Nasal care · Product guide

Cofix Nasal Spray: A Plain-Language Guide to CofixRX and Povidone-Iodine Nasal Spray

Medically reviewed by Melynda Fenn, FNP-C, Founder and Medical Director · Updated October 2026

Cofix, sold as CofixRX Nasal Cleanse, is an over-the-counter nasal spray made with povidone-iodine: the same antiseptic family as the brown bottle in a first-aid kit, at a much weaker strength. We keep it at the front desk of our Peoria clinic, and every cold and flu season patients ask us the same three things. What’s in it? Is it safe? Does it actually work? Here are straight answers, with every study linked at the bottom.

The short answer: CofixRX is a 1.25% povidone-iodine nasal spray, according to the company, with xylitol and vitamin D3 added. Used as directed (one spray per nostril, up to 3 times a day, for adults and kids over 6), it’s generally well tolerated, though stinging and an iodine taste are common. It is not FDA-approved to prevent or treat colds, flu or COVID-19, and no published study has tested CofixRX itself. Think of it as an extra hygiene step, not protection you can count on.

In this guide: What’s in it · How to use it · Does it work? · FDA status · Side effects · Cofix vs. other sprays · Where to buy · FAQs · Sources

CofixRX Quick Facts

Product: CofixRX Nasal Cleanse (also called Cofix, Cofix Rx or CofixRX Nasal Solution)
Made by: CofixRX, LLC, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Main ingredient: povidone-iodine, 1.25% per the company
Also contains: xylitol and vitamin D3
Bottle: 10 mL (0.34 fl oz)
Directions: 1 spray per nostril, no more than 3 times in 24 hours
Ages: adults and children over 6 (under 6, ask a provider)
FDA status: not FDA-approved to prevent or treat any illness
Price: about $20 to $25 online; call or text us for ours
Where: AZ Vitality and Wellness, Peoria. Walk in, no appointment.

What Is Cofix (CofixRX) Nasal Spray?

CofixRX is a nasal spray from CofixRX, LLC, a Michigan company. You’ll see it called Cofix, Cofix Rx, CofixRX Nasal Solution or CofixRX Nasal Cleanse; they’re the same product. Today’s box sells it as a nasal cleanse that supports nasal hygiene: a quick spray in each nostril as part of a daily routine, much like a saline spray.

Its main ingredient, povidone-iodine (often shortened to PVP-I), is an antiseptic that releases iodine slowly. It has been used on skin for decades, and hospitals use a stronger nasal version to clean the nose before some surgeries. Cofix uses a dilute version meant for everyday use.

What’s in CofixRX? Ingredients

Active antiseptic

Povidone-iodine (1.25%)

Kills many viruses and bacteria within seconds in lab dishes. It’s also what gives the spray its amber color, iodine taste and sting. The strength comes from the company’s website; the box doesn’t print it.

Added

Xylitol

A plant-based sugar alcohol also found in some saline sprays. A small study of xylitol sinus rinses showed some symptom relief in chronic sinusitis, but it used large-volume rinses, not a few sprays.¹ Xylitol is toxic to dogs, so keep the bottle away from pets.

Added

Vitamin D3

The company lists 2,000 IU (50 mcg) per application.² We found no human studies of vitamin D sprayed in the nose, so we don’t count it as a vitamin D source.

Full ingredient list (from the label): purified water, povidone-iodine, xylitol, vitamin D3, polysorbate, gellan gum, carrageenan, citric acid, sodium citrate, glycerin, disodium phosphate and sodium hydroxide.²

How to Use Cofix Nasal Spray

Always follow the directions on your box. The current CofixRX label says:²

1

Shake well

The formula can thicken in the bottle. Shake it, then remove the cap.

2

Blow your nose

Gently clear each nostril first so the spray reaches the lining of your nose.

3

One spray per side

Tip in one nostril, press the other closed, and spray once while breathing in gently. Don’t tilt your head back.

4

Repeat and wipe

Do the other side, wipe the tip clean and replace the cap. Don’t share your bottle.

5

Three times a day, max

No more than 3 times in 24 hours. For a child under 6, ask a provider first.

Watch: Cofix at Our Peoria Clinic

A 35-second look at the CofixRX we carry at the front desk.

Good to know: povidone-iodine can stain fabric, so spray before you get dressed, and keep it away from jewelry and your eyes. Store it at room temperature, away from freezing and heat.

Does Cofix Nasal Spray Work? What the Research Says

Here’s the honest version. Povidone-iodine is very good at killing germs in a lab dish. Whether a few sprays in your nose mean fewer colds, flu or COVID-19 is a different question, and the human studies so far don’t settle it. No published study has tested CofixRX itself.

