Winter Virus Protection

Author: Bryana Gregory, PharmD, RPh, Physician Liaison

Interview with a Pharmacist: Bryana Gregory, PharmD., R.Ph.

It is officially winter and virus season is upon us. More people are having symptoms such as fever, coughing, muscles aches and sore throats. Viruses such as the common cold, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are generally more common and virulent in the winter months. Therefore, to prevent or lessen the symptoms of viral infection, it is important to be educated on your options for optimizing your health and protecting your immune system. Today we are sharing an interview with our pharmacist, Bryana Gregory, who will share some valuable information about anti-viral compounded medications.

What are some of the most common viruses that are making people sick right now?

The cooler months allow for the prime condition for common respiratory viral infections to replicate. Viruses such as the common cold, flu, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) are generally more common during this time of year and the number of sick cases may increase during cooler temperatures for several reasons. People spend more time indoors and in close proximity, dry weather can cause cracking of the skin and weakening of the mucous membranes, and respiratory viruses generally thrive at lower temperatures found in the nasal cavity.

Additionally, with recent lock down restrictions, the immune systems, particularly those of young children, have not had the opportunity for typical pathogen exposure and the necessary immune building process. This is one of the reasons why we have seen several early infections and co-infections in the past several months.

What medications can act as anti-virals?

At Physicians Preference Pharmacy, we focus on healing your body from the inside out. Your body has different requirements than the next person, which is why some people fall ill to certain viruses, while others don’t, and why some people experience more severe illness when infected. Because of our individual differences, your recommendations for rebalancing and replenishing your body should be tailored to you. The compounded medications listed here are intended to equip your body with what it needs to fight off viruses or lessen the severity if you do become ill.

Here, we’ll discuss some of these compounded medications and how they work.

Vitamin D3 is an essential vitamin in the body. Vitamin D is important for maintaining function of the immune cells, decreasing inflammation, and regulating blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin production. Many people with current viral infection as well as post-viral syndrome continue to be deficient in vitamin D until it is replaced.

Methylene Blue has unique properties which optimize mitochondrial function and protect the body against oxidative stress. Methylene blue repairs mitochondrial function in the body to both increase energy and oxygen production, both of which are essential to live. By optimizing mitochondrial function, methylene blue can inhibit the lifecycle and infectivity or viruses, bacteria and much more.

Melatonin acts as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and sleep promoting compound. Sleep is important for lymphatic drainage and detoxification and is the brain’s chance to hit reset. Without an adequate quality and quantity of sleep, the body is at risk of increased infection and decreased immunity. Viral infection creates toxic byproducts, so the antioxidant properties of melatonin can be highly beneficial.

Ivermectin is a commonly used anti-parasitic drug which has been around for a very long time. Studies suggest that ivermectin may be useful for lowering the inflammation, duration and severity of symptoms, transmission and replication associated with viral infection.

Methylated Vitamin B – This proprietary blend consists of four forms of Vitamin B essential for boosting immunity and inhibiting viral infectivity. Nearly half of the population has a MTHFR gene mutation, which means that they do not effectively break down (methylate) and absorb the B vitamins they consume through food sources. Methylation is essential for appropriate utilization of B vitamins within the body, which is why this compound contains Vitamin B in a formulation that is already methylated for you. Vitamin B is also imperative for controlling inflammation in the body.

Sirolimus is an impressive compound which mimics intermittent fasting in the body, serves as an immune regulator, and promotes cellular autophagy. Autophagy is the natural and routine process of cellular housekeeping and detoxification; but with age, stress, and viral infection, our ability to detoxify our cellular waste products is decreased. Sirolimus reboots the cell and restores our ability to detoxify, regulate inflammation and achieve regular autophagy for cleaner cells.

Glutathione is naturally produced by the body and serves as a “master antioxidant” helping to combat free radicals and reduce toxins. Glutathione is also important for helping the body make Vitamin D and protect its own immune cells. Those currently experiencing viral infection are often deficient in glutathione, and are at increased risk of respiratory inflammation until glutathione levels are restored.

As you can see, a common theme among these compounded medications is reducing inflammation, clearing the body of toxins and taking the burden off the immune system. When we focus on replenishing the body with what it has become deficient in, it can focus on doing its primary job of protecting us against infection.

How can you obtain these anti-viral medications?

Speak with your provider and have them call our pharmacists with any questions regarding how to dose and prescribe these medications. These anti-virals do require a prescription from your provider.

We Are Here to Help.

Call our pharmacists today with any questions about your prescription anti-viral needs at 281-828-9088. It will be our privilege to serve you!