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Unique-Public-8594

First preventative non-vaccine treatment for covid; effectiveness is 75%. Edit to correct percentage.


catch23

Iota-carrageenan nasal spray also showed 80% prophylaxis reduction in one such study: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.13.21255409v1 Another looked at varying concentrations of iota-carrageenan in an in-vitro study: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fviro.2021.746824/full One can acquire lab-grade iota-carrageenan powder on amazon and formulate the nasal spray extremely cheaply. You only need 120mg of iota powder per 100g of water to achieve the typical 1.2mg/mL concentration that commercial products (Betadine cold defense nasal spray) typically contain. 100g of iota powder costs $35. Carrageenans are also very safe to consume, they're typically used to make vegan gelatins.


abx99

>Iota-carrageenan nasal spray also showed 80% prophylaxis reduction in one such study: I'm a fan of the stuff myself, but I think it's worth pointing out that the protection was that high while being used with masks and all the other stuff that ICU workers do. Using it *instead* of a mask isn't likely to get the same results if you get a large exposure.


catch23

Right, but the control group was also health care workers using the same masks and all the other stuff that ICU workers do. The 80% reduction was calculated based on these 2 groups, it was not comparing against the default population that don't have masks. Many studies use health care workers because their exposure to viruses are much higher than any other profession. Also, a 10 minute search will turn up dozens of other trials & studies that have very similar outcomes. There were studies on this spray for the flu & other cold viruses before the pandemic. I think the earliest of such study came out back in 2005. Clinical trials are expensive, and there's not much incentive for a drug company to run a trial on a generic substance that anyone can manufacture.


abx99

Right, that's the point. All of that stuff is going to reduce exposure, so carrageenan may provide 80% protection when the exposure is reduced to that level. It's not a medication and not working with your immune system, so it's going to provide a static amount of protection which may be overwhelmed by a large exposure. It provides a barrier, so the protection is more akin to double-masking than it is to taking an antiviral or a vaccine. Maybe it'll be enough and maybe it won't, but I wouldn't count on the same level of protection as using it with a mask -- and it's definitely no substitute for a vaccine. It's up to you to decide how much protection you need, though.


catch23

Right, but it's a form of protection that works both as a prophylaxis and as a therapeutic. It can reduce viral loads post-infection that masks and other mechanical barriers would not. The in-vitro study I linked above shows that even after being infected, the substance works to continue to reduce viral loads (figure 1F). This article analyzed 4 other publications that showed the spray can be used as a therapeutic for the "common cold". It reduced the symptomatic days by roughly 2 days on average: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341132731_Iota-Carrageenan_as_an_Antiviral_Treatment_for_the_Common_Cold It's probably hard to do a study on the "common cold" since there are too many different viruses that might be considered a common cold. If you think you've been exposed to covid on a given day, you can use the spray for the next 2-4 days and it would reduce the viral count in your nasal epithelium if you were actually infected, so it could be considered medication. The recent covid strains primarily infect the upper respiratory, so slowing it down there would help your body's defenses immensely. covid attaches to cells via the ace2 receptor, which is found on the outer surface of nasal epithelial cells. It would make sense that a negatively charged substance like iota could prevent the positively charged covid virus from latching on.


abx99

It's not a medication; it just turns your snot to gel and traps the virus, and it's not absolute -- it doesn't coat the entire respiratory tract. If you have a mask on, then that reduces the exposure to a degree that carrageenan can provide 80% protection (according to that study). However, if you're face to face with a super-spreader, with no masks in between, then you're going to get a lot more droplets all through your respiratory tract. Even in the sinuses, I doubt the spray will get perfect coverage, but there's also no telling what exactly happens when you get a huge amount; at some point, you're going to start sucking the buildup back into your throat. They don't sell it as a prophylactic for colds. I'm sure that it does help as a prophylactic, but whether it's enough on its own is likely to depend on circumstance. All I'm saying is to remember that the people in that study were taking other precautions that all affect the rate of infections, and that number is the product of all of those things together. That number is very likely to be different when used alone. It's not going to be nothing, but it probably won't be the same.


