’ve never had Airborne, but Emergen-C makes a decent mixer. Decent, that is, if you like Tang.
@Mucinexhaters: Mucinex works, but you gotta take more than the wimpy instructions sez: If you’re using the real Mucinex, take at least 2 to start, and repeat every 12 h. If you’re using store brands that aren’t controlled-release, take at least 2, and repeat every 4-6 h. Don’t take cough suppressants with Mucinex, or you won’t get the benefit of the guaifenesin.
The common cold is caused by a virus. Simply put, there are no medicines that prevent colds and nothing that cures them – not vitamin C, not echinacea, and certainly not Airborne. Sure, there are plenty of anecdotes suggesting they work. To them I say, that’s the reason real medicines have to be shown to be effective in randomized, double-blinded clinical trials. And there are none – and not for lack of trying – that show the effectiveness of any of these ‘treatments’.
Got a cold? Live with it folks. Nothing you can do besides that.
@orielbean: There’s no escpaing it on a plane. You, them, and all your germs are all in the same recirculating air for the length of the flight. I almost always get sick doing a non-stop cross country flight.
However, you can count me in as one of the people who like Zicam for killing it quicker than nothing.
@Dead Wrestlers Society:
The flu is a virus. The only things that work are eating properly and, possibly, getting a flu shot.
@eelmonger:
Too much Vitamin-C is worse than slightly too little. You don’t get sick precisely because your girlfriend is a pediatric nurse – the more germs you encounter, the more effective your immune system becomes.
@mrsmarti:
I hear heroin and PCP completely eliminate all illnesses and make you live forever.
Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
@ceejeemcbeegee:
Nyquil only treats cold symptoms and only claims to treat cold symptoms. If you have a severe cold, you often have trouble sleeping, which can prolong your cold. At worst, Nyquil will help you sleep through your cold.
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For the last goddamned time, THE COLD AND FLU ARE CAUSED BY VIRUSES, AND THERE ARE NO CURES. A CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD, GARNER A NOBEL PRIZE, AND MAKE THE CREATOR WEALTHY BEYOND ANYONE’S DREAMS.
Vaccines may prevent the flu by stimulating the body’s immune system, and antiviral drugs have been developed which assist in speeding up the course of the illness. These are not *cures*, and should not be treated as such. Further, there are many strains of influenza, and they are not all treatable.
@MercuryPDX:
“Better than nothing” is a ridiculous statement. Eating fresh fruit is also “better than nothing,” is less expensive, and has far fewer possible side-effects.
“Better than nothing” also implies that you knew exactly how long your symptoms were going to last without the treatment – impossible to pinpoint with most diseases.
@RvLeshrac: Of course vitamin C doesn’t cure the cold or the flu, but it helps the immune system which is what eventually gets rid of it. And if the immune system is strong enough, early enough, it can fight off the viruses before they have time to get serious numbers.
Also my girlfriend got sick all the time until I got her started taking vitamin C regularly, so I think there’s something to that. Although, your comments got me looking into stuff about it, and I’m thinking maybe I should reduce the dose to 1000mg a day, which is great cause it doubles my supply!
Orac, over at Respectful Insolence, debunked this stuff eons ago.
[scienceblogs.com]
It states on the box that this was created by some school teacher. I’m not surprised he probably hired two guys to do the survey. You’re better off taking a daily vitamin and extra vitamin C.
I fly a lot, and I also have a weak immune system. I’ve never taken this stuff and never had any problems after flying. I never really looked into it, but I always wondered what the point was if your chances of getting sick are 50/50. When my bro told me he took it before a flight, I thought it was kind of funny, because he has never had a lot of problems getting sick. I guess in the back of my mind I always thought it was BS.
@theblackdog: sure use the nasal zinc if you want to affect your sinus cavities as well as lose your sense of smell permanently.
@chemicalx9: Or you can just apply the stuff to the inside of your nose instead of shooting it all the way up into your sinuses which I suspect is what actually makes folks lose their sense of smell.
As someone who gets a virus every time I fly home for the holidays, I started taking this product and I haven’t been sick since. Also, whenever I feel a cold coming on, I start taking it and the cold never takes hold. Maybe I stay healthy because my mind believes I will or maybe this product works. Either way, I hope this suit doesn’t take the product off the shelves because it works for me.
Vitamins, especially in the excesses present in this genre of suppliment will not make your cold go away any faster than if you simply drink lots of water and get plenty of rest. If you eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruit, you should already have a healthy immune system and will catch fewer colds. That’s the best you can do. Unless you get a great placebo effect from airborne or emer’gen C, then I suggest you spend your money elsewhere.
@RvLeshrac: Encountering a variety of germs strengthens the immune systems of children, not adults. The adult immune system is a relatively static organism.
@Pacifist Pirate Nyo: the school teacher is a ‘she’ not a ‘he’. Her photo is on the bottom of the box.
I’ve had good luck with adding in some viatmin C, and other goodies. Airborne, however, has a bunch of sugar (why?), and is way expensive, compared to expensive supplements. I’ll take the crappy tasting pill, thanks.
