What are the problems associated with Zicam?
Zicam and Why It’s Being Recalled Zicam is a popular over the counter cold remedy that comes as a nasal gel or nasal swabs. The Food and Drug Administration urged consumers on June 16th, 2009 to no longer use the popular Zicam because of the possible loss of sense of smell. Numerous Zicam complaints have forced the Food and Drug Administration to reevaluate the over the counter cold remedy and have told the company behind Zicam to halt all marketing efforts unless it applies for reevaluation. In addition, the company will reimburse consumers for their Zicam products due to the FDA’s decision. The problems with Zicam forced a 70% dip in Matrixx stock, the producer of Zicam. Since this is one of the company’s best selling products, this may hurt their quarter returns. Zicam is a representation of the under-regulated homeopathy market. Homeopathy is home-based and alternative treatments. Oftentimes, homeopathy treatments, such as the over-the-counter Zicam, state on the packaging that the
The FDA today advised people not to use Zicam intranasal products that contain zinc, due to the risk of anosmia (loss of the sense of smell), which may be long-lasting or permanent. The FDA’s warning only applies to the following Zicam products: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size “Consumers should stop using these products immediately and should discard or return them,” Deborah Autor, director of the FDA’s Office of Compliance, said at a news conference. All of the products covered in the FDA warning are sold over the counter, contain zinc, and are administered into the nose as a homeopathic treatment for colds. The FDA considers the products “misbranded,” in part because the product labels don’t warn about anosmia risk. Sources: http://www.webmd.
