Melissa Kaplan's
Chronic Neuroimmune Diseases
Information on CFS, FM, MCS, Lyme Disease, Thyroid, and more...
Last updated January 1, 2014

Immunovir is isoprinosine. Outside of the United States, it is also sold as Inosine Pranobex, and Inosine.

Rivex Pharma Inc.
3-305 Industrial Parkway South
Aurora, Ontario
Canada
L4G 6X7
Ph: 905-841-2300
Fx: 905-841-2244
rivex@helixbiopharma.com

Pharmacia Sucre, S.A.
San Jose, Costa Rica
Ph. 506-00-233-6380, 506-223-1715
Fax 506-00-233-9869
newportp@sol.racsa.co.cr

There is no area/city code for Costa Rica so you may not need to dial the 00

Life Extension Foundation - Inosine
1100 West Commercial Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
800-544-4440

Take the same quantity of Inosine as Immunovir/Isoprinosine. If you will be buying other products from LEF, it may well be worth it to become a member in order to obtain member discounts.

About Isoprinosine

What is Isoprinosine?
Isoprinosine is a nucleoside, one of the basic compounds comprising cells. It is a precursor to adenosine, an important energy molecule, and plays many supportive roles in the body, including releasing insulin, facilitating the use of carbohydrate by the heart, and, potentially, participating in oxygen metabolism and protein synthesis. Based upon anecdotal reports by Russian and Eastern European athletes, inosine has been investigated for ergogenic (exercise boosting) effects. Results of controlled studies have been disappointing, however, suggesting that inosine does not improve athletic performance and may even impair it. [1, 2It is used as an immune stimulator for cancer, herpes, and AIDS.

Where is it found?
Isoprinosine is found in Brewer's yeast and organ meats. It is also available as a supplement. ]. It is marketed as a drug in many nations (but not yet in the United States). Isoprinosine is marketed under other names, including Isoprinosine Pranobex and Inosine.

Who is likely to be deficient?
Isoprinosine is not an essential nutrient, so deficiencies do not occur.

How much is usually taken?
Although a common amount of Isoprinosine taken by athletes is 5,000-6,000 mg per day, little scientific evidence supports the use of this supplement at any level.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
No side effects have been reported with the use of Isoprinosine for two to five days in the limited research available. However, unused Isoprinosine is converted by the body to uric acid, which may be hazardous to people at risk for gout.

Before Using:
Tell your doctor if you:

• are taking medicine or are allergic to any medicine (prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) or dietary supplement)
  

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine
  

• are breastfeeding
  

• have any other health problems, such as high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease

Dosage:
There are many doses for this medicine. Isoprinosine should only be used under direct supervision of your health care professional, please consult them for proper dosing.

To store this medicine:
Keep all medicine locked up and away from children. Store medicine away from heat and direct light. Do not store your medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down and not work the way it should work. Throw away medicine that is out of date or that you do not need. Never share your medicine with others. 

Warnings:
Before taking Isoprinosine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Those with gout or a predisposition to develop gout should not use Isoprinosine.

Side Effects:
Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.

• Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
  

• Chest pain
  

• Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin

Other Possible Side Effects:
This medicine may also cause other side effects. Tell your doctor if you have side effects that you think are caused by this medicine.

References:

1. Starling RD, Trappe TA, Short KR, et al. Effect of inosine supplementation on aerobic and anaerobic cycling performance. Med Sci Sports Ex 1996;28(9):1193-98.

2. Williams MH, Kreider RB, Hunter DW, et al. Effect of inosine supplementation on 3-mile treadmill run performance and VO2 peak. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1990 Aug;22(4):517-22.

Isoprinosine/Imunovir Dosage
The following information on dosing is from The Body's page on isoprinosine, reiterating some of the dosages referenced in the research on isoprinosine for HIV/AIDS:

There is no way to know what the proper dose is. However the clinical studies thus far have examined between 1 - 4 grams per day. The Danish study used 1 gram three times a day. The tablets we distribute are 500 MG each. To take the doses used in the studies, you would take between 2 and 8 tablets every day. To our knowledge, only one study has evaluated how isoprinosine is absorbed and excreted in humans. This study demonstrated that isoprinosine doesn't stay in the body very long. To keep consistent levels of isoprinosine in the body would require fairly frequent oral doses, three or more times a day. Taking isoprinosine as an injection or an enema may deliver initially higher doses into the blood, but the body eliminates this isoprinosine just as quickly. We don't know whether the body requires consistent levels of an immune modulator in order to respond to it, but if it does, oral dosing is the easiest way to achieve this.

CFIDS doctor Paul Cheney MD recommends the following dosing and frequency of isoprinosine for Th1/Th2 dysregulation:

Month 1:
Week One, take 6 tablets a day, Monday through Friday, and none on the weekend.
Week Two, take 2 tablets a day, Monday through Friday, and none on the weekend.
Week Three, repeat Week One.
Week Four, repeate Week two.

Month 2: Repeat Month 1.
Month 3: Take the month off - do not take any isoprinosine during the third month.
Month 4: Repeat Month 1.
Month 5: Repeat Month 1.
Month 6: Take the month off.

According to Cheney, this medicine works best when you use this "pulsing" treatment of two months on, one month off, and the different amounts each week during the months that you are taking it, rather than taking it at the same dose all through the "on" months, or at the same dose continuously for six months. It may be that all immune modulators work like this, working better and for longer periods of time when they are pulsed.

Byron Hyde, MD, has a preliminary report on isoprinosine at his Nightingale Foundation site.

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