What studies of povidone-iodine nasal spray found (scroll sideways on a phone)
What was studied	What it found	What it means for you
Lab studies 2020 to 2021	Povidone-iodine at 0.5% to 1.25% inactivated the COVID-19 virus within 15 to 60 seconds in lab dishes.^{3, 4}	Real, but a dish isn’t a nose. These studies are where the “15 seconds” marketing came from.
COVID-19 nasal spray trials 2021 to 2022	Two small trials (24 and 14 people) found little or no lasting effect on virus levels in people who already had COVID-19. A 0.4% spray showed poor virus-killing in the nose.^{5, 6}	No good evidence it prevents or treats COVID-19.
Common cold trial 2025	A 260-person trial of a 0.5% spray (Nasodine, not Cofix) missed its main goal. Overall cold severity was about 13% lower, a borderline result, and 37% of users had nasal stinging vs. 7% on saline. The spray’s maker funded it.⁷	Maybe a small benefit. Not proven.
Reviews of the research 2020 and 2025	A 2025 review of nasal sprays for viral infections called the povidone-iodine results mixed and inconclusive; saline sprays were more consistent. A 2020 Cochrane search found no finished trials to review.^{8, 9}	Plain saline holds up as well or better.
Before surgery Hospital use	A stronger 5% nasal povidone-iodine, used right before joint and spine surgery, worked at least as well as an antibiotic ointment at preventing deep staph infections in a trial of about 1,700 procedures.¹⁰	A different product, strength and setting. It doesn’t carry over to daily use at home.

Our take: “I explain it to patients this way: Cofix is a hygiene step, like washing your hands, not a force field. If you like the routine and it doesn’t bother your nose, it’s a reasonable add-on for travel or a rough cold season. It doesn’t replace vaccines, staying home when you’re sick, or getting checked when you have a fever or trouble breathing.” Melynda Fenn, FNP-C, Founder and Medical Director

Is CofixRX FDA Approved?

No. CofixRX is not FDA-approved to prevent, treat or cure any illness. The company’s own website says: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”²

What “FDA-Registered Facility” Means

You may see “FDA-registered facility” on the box. That means the place it’s made is registered with the FDA. Under FDA rules, registration does not mean the FDA has approved the product.¹²

The 2022 FDA Warning Letter

In April 2022, the FDA sent CofixRx, LLC a warning letter about its earlier marketing, including label claims that the spray “DESTROYS SARS CoV-2 and other COLD & FLU viruses in 15 seconds” and website claims of up to 8 hours of protection. The FDA said those claims made it an unapproved new drug.¹¹ Today’s box sells it as a nasal cleanse instead. We’d rather you hear this from us before you buy, which is why we describe Cofix as a hygiene step and nothing more.

Is Cofix Nasal Spray Safe? Side Effects and Who Should Check First

For most healthy adults, low-strength povidone-iodine in the nose is well tolerated for short-term use. A 2020 safety review found it has been used safely in the nose at strengths up to 1.25%, and allergic reactions are rare.¹³

Common Side Effects

Brief stinging or burning (in one trial, more than a third of users felt it)
An iodine taste or smell
A dry or irritated nose
Brown stains on fabric

Stop using it if irritation doesn’t settle, and let a provider know.

Check With a Provider First If You

Are allergic to iodine or any ingredient (the label says not to use it)
Have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medicine
Take lithium, or have a thyroid scan or radioactive iodine treatment coming up
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have nose sores, an unhealed nose injury or recent nose surgery
Have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or a shellfish allergy (the label lists these)
Are buying it for a child under 6

Why the Thyroid Matters

Some iodine is absorbed through the lining of the nose and mouth. In a small 2021 trial, people with COVID-19 who used a 1% povidone-iodine spray, gargle and mouthwash four times a day for five days all had a rise in TSH, a thyroid blood test, and 5 of 12 went above the normal range. Their levels returned to normal 7 to 12 days after they stopped.⁵ Cofix’s label dose is lower and less frequent, but if your thyroid is being treated or tested, ask first. If you have a thyroid scan or radioactive iodine treatment scheduled, tell that care team; they often ask you to stop iodine products ahead of time.

Cofix vs. Saline, Xylitol and Betadine Nasal Sprays

Cofix sits on the shelf next to a lot of look-alikes. Here’s how the common types differ.

