The FDA says it has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of three Zicam products:
Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)
The FDA says that some of the cases occurred after only one dose.
]]>"Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason."
All homeopathic products list their dilution. This product is a 2X, meaning it was diluted with water in 1:100 ratio (technically, 1:10 twice). Zinc would still be present in the solution. If a homeopathic has a higher dilution than 24X or 12C, the substance would probably not contain a single molecule of zinc.
Generally, single homeopathic remedies are only used in higher dilutions (12C and 30C being the most common), and even then they are typically administered by mouth. This is why many people have safely used Arnica montana, something that would be dangerous to take internally at its full strength (probably would be at a 2X dilution as well, but I don't know for sure).
Regardless of whether or not homeopathics work, please don't suggest it is unsafe simply because of this one product. The vast majority of products described as homeopathic are extremely safe. If they don't work, they'll just do nothing.
]]>I got harassed for that same thing, but I think it was pamprin or something. Then I turned 2 bottles around and showed them the active ingredients.
]]>@swearint: I used the Gel Spray about a year ago, thinking it was like any other nasal spray. I sniffed it in deeply and felt a burning sensation. This was followed by a complete loss of smell and taste. Afterwards, I read the directions that said to just squirt it in the nose and rub it around, not to sniff it in deeply, but it was too late for that.
To make things worse, it didn't even help. It's just a zinc delivery system, not a decongestant. After several weeks my sense of smell and taste returned, but are diminished, and I doubt I'll ever get it back to the level I had before.
I hope they go bankrupt.
]]>I remember years ago TV's 20/20 program did a segment hosted by Ba-ba-wa Walters (RIP Gilda) on Zinc helping to shorten the duration of a sore throat and common cold. I started using zinc because of that show. I wonder if I can SUE Ba-ba-wa even though I still can still smell, swell. Just funnin' about the lawsuit, the rest is truth.
]]>It's a homeopathic remedy, which are placebos. I suppose the surprising thing is that Consumerist readers aren't aware of this. Zicam was a scam *before* it stopped anyone from being able to smell.
http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/homeo.html
Airborne is also a placebo. Some of you mentioned that too.
]]>@Skankingmike: Poster Skankingmike, I believe it's spelled GRAMMAR? You did spell "shit" correctly though.
]]>So this has been labeled as "homeopathic" and thus bypassed the normal requirements of proving safety to the FDA before bringing it to market, but clearly it's not a homeopathic medicine as we know it or there would be no need to pull it off the market. Homeopathic medicines are only going to be helpful due to the placebo effect, but they're also only going to be harmful due to the placebo effect. So what appears to have happened is that the law must have a loophole which allows certain types of over-the-counter medicines to be labeled as "homeopathic" even though they are not and thus to be brought to market untested. That's the real story here and one that needs investigating.
]]>@OMG! Con Seannery!: Right because proper grammer and or spelling means shit.
]]>It is pretty sad I had to go all the way to the second page of comments to finally see someone call a spade a spade.
]]>@temporaryerror: Um.. what?
I said stop using OTC medicine and you go on a rant about ER? Using OTC medicine is more about plasibo effect than it is about effectivness. Most of the drugs you get over the counter are horribly bad for you on continued use yet are completely unregulated.
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): nope I wouldn't know what that was like either.
]]>Why pay for a spray to do what a snot rocket will do for free?
]]>And where, pray tell, was the FDA when they approved this stuff for sale?
Under Bush, they obviously had their heads in the sand...
I am SO leary of all these latest wonder drugs. The side effects, which usually seem to get discovered AFTER the drug has been on the market for some years, are horrendous...
]]>I glanced at a box of it and it says "clinically proven" but I have noticed that many things that say "clinically proven" mean they were tested at a fake clinic set up by the seller of the product.
Like the "Airborne" vitamin stuff, their "clinically proven" claim turned out to be B.S. Their clinic and data was fake, and the FDA fined them quite a bit.
]]>Anyway, it's labeled "homeopathic" and it's only active ingredient is Zinc, isn't it? I'm wondering what's causing it.
]]>Sure, this is a recall about the Zicam products that result in loss of smell. I guess I have to ask the FDA what they are planning on doing about the Zicam products that result in loss of taste. According to the comments on my post, I'm hardly the only one who was affected.
]]>No offense, and you may be right, but my sense of smell isn't worth the risk.
]]>Remember, you can only taste sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. Everything else is comes from your sense of smell.
Not sure if umami is considered a taste per se.
]]>Anyway, one night I had a particularly nasty headache and the hours for people to buy OTC medications were over, and the official hospital policy was not to comp any during other hours (since, if you have a problem, ER is right over there). I begged a few coworkers for some kind of painkiller and I did get one. I got two pills that I was told contained what I needed. Being more kid and less apple, I trusted her completely and took them.
Turns out it was Midol. They never let it go that I took PMS medication.
Compared to the alternate outcome in a parallel universe where I took the pills and they all took turns robbing me of my man juice, I think I was gypped.
]]>Did no-one else notice the fact that Zicam is marketed as a homeopathic remedy? It's right there on the box. Wikipedia link for those unfamiliar with homeopathy: [en.wikipedia.org] . That alone is enough to make me wary of the product.
]]>Or migraines, for that matter. I don't begrudge sufferers of either their pain relief.
]]>I always use this stuff when I get a cold. I love it! It's the only thing that makes a difference. Now, since people can't follow directions (Do Not Sniff Up Gel!!!) I have to suffer... Great...
]]>@theblackdog: Daily vitamin C could help. 500mg twice a day.
]]>I wonder if CVS will let me return this...
]]>Or just go buy a Neti pot kit at your pharmacy.
]]>Think about the benefit/risk for a second. Benefit: possibly prevent a cold or shorten it by a day(the data supporting this are flakey at best) Risk: Never smell again, evar!. I'll risk the cold
]]>As a Pharmacist, I've been warning people for years about this. Most of the time they don't listen and buy it anyways
]]>Though his grammar is suspect and patronization annoying, I agree with him.
My wife is baffled on why I don't take anything when I am feeling ill.
But I am sure the reason why I don't get sick often, and when I do it's for a shorter period than everyone I know is because I have not confused my immune system over the years by taking unnecessary medications. If I have a cold, I listen to my body and rest. It knows what it's doing.
Now I don't shun antibiotics for infections, but I do worry about their overuse.
]]>Is it a good thing to have something like this on the market that can cause permanent damage when it's misused, even so slightly? Probably not. But come on!
]]>I have used the stuff on occassion, but generally find the sensation of having gel in my nose unpleasant. One time I made the mistake of inhaling it up into my sinus cavity. You know that feeling of getting water up your nose when swimming? Well it felt like that for about eight hours. Never made that mistake again. I tried the oral version as well, pretty much ruins the flavor of everything for days.
]]>My 87 year old mother has been using this stuff EVERYDAY for over 2 years. She said she hasn't had a cold ever since. I just called her to tell her what they are saying. She said she is having my brother drive her to all the stores she can get to before its taken off the shelves. Think mom may have an addiction problem??? But hey, she's 87 and can still smell. More power to her.
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