A critical part of Airborne’s problem is the pseudo-clinical study they used as a marketing ploy. I’ve tried to locate information on the names of the founders of GNG Pharmaceutical Sciences but have not yet found anything. Does anyone have this information or know how to get it? I’ve looked in business registers in Florida and Indiana, but no luck so far. Thanks for any ideas or information.
@eelmonger:
And that’s really the point.
Vitamin C is certainly beneficial – at the proper levels. Most people don’t get nearly enough of the various vitamins and minerals they need.
1000mg is still more than 15x the USRDA (10x the highest RDA). If you’re going to be taking it in excess, limit yourself to 100-200mg. Take too much, and you’re going to suffer from diarrhea.
You’re also better off just drinking a couple glasses of orange juice a day. That will take care of both the vitamin C and your fluid intake.
As long as you actually consult reliable sources, I don’t really care if you overdose on C. It might be unpleasant, but it won’t necessarily hurt you. Just keep in mind that diarrhea will cause you to expel even more of the nutrients that you already aren’t getting (presumably, if you’re taking supplements). It becomes an arms race.
And please, don’t trust the “Vitamin C Foundation” with your health. One of their primary sources, Dr. Thomas Levy, is a rabid anti-vaccination quack – I find it difficult, if not impossible, to accept any medical studies or ‘advice’ originating with him.
The “Vitamin C Foundation” recommends that pregnant women consume enough Vitamin C (6-9g) to cause serious disease (‘rebound’ scurvy) in newborns, and they recommend 20-300g/day to ‘cure’ infectious disease – enough to cause acute conjunctivitis and *EXTREMELY* severe mineral deficiencies in an adult. This extraordinarily large dosage is more likely to cause the disease to spread due to the body’s deficiencies without complementary doses of other supplements, which have their own dangers.
They further recommend that every child over the age of three be dosed with 3g+/day of Vitamin C – this is enough vitamin C to cause severe mineral deficiencies in children, which can lead to loss of bone density, among other conditions, over time.
With quacks like these, who needs Avian Flu?
@Claystil:
Your immune system is never static. Saying that it is static “relative” to a child is much like saying the molecules in water are static relative to plasma. Sure, one of them is packed with activity, but that doesn’t mean the other is a sub-k block of metal.
If you don’t encounter germs, your immune system will lose the ability to fight them. Young or old. The only case in which encountering them is NOT beneficial is when your immune system is already overtaxed, or when it is affected by medication or immunodeficiency diseases.
@Amy Alkon:
I like the comment about the Vitamin A content of Airborne.
15000IU/day (the Airborne dosage) of Vitamin A will cause hair loss, loss of bone density, damage to the skin, vomiting, and a number of other issues in kids.
Perhaps the people who give Airborne to children should be arrested on charges of child cruelty and attempted murder.
@RvLeshrac: despite your colorful analogies there, you’re still not correct.
We have two forms of immunity in our body. The one we’re discussing is known as active immunity and typically lasts for the life of an individual. By adulthood, most individuals in developed nations will have a near-complete catalogue of defensive cells. This will not be the case if they go to a completely new environment, which is why many travelers need to update manual immunizations prior to travel and why the American Indians were wiped out by european diseases. There are also immunizations not manually applied that likewise might not occur naturally in some individuals, but this is rare. In other words, yes, the immune system, in the terms defined by the discussion here, is relatively static compared to that of a child’s. Ask any physician and I promise they’ll tell you the same thing. And read me clearly, I am not saying it’s static compared to “a sub-k block of metal.”
To your last, separate point: our immune system’s memory is quite long. It remembers quite a bit for an entire lifetime. Most of us are pretty well set by the time we complete puberty. Those of us who aren’t should be weary. Very, very weary.
It’s far better when you travel to wash your hands and NOT turn on the air vent over your airplane seat. I had a doctor recommend that, and I stopped getting sick when I traveled when I stopped spewing the germs of an entire airplane directly into my eyes, nose and mouth.
Could someone please post a link with info. about how to claim the refund? I have spent a fortune on this crap. I am a school teacher too. I kept taking it because I am “sick of catching colds” too, like the creator. It sure didn’t seem like a miracle but I was desperate.
I’ve found the best thing for both colds and sinuses. I use it as a preventative and a cure all and it only costs about $2.97. It is made for allergies but it appears to work with colds. I’ve have several other people try it and now they swear by it. It is the Equate Chloratab sold at Walmart. It’s comparble to Chloratin but I have never taken Chloratin so I cannot compare them other than price. I typically take the tablet to help with keeping my sinuses dry when I feel a sniffle coming and for some reason it never develops into a cold (and it is not an alergy problem that I have. It is a very safe medicine can be taken everyday and is supposed to be ok for high blood pressure sufferers. Try it it may work for you. Also if you start taking it during a cold you keep on about a day after you feel better to make sure you are out of the woods. Good luck with your search for a cure.
@Claystil:
The problem is when one is not exposed to disease for a prolonged period of time, as is often the case now with our reliance on antibacterial everything.
