Frequently asked questions

ColdZyme can be used by adults and children over 4 years of age, provided they are not hypersensitive or allergic to any of the ingredients. More information and the full list of ingredients can be found here.

Yes, you can. There are no known risks associated with using ColdZyme during pregnancy or breastfeeding. All ingredients in ColdZyme are broken down in the stomach and are not absorbed into the bloodstream.​

Yes. ColdZyme contains glycerol, which has a sweet taste but is not sugar and does not raise blood sugar levels.

Yes, it can. One thing to keep in mind is that if you or your child has asthma, there may be a habit of inhaling spray. This spray should not be inhaled, it should be sprayed into the throat towards the back of the mouth.

Yes. ColdZyme works by shortening the duration of your cold and reducing a wide range of cold symptoms. Studies have shown that people who used ColdZyme had a reduced need for symptom-relieving cold products, but if you need to add something, that is fine. There is nothing to prevent combining it with other products. Read more about how ColdZyme works.

No. ColdZyme is a medical device that works locally in the mouth and throat by creating a protective moisture layer.

ColdZyme contains, among other things, glycerol and an enzyme (trypsin) from cod, which together form a protective moisture layer in the throat. The product is free from sugar, gluten, lactose and preservatives. ColdZyme is available in three variants with different flavours — read more here.

The shelf life is 36 months from the date of manufacture, which also applies to opened packaging. The expiry date is printed on both the bottle and the carton.

Use ColdZyme directly in the throat by following these steps: Open your mouth and aim the nozzle towards the back of your throat. Press the pump and spray 2 times (1 dose) every two hours, up to 6 doses per day. Use ColdZyme until symptoms have subsided. ColdZyme can be used for extended periods as there is no risk of overdose.

You get the best effect if you start using ColdZyme at the first signs of a cold, such as a sore throat or a general feeling of being unwell. The product can also be used later in the course of the illness. Read more about scientific studies on the effect of ColdZyme here.

​ColdZyme works by reducing the viral load. If you have had a cold for several days and already have a large amount of virus in your body, you will probably continue to experience symptoms, as symptoms are mainly linked to the body’s defence against the virus.

ColdZyme can prevent you from accumulating even more virus than you already have, which may help reduce the risk of prolonged residual symptoms. However, ColdZyme is most effective when used early in the course of the illness. Read more about how ColdZyme works in our section Know your cold.

Eating or drinking shortly after spraying may reduce the effect. For maximum effect, we recommend waiting 20 minutes after spraying before eating or drinking.

You can use ColdZyme for as long as needed, in accordance with the instructions. There is no time limit. ColdZyme acts locally in the mouth and throat, and the product has undergone a biological assessment for long-term use.

Yes, ColdZyme can be used to provide extra protection in the throat in situations where you know the risk of viral exposure is high, for example when in close contact with large numbers of people.

ColdZyme works by forming an active moisture layer in the throat that traps viruses and helps the body get rid of them. This can reduce the viral load, which may result in milder symptoms and a shorter illness.

The effect against bacteria has not been the focus of our research. ColdZyme is intended for use against colds caused by viruses. That is where we have clinically proven ColdZyme to be effective. Read more about our research here.

Yes, ColdZyme has documented efficacy in clinical studies. The most recent in a series of studies was an independent, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in The Journal of Physiology in 2025, which showed that ColdZyme reduced rhinovirus viral load by 94 percent compared to placebo (p=0,029). The study also showed that ColdZyme resulted in a shorter cold, median duration 5.0 days vs 7.0 days in the placebo group (p=0,012) ColdZyme also showed a statistically significant reduction in 6 out of 8 cold symptoms compared to placebo. The full study reference is: Davison G et al., The Journal of Physiology, 2025;603(6):1483–1501. doi: https://doi.org/10.1113/JP288136

Read more about scientific studies of ColdZyme here.

The products share the same area of use — creating local protection in the throat. However, they differ in their ingredients and mechanism of action.

ColdZyme forms an active moisture barrier in the throat. The barrier consists of glycerol and enzyme components, giving it viscous and adhesive properties, that help trap viral particles. Its highly concentrated, osmotically active nature has a physical effect on trapped viruses, limiting their mobility and function. Through this physical mechanism, ColdZyme reduces the presence of viral particles on the mucosal surface, as demonstrated in cell models and clinical studies.

Other mouth sprays sold for colds work through different mechanisms, which means these products are not interchangeable. They are different products with different ingredients.

Colds are caused by viruses that spread between people, primarily through droplet transmission and close contact. There are hundreds of different viruses that can cause a cold, which is one of the reasons we can catch colds many times throughout our lives.

You can start spreading the virus as early as one day before symptoms appear and are usually most contagious during the first 2 to 3 days when symptoms are at their most pronounced. After that, infectiousness gradually decreases, and after about a week the risk of passing the virus on to others is usually considerably lower, even if some symptoms may persist for longer.

The body protects itself against cold viruses through both local defences in the mucous membranes and a systemic immune response. In the nose and throat, mucous membranes, mucus and cilia trap viruses and prevent them from taking hold. If viruses do manage to get through, the immune system throughout the body is activated, helping to fight the infection and restore health.

The mucous membranes of the airways have their own defence system called the mucociliary barrier. It consists of mucus and tiny hair-like cilia that help trap and transport viruses and particles away. When the mucous membranes become dry or irritated, this defence can work less effectively.

Bacteria are living microorganisms that can reproduce on their own. They are found everywhere, and some of them can cause infections.

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and are not considered living organisms, as they cannot reproduce independently — they need a living cell in order to replicate. Viruses enter our cells and exploit our biological processes to reproduce and spread. Another important difference is that antibiotics work against bacteria, but not against viruses.

Colds are caused by viruses, not by cold temperatures themselves. However, cold and dry air can affect the mucous membranes and make it easier for viruses to take hold. During winter we also spend more time indoors and in close proximity to others, which increases the spread of infection. There are also theories that becoming cold can trigger symptoms from an infection already present in the body.

There is research suggesting that men and women may respond differently to infections, but there is no clear-cut evidence that men always get sicker. The experience of symptoms varies greatly between individuals.