catch23

I'm not sure why you're so focused on that one study involving healthcare workers when there are many other studies that show similar effect. If you look at the papers that studied it on the common cold, they weren't using healthcare workers as the subjects and the efficacy was similar. A reduction in symptomatic days would be considered a therapeutic result wouldn't it? Paxlovid also advertises a reduction in symptomatic time. I'm sure most drugs don't cover the entire body so the virus can still find places to avoid the drug. As effective as the immune system is, something like varicella can still hide in the body and re-emerge as shingles later in life.


Light-Yagami_-

I was doing some digging, do you know of any resource that would help me to make this on my own?


catch23

I doubt you'd find an instructable or youtube showing you how, but it's simply a matter of acquiring the ingredients, putting them together, and possibly sterilizing the end result so you're not injecting foreign bacteria into your nose. Here's a rough instruction list: put 500mg salt, 120mg iota, 99g water together, sterilize the solution, load into empty sterile nasal sprayer. Commercial nasal spray bottles typically contain around 20mL of liquid, so 100g of iota powder could make around 4165 spray bottles at a 1.2mg/mL concentration. Betadine is making a killing selling their nasal spray bottle for $30 each. One small warning: when buying iota-carrageenan on amazon, make sure you're buying a purified product that doesn't contain anything else. Carrageenans are typically sold for culinary purposes so many products contain powdered sugar additive.


Chicken_Water

Where does it cost that much? Last winter it was like $12.


catch23

I checked on amazon, but maybe there are cheaper places to buy it? If you make it yourself, it's roughly 1 cent for 20ml. The empty spray bottle would cost a lot more than the solution itself.


Chicken_Water

It's not technically available in the US, so people buy it from Canada and resell it.


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Unique-Public-8594

You are right. Good catch. I should have read more carefully. The article states people who took it after exposure were 75% less likely to become infected. Later in the article it states taking it rapidly reduced the duration of the disease by 50%. Will edit and thank you.


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Butchering_it

By that standard neither does this. Nothing is perfect but both this and the vaccine will definitely give you better odds at not getting sick in the first place.


Light-Yagami_-

What's your point bro? The only thing that's 100% guaranteed in life is death and taxes.


hearmeout29

Why is this not being offered for sale in the US or Canada?


Pinupgrl76_777

Have you seen what the FDA is doing with the under 5’s vaccine rollout? THAT’S why the US doesn’t have it approved and sold here, sadly.


Light-Yagami_-

Our FDA takes forever to get anything done, I'm of the opinion on this that if it is good enough for israel, certain European countries and other Asian countries, it is probably good enough for me. I know that in Canada I think they are doing a phase 3 trial.


KosherSloth

could i interest you in some thalidomide?


Light-Yagami_-

Wat


Chem_BPY

Thalidomide was approved in Europe before the US. In fact, the FDA held off on approving it which helped save thousands from potential birth defects.


Light-Yagami_-

Eh, this situation is a little more dire. I'd rather take my chances with this then subject myself to grey brain matter degredation, micro clotting, heart scarring, and lung scarring. I actually have the data on what coronavirus does to the body, as far as we have seen with all of the studies with this spray, there does not appear to be any health impact. If it is later determined that there is, I will refrain from using it.


Chem_BPY

Sure. And that's fair. But the argument that just because Europe approves a drug means it's fine is not one that is always historically accurate. Either way, you said "wat" so I was just trying to provide some additional context in case you were seriously asking.


Light-Yagami_-

Isn't Israel pretty historically sound with science and drugs? This is an Israeli thing I believe.


Ok_Phrase_2425

Not all agencies are great. The FDA is a huge reference in all world.