That’s what I was getting at. Until late-life (50, 60, 70), the immune system is still fully capable of developing to meet new threats. In modern society, adults have frequently been sheltered with antibiotics and antibacterial soaps/lotions to the point where they cannot fight off simple diseases (minor infections, colds) in adult life.
Hence my constant recommendation that people stop showering themselves with these products.
A healthy immune system will become stronger when exposed to new, or even old, germs. A(n) infant/child’s immune system is obviously more active, as it encounters far more new material to process. That doesn’t mean that an adult’s immune system stops or slows processing – it just encounters less to process.
@RvLeshrac: “Hence my constant recommendation that people stop showering themselves with these products.”
Well I guess it’s good to know that it has the RvLeshrac vote, but before I alter my lifestyle on the advice of a stranger over the internet, I usually like to see studies that empirically confirm his gut sense.
If you don’t follow a similar principle, I recommend immersing your head in castor oil seven times a day until you do. In my experience, that has also prevented cancer, since I have never gotten cancer within four hours of immersing my head in castor oil. Think about it: I bet you haven’t either.
@RvLeshrac: I understand where you’re coming from, and to some extent your logic is sound, but the general picture you paint is simply not true. Unfortunately, your line of thinking is becoming more common.
The next time you’re speaking to an M.D., especially if its an immunologist, ask him if using anti-biotics or anti-bacterial soaps will negatively influence your [adult] immune system. I promise you he will tell you the same things I have and then say “…so, there’s nothing wrong using these products.”
I solved most of my cold problems by moving to California. Works quite well.
See, you can’t sue the makers of DXM + Guaifenesin for selling a product that turns out later to not work, assuming that they haven’t been hiding negative results or such. Tons of studies into the human toxicity and efficacy of DXM and Guaifensin have been done. Getting each ingredient on the market is the result of bunches and bunches of research.
And it turns out that they’re wrong and plain old honey works better. Better than a second grade teacher, a nameless (and probably manufactured) staff of health professionals, and a pair of clearly manufactured researchers to “prove” that it works. At least the DXM + Guailfensin folks had good intentions, instead of being out to get your money.
Personally, I think we should return to narcotic cold remedies. Not because I think they work, but because at least you are a little less aware of how crappy you feel at the moment.
@EBounding: Agreed. I just bought 2 of these because we’re about to fly to San Diego and I usually take them a couple of days before the flight. It seems to work.
@RvLeshrac: AMEN. I’ve been saying this for years. The only thing I really disinfect after is poultry. I don’t use antibacterial anything unless it’s a toilet or touched a chicken. Geebus. We’re making ourselves so vulnerable or building super-bugs that can’t be stopped.
Remember the Simpsons episode where children are banned everywhere in the town? Ha Ha! There is no CURE for a cold, never has been. As a work in progress, I hear they are still no where near finding one.
@ wouldacoulda
That’s why it’s funny when people swear by stuff they’ve taken after they’ve become sick. Like someone taking antibiotics for a common cold. Like anyone taking Zicam. (it’s a HOMEOPATHIC “remedy”) Like Echinacea, mega doses of C, A, Zinc, whatever vitamin you want. Once you’re sick, you can only treat the SYMPTOMS.
@sibertater:
Antibacterial soaps outright kill bacteria – they aren’t made with products that bacteria can adapt to resist (generally speaking, of course. I’m sure there’s SOMETHING out there…).
The issue is when you’re using them constantly for years.
@Pender:
Doctors will back me up, to a degree. As Claystil said, they *will* say that there’s “nothing wrong” with using antibacterial soaps, lotions, rinses, etc. They will also, however, point out that these things should be used in moderation – they’re an excellent idea when you’re on an airplane or other packed, crowded locale.
You’re better off simply using soap & water most of the time, though, since your immune system *needs* these bacteria.
It also doesn’t help that many of the hand-rinses are alcohol-based – they’ll dry out your skin fairly quickly, especially in a dry or windy climate.
I filed for my check; but you have to supply a receipt. If you threw away your receipt(s) or got it for free, you’ll be out of luck. I bought mine through Amazon, and they seem to keep receipts/invoices online forever.
I sent in information on Airborne I bought and now months later I get this letter that says I had a box that wasn’t for sale at the time. Now it says I have to resend the other 2 bottles I bought. This is some kind of joke. I am sure if you send letters like this to people they will say forget it because it’s not worth the trouble.I am really distgusted with the way you are running your class action suit. I am sure it won’t hely your sales as I would never buy any more and I am sure other people feel the same. I feel better now that I said what I did. nagmuffy@comcast.net Constance Magnusen
I took part in the class action suit and was reimbursed for up to six boxes today. I think it may have helped with some things, but I felt that it was unfair for a company to make claims that aren’t true. There are too many people taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals.
I love Mucinex, it’s awesome stuff. I had a nasty nasty cold in January and I took it. Helped clear me up, PLUS the kid’s stuff is one of the few things my son can take safely at his age that helps.
My wife bought some of this, I take it occasionally, but I don’t think it really makes any difference in the amount of or length of colds I might get.
One thing that always makes me laugh is the proud declaration on the package: “Made by a school teacher!”. I probably should take something made by actual scientists, but there you go. Hopefully at least she is a science school teacher.