How common nasal sprays compare (scroll sideways on a phone)
Type	What it does	Everyday use?	Watch for
Saline spray or rinse	Rinses out mucus, dust and allergens	Yes. The gentlest option.	Very little; it’s salt water
Xylitol spray (like Xlear)	Saline plus xylitol; small studies in chronic sinus symptoms¹	Yes, per its label	Not proven to prevent infections; toxic to dogs
Povidone-iodine spray (like CofixRX)	Dilute antiseptic; kills germs on contact in lab studies	Up to 3 times a day, per its label	Stinging, iodine taste, thyroid and allergy cautions, stains
First-aid Betadine (10% povidone-iodine)	Skin antiseptic for cuts and scrapes	No. Never put it in your nose.	Far stronger than nasal products; don’t dilute it yourself
Decongestant spray (oxymetazoline)	Shrinks swollen tissue for short-term stuffiness	No. 3 days at most.	Rebound congestion if you use it longer

Where to Buy Cofix Nasal Spray Near Peoria

You can order CofixRX online or find it at some retailers. If you want it today in the West Valley, stop by AZ Vitality and Wellness on Happy Valley Road, an easy drive from Peoria, Glendale, Surprise and Sun City. No appointment needed: walk in during office hours and pick it up at the front desk.

AZ Vitality and Wellness

Address: 7984 W Happy Valley Rd., Suite 115, Peoria, AZ 85383
Hours: Tue to Fri, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm · Sat, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm · Closed Sun and Mon
Call or text: 602-540-3547 to check that it’s in stock
Parking: free · Directions and clinic details

Get Directions

Call or Text 602-540-3547

Front desk and lobby at AZ Vitality and Wellness in Peoria, AZ

Who Asks Us About Cofix

Frequent travelers headed through airports
Parents in busy households with kids in school
Teachers, office workers and healthcare staff
People who already use a saline spray and want one more step

Our answer is the same for all of them: it’s an optional hygiene step. Questions? Our nurse practitioners are happy to talk it through when you stop in.

While You’re Here

IV therapy and wellness shots: hydration drips and our walk-in shot bar.
Tri-Immune shot: glutathione, zinc and vitamin C, from the shot bar menu.
In-house lab testing: including thyroid panels, if you want to know where you stand first.

Cofix Nasal Spray FAQs

Is CofixRX FDA approved?

No. CofixRX isn’t FDA-approved to prevent, treat or cure any illness. “FDA-registered facility” on the box refers to where it’s made, which isn’t the same as FDA approval.

Does Cofix nasal spray prevent COVID, colds or the flu?

It hasn’t been shown to. Povidone-iodine kills viruses in lab dishes, but human studies of nasal sprays are small and mixed, and none tested CofixRX. Vaccines, handwashing and staying home when you’re sick are still the proven steps.

Is Cofix nasal spray safe?

For most healthy adults and kids over 6, it’s generally well tolerated when used as directed. Check with a provider first if you have an iodine allergy or a thyroid condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have nose sores or recent nose surgery.

What are the side effects of Cofix nasal spray?

Usually mild: stinging or burning, an iodine taste or smell, and a dry or irritated nose. It can also stain fabric. Stop and talk with a provider if irritation doesn’t settle.

How much povidone-iodine is in Cofix?

The company lists 1.25% povidone-iodine. A first-aid antiseptic like Betadine solution is usually 10%, which is one reason you should never put a skin product in your nose.

How often can I use Cofix nasal spray?

Follow your box. The current label says 1 spray in each nostril, no more than 3 times in 24 hours.

Can kids use Cofix nasal spray?

The directions cover adults and children over 6. For a child under 6, ask your pediatrician or one of our providers first.

Can I use Cofix if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Ask your provider first. Some iodine is absorbed through the nose, and the label says to check with a health professional if you’re pregnant or nursing.

Can I use Cofix if I’m allergic to shellfish?

Ask a provider first. The CofixRX label says to check with a doctor if you have a shellfish allergy and not to use it at all if you’re allergic to iodine.

Will Cofix stain my clothes?

It can. Povidone-iodine is brown and can stain fabric, so spray before you get dressed and wipe drips right away. Keep it away from jewelry.

Can I make my own povidone-iodine nasal spray?

We don’t recommend it. Antiseptic solutions like the iodine you buy for cuts are made for skin, and the wrong dilution can irritate or damage the lining of your nose. If you want a povidone-iodine nasal product, use one made for the nose and follow its label.

Where can I buy Cofix nasal spray near me?

In the West Valley, you can pick up CofixRX at AZ Vitality and Wellness, 7984 W Happy Valley Rd., Suite 115, Peoria, AZ 85383. No appointment needed; call or text 602-540-3547 to check stock. It’s also sold online.

Can I use my HSA or FSA for Cofix?

Some retailers list it as HSA and FSA eligible. Ask our front desk whether you can use your card for it at our clinic, and check with your plan.

Sources

What changed in this update (October 2026): we added the strength the company lists and the full ingredient list, the 2022 FDA warning letter, newer research (including a 2025 cold trial and a 2025 review), more of the label’s cautions, a comparison with other nasal sprays, and links to every study we cite.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.

Cofix Nasal Spray (CofixRX): Is It Safe? Does It Work?