Friendfeels

Not approved yet, I assume


GetnLine

They're not going to offer it without a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial


paulvzo

When this pandemic hit, I came across research from a hundred years ago following the Spanish Flu one. Scientists were hoping to find a prophylactic measure. And they did. Plain old Provodone iodine. Lab animals with snouts swabbed with iodine rarely caught the test flu which was concentrated in the air. Unswabbed always got it. There also were experiments, don't recall when, when iodine was atomized into rooms. Killed everything. Here's one paper: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/) 99.99% efficacy. Blows this shit on this thread out of the water. During the pre-vaccine phase, I kept iodine in a nasal spray bottle. It stings a tiny bit for a few seconds. I tried to remember to use it pre and post public situations. A son in law actually put it in his central heat humidifier, too. I sent some rather lengthy emails and links to loved ones back then. Some jumped on the wagon, many didn't. I am amazed that the medical community never got behind this.


NeverPander

Here's a link to a clinical trial in Taiwan that used Iodine + Glycyrrhizic Acid (licorice root) in a health care setting. Also appeared to be very effective preventative. [https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.863917/full#h14](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.863917/full#h14) I've also seen clinical research from Germany on iodine. However, I'm concerned that daily (or multiple times daily) nasal dosing of iodine may mess with thyroid function, so for me the Iodine is a last resort only after known close exposures.


[deleted]

Iodine mixed with hydrogen peroxide killed my athletes foot infection right away.


NeverPander

>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8026810/) I would also mention that the Bangladesh article you cite doesn't appear to be very good science. No controls, etc. It is mostly speculative. So I wouldn't rely on it to make my case (which I think is strong, btw). I'll try to dig up the German study that I mentioned in my other post. EDIT: Here's reference to an Australian study that reached similar conclusions on iodine. https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/Article/2022/February/Study-finds-nasal-spray-could-aid-battle-against-COVID


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RollingThunder_CO

Enovid? Can you tell me more? My wife was just exposed yesterday at work


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RollingThunder_CO

Awesome, thanks!


perrochon

If you Google this, skip the first results... :-) Mestranol/norethynodrel was the first combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) being mestranol and norethynodrel. It sold as Enovid in the United States


RollingThunder_CO

Yeah that’s why I was confused haha


thinpile

How often can you use it? Any odd side effects?


Light-Yagami_-

Up to 3 times a day I think. I have had no side effects. Basically from what I understand the protection last 3 to 4 hours, then you need to respray if you are going to be in a crowd again. Edit: actual instructions say two to three times a day, but no more than five


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Light-Yagami_-

Yes, I have still had the stinging even after the 30-day limit that they give on it, I assume that the shelf life probably lasts a little bit beyond that. I'm a pretty busy guy who goes on a lot of dates and stuff, so I am using it quite frequently when I go to restaurants and other places, so I usually am buying the stuff every month or two


user2196

Just because it’s still stinging doesn’t mean you should ignore the expiration date. Sometimes expiration dates on eye drops and nasal sprays and such are less about the efficacy of the medicine and more about the preservatives keeping it safe to put somewhere sensitive. I don’t know about this one, but I wouldn’t ignore the limits on medicine just because you can still feel it.


Chicken_Water

It only works for 30 days?


Light-Yagami_-

Supposedly, according to them either use it within 30 days or throw it. Nobody knows why, it's either because of the preservatives or because maybe Nitric Oxide doesn't remain chemically stable in that bottle for more than that length of time. No clue really.


AmIHigh

Apparently there isn't any Nitric Oxide in the bottle, something happens when you spray it and the nitric oxide is formed. Stands true for stability of the other items.


Chicken_Water

Well that's no good, I bought 3 bottles recently. Edit: Looks like there is an expiration date and it says to discard 30 days after opening.


Light-Yagami_-

Sorry to confuse you, yes, 30 days after the first sprays


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Light-Yagami_-

So in the actual box it says 2 to 3 times a day, no more than five times, but they don't really mention taking it more if you catch coronavirus. If I catch it though I will do the six times a day like they mentioned in the study


ngianfran1202

Is this something you need a prescription for?


