Why were Zicam cold remedy products recalled by the FDA?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to stop using three Zicam products marketed as cold remedies. The products are associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia), a condition the federal agency warns could be long-lasting or permanent. The three products are Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size. The FDA has received more than 130 reports of anosmia associated with the use of the three popular Zicam products. The FDA says the three zinc-containing products are all intranasal products. Other Zicam products, which are taken orally, are not affected by the FDA’s action. The FDA says some of the people reporting a loss of sense of smell said the loss occurred with the first use of the Zicam products; others reported the loss after repeated use. Health experts say anosmia can have a negative impact on the quality of a person’s life by robbing them of one of their five senses. It also limits the ability to
