Why have three Zicam products been recalled?
Popular intranasal spray Zicam is being recalled as the Food & Drug Administration warns of 130 cases of anosmia- loss of the sense of smell. Some Zicam users reporting anosmia say that the condition started with the first dose, while others indicate the symptoms did not appear until multiple doses had been administered. Officials have not yet determined if the condition is permanent, and fear the intranasal gel spray may be damaging nerves. The FDA expressed concern that consumers are using Zicam for a minor, “self-limiting condition” (such as a cold) and inadvertently risk damaging their quality of life permanently. Sources: http://www.inquisitr.
Consumers should discontinue use of Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can can permanently damage users’ sense of smell, the government said Tuesday. In a press release, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to stop use of three over-the-counter Zicam Cold Remedy products: nasal gel, nasal swabs and the discontinued “kids size” swabs. The FDA warned the three products could cause anosmia, the loss of sense of smell, which “may be long-lasting or permanent.” Zicam is considered a “remedy” rather than a drug, and federal law allows herbal supplements to be marketed without the government oversight required of food and drugs. After that news was released, shares of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Zicam manufacturer Matrixx Initiatives Inc. (MTXX) plummeted 55.5% to $8.56 before trading was halted. Sources: http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/16
Three popular cold relief products could take away more than your symptoms: You could lose your sense of smell, too. The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers today to stop using three Zicam products after receiving more than 130 complaints by consumers who had lost their sense of smell. The three products are Zicam’s Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Cold Remedy Swabs for kids, which has been discontinued. Sources: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/stuffy_nose_avoid_three_zicam.