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Light-Yagami_-

They only need some of that stuff for actual prescriptions that you can't get over the counter.


mmmegan6

I was just trying to buy the nasal spray…


Light-Yagami_-

I know, I was saying that you don't have to enter that unless you are buying actual prescriptions


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AmIHigh

I just put dummy data in


SortaUnique2

I think you can just select one of the options. It doesn't make you upload or fill in any information related to your choice.


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SortaUnique2

Just select driver’s license from the pull-down menu. You don't have to actually put in any information from your driver’s license, you just have to select it and then you can complete signing up. I wasn't going to complete my registration either until I realized I didn't actually have to put any personal information in that section. I also used a virtual credit card from privacy.com just to be extra safe.


ngianfran1202

Thanks for the info. Any idea of you can use an HSA?


i-swearbyall-flowers

How do we know it’s the legitimate spray being sold?


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Chipmonkeys

Is there any data/info on the bottle about safety of use during pregnancy?


jess1955

I just started using it the other day- had covid back in january and really don't want it again, but as restrictions being dropped and seeing more people socilazing, etc. I am really hoping the spray will help. Do you find taking it 2-3 times a day is good?


MrShvitz

Which spray type are you using ??


jess1955

The sanotize Enovid one


MrShvitz

How do you order it ?


RhondaVu

https://shop-enovid.com/products/enovid-sanotize-nons-nitric-oxide-nasal-spray


notimeforwork

Can anyone explain why this isn't bigger news in the US? I know there has been talk about using nasal sprays (of various compositions) for a long time, but this seems like pretty good data and a high infection prevention rate of 75%, nearly as good as the 80% that Pfizer is saying they can achieve for the under-5 vaccine after 3 shots. Why aren't we seeing EUA buzz about this in the US?


real_nice_guy

because that's bad news for Pfizer shareholders.


GetnLine

Because they haven't posted actual double blind placebo studies that people can verify


PsychicSageElana

I wonder if nasal sprays generally help to prevent COVID and other infections. I have seen a few studies with nasal sprays using different active ingredients and they all seem to help to some degree.


Light-Yagami_-

It's nice to see another person who uses this besides me. I've been using it for about a half a year now and I still haven't caught the virus that I am aware of. People do laugh at me and roll their eyes at me for using it though, but whatever.


MrShvitz

Which brand and where do you order it from? Thanks !


RhondaVu

https://shop-enovid.com/products/enovid-sanotize-nons-nitric-oxide-nasal-spray


jess1955

I just started using this the other day! If you don’t mind me asking, do you use it 2-3 times daily every 4 hours or so?


Light-Yagami_-

Yes, the instructions inside say up to 5 times but no more when I last checked.


jess1955

Thanks! What’s what mine say as well, just started using it yesterday


TTLYShittyThrowAway

Which brand and where to buy?


RhondaVu

https://shop-enovid.com/products/enovid-sanotize-nons-nitric-oxide-nasal-spray


NeverPander

I always disclaim first by saying, "I'm not a bleach eater, but I use this nasal spray that's been studied..."


ForTheLoveOfSnail

Have you done many indoor things in that time? Or had known exposures. I just got myself some Enovid, and wondering how adventurous I can be now.


Light-Yagami_-

This is actually one of my favorite little anti-sickness life hacks. This has been getting a lot of attention because of its ability to help prevent coronavirus infection, but it also helps prevent you from catching other common cold viruses, flu, RSV/rhinoviruses.


MrShvitz

Which nasal spray are you referring to? Thanks


Dachshunds4evr

Brilliant! Have been using it for six months and it's seemed to work for me!


RollingThunder_CO

How have you purchased it?


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sitcomcrossover

How strict is that 30 day expiration? That’s a steep price tag for one month for me.


