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UPDATE: To clarify things, what researchers are trying to determine is an over the counter (OTC) formula that would prevent Acute Respiratory Distress (ARD). Sometimes called the “Cytokine Storm”, it is an overreaction of the body’s immune system that severely damages the lungs, resulting in oxygen deprivation to the internal organs.

ARD has a very high mortality rate on its own, almost 50%, and is caused by the release of some 150 known inflammatory mediators (cytokines, oxygen free radicals, and coagulation factors). ARD may be caused by several different things which cause the severe immune response.

ARD may or may not be associated with secondary bacterial pneumonia infections that sometimes happen after lung damage.

With Avian Flu, typically the virus produces strong flu-like symptoms for about five days, and then ARD sets in, requiring the use of a ventilator to deliver oxygen through the damaged lungs. Shortly after, mortality can usually be determined with an ordinary chest X-ray, based on the degree of lung damage. But ventilators are in very short supply, with almost no extra ventilators available.

This is why efforts are being made to find an OTC drug combination that can prevent ARD from happening in the first place.

Recently, evidence in New Mexico strongly suggested that statin drugs used to fight cholesterol were effective in preventing both ARD and pneumonia, but this is now in dispute:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/ghcc-sdl061609.php

Long term exposure to arsenic could significantly contribute to the development of ARD:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/mbl-sli052009.php

However, a four-drug combination that inhibits some of the major inflammatory mediators, is now being suggested as a way to stave off ARD. All four of these drugs must be included.

1) 15,000 IU of Vitamin D (though prescription anti-hypertension drugs called ACE-2 inhibitors are preferred.)

2) Histamine-1 blocker. Benedryl or the equivalent.

3) Histamine-2 blocker. Tagamet or the equivalent (normally used to block acid reflux.)

4) Ibuprofen. Advil or the equivalent, a prostaglandin blocker.

In addition, it is also recommended to maintain just the MDAR of Vitamin A. Being short of Vitamin A is associated with having an excess of a very powerful inflammatory mediator called TNF-1. But it is easy to take too much Vitamin A, which is toxic.

Care should be taken with other “health foods” that can artificially enhance the immune system, something to be avoided when there is the prospect of ARD.