What does VIP do? Benefits and evidence

VIP is a natural blood-vessel and immune signal; aviptadil is its synthetic form. The largest COVID-19 infusion trial found no benefit; small nasal studies in chronic inflammatory response syndrome lack blinded placebo comparisons. Low blood pressure, diarrhea and headache are key risks.

• Combined with phentolamine, it is approved in the UK and Finland as a penile injection for erectile problems in adult men. (Drug label)
• In trials of that combination, 75% of men responded, compared with 12% on placebo. (Studied in a trial)
• In small studies without a placebo group, people with chronic inflammatory response syndrome had fewer symptoms on a nasal spray. (Studied in a trial)
• People report using the nose spray for brain fog and long COVID; some injection users report deeper sleep or less joint pain. (Reported by users)

Uses in the sources

• Studied by IV infusion for COVID-19 lung failure; the largest trial found no recovery or survival benefit. (Studied in a trial) (source)
• Studied by inhalation for sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19. Findings do not establish routine use. (Studied in a trial) (source)
• Nasal VIP was studied in small uncontrolled CIRS cohorts after several earlier interventions. (Studied in a trial) (source)
• VIP plus phentolamine is licensed in the UK and Finland for adult male erectile dysfunction, by injection into penile erectile tissue. (Drug label) (source)
• Users report nasal use for brain fog and long COVID. Controlled evidence for these community goals was not found. (Reported by users) (source)