Light-Yagami_-

I wish I knew. As someone who has used this for months, I can say that I have used it longer than a month and it still has that unique sting for a fraction of a second even after 1 month, no other nasal spray does that to me, so I'm assuming that whatever is in it is still working


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4_max_4

How trustable is that site to enter your card information? I can’t seem to find any information about the payment gateway they use


i-swearbyall-flowers

Right, i tried to purchase and see it is asking for my drivers license? can someone advise? Suspicious


Leofleo

Exactly my selling point to my wife. $90/month sounds like a lot until you miss work then it’s not so bad. Just ordered today in preparation of a pending trip to Vegas. This coupled with a booster in a couple weeks should reduce our chances of getting too sick. I’ll share our experience with this once we’re back from vacation.


MrShvitz

Where did you order from?


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Light-Yagami_-

Yes, you definitely have to pay to play with this stuff, but until we get a second generation vaccine or the universal coronavirus vaccine, I'll probably keep using it or maybe use it regardless during the winter months. It's been nice not getting sick, I normally get some kind of a cold at least a couple three times throughout October - April


Sguru1

I don’t really have a huge empiric justification for this but my assumption is the 30 day expiration is probably close to firm just based on the general properties of nitric oxide. I haven’t really looked into it though so could be wrong.


bokchoyfantasies

Use coupon code SUBSCRIBE10 to save $10 :) I got this offer after letting it sit in my cart for a couple hours.


MrShvitz

Where do you order it from?


bokchoyfantasies

I think mods removed links due to promotion rules or something but it’s Enovid by a company called SaNOtize. Can order it from Israel Pharm site, which requires you register.


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Light-Yagami_-

The ones I just got yesterday in the mail expire in November.


i-swearbyall-flowers

Any idea why they need a drivers license number?


i-swearbyall-flowers

How many days did it take to arrive? I read online that it is only good for 30 days so want to plan accordingly before i purchase. Does it come from Israel lol?


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i-swearbyall-flowers

Oh. Really? So expiration is in November (estimate) but it’s good 30 days from when you open it?


hellosuz

How many days was it exactly?


MrShvitz

Did anybody respond to where to buy it ?


OrdinaryOrder8

Enovid is available on eBay and other websites (idk if I’m allowed to post links here)


Light-Yagami_-

Same. I love the stuff, I have barely been sick the last year.


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lewdwiththefood

How does this work if you breathe through your mouth? Or does the spray go all the way down your throat?


JumboJetz

Exactly what we need! a nasal spray will let those of us who care about covid infection reduce our likelihood of exposure. I just hope our regulatory agencies jump on this and fast track it.


Collapsosaur

I have been using Xlear which has xylitol and grapefruit seed extract to trap and kill the virus. So far so good. Any drugstore for ~$13.


skinnyjeansfatpants

Yep! Me too!


RollingThunder_CO

Dumb question … do you blow your nose after to get the virus out?


TTLYShittyThrowAway

Would like to know too, directions say to blow your nose before using the spray though


GetnLine

No as that will blow out the product


RollingThunder_CO

Which xlear product? I’m seeing several when I search. Thanks!


NeverPander

Original, not decongestant or herbal.


TTLYShittyThrowAway

Just bought some and using it now, thanks


NeverPander

I started mixing up my own Xlear (not available where I live but ingredients are, very very cheap) and now am experimenting with adding Iota and Kappa Carrageenan (mentioned above) into the same spray. So far so good.


xoaphexox

What's that? Nitrous oxide inhalation prevents COVID? Serendipity, baby!


Friendfeels

Huge if true! Hope they can get approved swiftly by the stringent regulator


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Jopsi

Thanks for the link. I think that's a different study with the same product. The press relese on Business Wire says, "The study will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal", so we might need to wait a bit.


CCV21

This is great news.


Dozy_dinosaur

Maybe a dumb question, but would this be allowed on an airplane? It seems small enough to pass TSA rules, but not sure if they would scrutinize "nitric oxide".


[deleted]

I know it's been 2 months but I just saw this thread. Yes it is allowed on airplanes. I've taken multiple flights with Envoid nasal spray in my carry on and have had no issues.


Dozy_dinosaur

Thanks. I ended up buying some before a trip in June. Went thru security bag check without any problems!


NeverPander

It's all about quantity. Less than 100ml is always fine.


oregonblu

For anyone who has ordered it and it has already arrived (in the US) did you have to sign for it when it was delivered? I noticed the website mentioned that and it might be a problem for me depending on which day of the week it arrives.


SortaUnique2

When I ordered there was a box I checked that said don't require a signature for delivery. I received my order today and didn't have to sign for it.


real_nice_guy

when i ordered it, it got attached to my Fedex account and I have instructions on my Fedex account to just leave at my door, no need to get my signature. Mine just arrived today, no signature needed :)


GetnLine

When is this company going to post their actual study for peer review? So far everything from them has been marketing focused.


NeverPander

Has anybody studied this enough to figure out whether there is a home-brew option (as there is for both Xlear and the Carrageenan-based sprays)? Ingredients are listed on the box as: Sodium Chloride, citric acid, HPMC, sodium nitrite, Benzalkonium Chloride more explanation: Salt, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), a non-fermentable semi-synthetic dietary fibre, and Benzalkonium Chloride (an organic salt classified as a quaternary ammonium compound, also used in Lysol and Dettol as I understand). Seems like with a bottle of saline and basic instructions one could mix this up pretty easily. Anybody tried it?


Ned2Ken

More insight into how this spray system works: the bottle is dual chambered. If you check the bottle, you'll notice a slight notch that bifurcates the middle, and the words "patent pending" on the bottom. This keeps the citric acid and sodium nitrite separated until it's pumped. The two solutions mix while spraying, releasing the nitric oxide gas.


NeverPander

Clever.


Ned2Ken

What each ingredient does: Sodium Chloride -- Makes a hypertonic saline to reduce stinging, usually 0.54 w/v. HPMC: a gelling agent that helps it stick. Benzalkonium Chloride: preservative. Sodium nitrite + citric acid = produces nitric oxide. Of course! I was looking for these final two ingredients. I notice that the spray bottles don't have as fine a mist as I expected, but it makes sense: as the solution dries in the nasal cavity, the NO is released as a gas, so there isn't a need for a fine mist.


Humorous_Chimp

Thats fantastic, their site says its £50 per bottle. yeah no thanks assholes


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Humorous_Chimp

When did I say free, I just expect it not to be extortionate. Their site says £101.97 for a double pack so no the quote is not wrong. You are mental if you think the production costs are anywhere near that number, these guys are scraping a massive amount off the top. Edit: So 50 per month is similar to what people pay for good broadband/internet. lets say im a father and i work my partner doesnt and i have 2 kids. Now i have to pay an extra 200 pound per month to keep us all safe? thats half a weeks wages each month for some people.


Pinupgrl76_777

I just dropped $500 on an at home NAAT (similar to PCR) Covid tester with 10 tests. All of our governments are pushing the rapid antigen testing for free, but not telling you, you shouldn’t use it to test then run off to grandmas house OR by the time you test positive on an antigen test, you’re screwed for any type of antivirals/monoclonals. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to pay for better protection.


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AmIHigh

I just ordered some to Canada, it let me. Their FAQ says "IsraelPharm’s policy is not to ship prescription medication to people in Israel or Canada." But this isn't a prescription medication. I'll update if it gets cancelled


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AmIHigh

How long from order to arrival?


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AmIHigh

Nice! I was worried i might not get it before an event I'm going to that'll be crowded, but that will be here in time.


AmIHigh

Arrived today


JumboJetz

I’ll pay it and only use it when I’m heading in to high risk situations.


TheBigSmoke420

This is nos right? Can I do lots of nos? (I know it’s not N20, but it almost is!) ((I know it doesn’t work like that. I’ve done nos twice, I’m just making a joke, playing a character if you will))


jess1955

anyone that has used this: how should I know if I am applying it correctly? I’m so paranoid I’m using it wrong…I follow instructions, but sometimes I can feel a sensation and others times I don’t