Comments on: Zicam Recall Lawsuit: FDA Halts Marketing Due to Loss of Sense of Smell

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:04:40 +0000

I used Zicam nasal spray gel twice, 10 days ago, and although my nasal passages are clear,I have no sense of smell and very little (5%)sense of taste. Like the other folks who suffer from this, not being able to taste foods, or smell dangerous odors, or smoke is a very , very serious condition as far as Im concerned.I NEVER would have taken this product had I known about the pontential side effects. I also firmly believe that anyone who insists on bringing the nasal spray gel back to help fight cold symptons, would never feel that way if they have experiinced a complete loss of smell & tast as I have.It is a BIG DEAL!

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:27:26 +0000

I have used Zicam nasal spray for 5 or 6 years and I swear by it. Whenever I feel like I am getting a cold I use it. Yes it does burn your nose somewhat but that goes away after a few minutes and it sure beats getting a cold. I would like to buy more. I still have a little left and I cherish it. Does anyone know where you can buy some?

By: Jean

Jean — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:38:18 +0000

Folks, people react differently to different things. I used Zycam twice and lost most of my sense of smell. I used it properly, I read the directions. I had no idea that I was risking my health but Matrixx did. They had over 800 complaints that they never turned over to the FDA.
I wish you COULD use the product again with a warning lable attached, but the people who lost all pleasure in eating and lost one of nature’s warning systems aren’t “goof balls” for objecting. I can eat peanuts without an allegic reaction: does that mean they are good for everyone if they are no trouble to me? I’ll bet if it caused blindness for a few people you wouldn’t be demanding to resume taking it.

By: Di

Di — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:06:49 +0000

I used Zicam spray alot. Anybody that uses nasal sprays and such, or people that just get a cold can lose their sense of smell. With all the more people (130) complaining to the FDA, it’s still a lot less of a percentage (less than 1%) affected than FDA approved (prescription drugs)products. They allow between 1-10%. People are just looking for something to sue about.

By: Blaine

Blaine — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:25:57 +0000

I have used Zicam nasal over the past several years. I used to fly a lot and I found if I swabbed at my destination I VERY rarely got sick from the flight. So many people fly when they are sick, and to be in a confined area for a long time, passengers will get sick from others. I used the product as directed and have always had great success when I did catch a cold. I wish the FDA would leave the ‘homeopathic’
treatments alone. Sure seems the red tape, hoops and hurdles could be diminished if the consumer would consent to signing a waiver and acknowledgment of risks.

By: Ginger

Ginger — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:34:01 +0000

I continue to be an avid supporter of Zicam gel swabs. I would like to see the results of a study done of those 130 cases impacted by loss of smell on whether or not they have an allergy or unusual sensitivity to Zinc in general. In which case, they should not have been using the product to begin with.

I never experienced a burning sensation or any negative side effects from the use of this product and loved that it was natural and actually worked to reduce the duration and severity of colds. How many thousands or millions of others have had positive results vs the small number impacted?? Put a warning label on the product for those limited few who have problems with Zinc and stop allowing greedy lawyers and big pharma to ruin a good thing for the rest of us!

By: Dorene

Dorene — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:53:17 +0000

I have been using Zicam for3 yrs. now and have no problems with this product. I put a tiny bit of gel on the side of each nostril like it directs you to do , pinch nose for 5 secs and then wait for 30 secs and blow nose. Even though I have no problem I am getting nervous about using this product again. Its too bad cause it worked for me and I don’t think I should take anymore chances.

By: stuart

stuart — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:54:41 +0000

I started using zicam cold remedy swabs at around christmas time. I had a box on my medicine shelf that I had purchased last winter. I used approximately 8 or 9 doses over the past two weeks. I began to notice a strange smell sensation and my foods began to taste very bland. I began to wonder if this strange sensation had anything to do with the cold remedy that I had taken. I searched the information that is contained in the box and found so side effect warnings that could be associated with my symptoms.

I want on the internet to check and see if anyone else had experienced these same effects after using the product. I was shocked to find that the product was already in “recall” be the FDA. I had no idea. Now I am very concerned that my loss of smell and taste could actually be more that temporary.

I still retain the remaining swabs and the box that includes the lot number and expiration date.

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:07:21 +0000

I suffered a mini-stroke two years ago. I had a cold coming on and administered the nasal spray, “Immediately after I sprayed it into each nostril I felt the most horrific burning sensation. It literally felt like I had sprayed pepper spray directly into my brain. It burned all the way to the top of my skull. My nasal passages swelled, my eyes watered – the burning lasted all night long into the next day.”

Feeling really weird I went into work and when I went to speak to my co-workers my words were muffled. Upon looking in the mirror I had all the symptoms of a stroke.

I told the ER doctors what I had taken the night before and they dismissed it, but it was aways in the back of my mind that the Zicam might of been the cause. I was 38 at the time this all took place and it took me a year to recover smell, speech, and motor skills fully.

Oddly, I feel somewhat relieved other people have had similar experiences with this product. I believe it wasn’t a coincidence.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:04:22 +0000

I have used Zicam Nasal Gel for years and have never had a problem — unless you call never having a bad cold again a problem. I’m one of those people who will usually get a sinus infection after a cold. Therefore, stopping a cold is very important to me. The nasal swabs were literally like magic for me. I liked them also because the Zicam products you take by mouth are not as convenient and can make my stomach upset. In my opinion, the FDA should start focusing on taking products off the market that are actually DANGEROUS, like cigarettes, and leave my Zicam alone. All you have to do is read some of the comments here, and you will see that the people who claim they “lost their sense of smell” sound like hypochondriacs. BRING IT BACK!!!

By: jeff

jeff — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:43:25 +0000

i have used the zicam nasal swab since inception. never had a problem and it is amazing how it controls the onset of a cold. very disappointed that it is off the market. drug compoanies must not be happy with it’s performance…..where can we get the swabs???
overseas???
must find out where to buy…do not want to be without it..does anyone know where we can still get the nasal swabs?????

By: Lyle

Lyle — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:43:32 +0000

I have been using Zicam Nasal Gel for 3 years, with no side affects!!!!!!!! Great stuff !!!!!!!!!!! I think people are sue happy and the lawyers need money… the makers of the other worthless cold meds are behind getting this wonderful product off the market because it actually works!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have had a cold now going on 2 weeks, with ZICAM Nasal Gel it would have been gone in 3 days… Please bring it back….

By: Karen

Karen — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 14:10:59 +0000

LOVE zicam nasal swabs. Other forms give me lousy side effects, but the nasal spray and swabs worked wonders. Please bring it back!!

By: Lindsey B

Lindsey B — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:22:08 +0000

I am very sad that I can no longer buy the Zicam nasal swabs. I have never experienced any negative side-affects, just fast recovery from a cold. I love the product and am suffering a cold right now, wishing I had it. (nasal swabs work better then any of the other products) Not everybody experiences the same symptoms (loss of smell and taste) but it is a shame that we all must suffer the consequences. 130 cases seems like a small percentage to me. I agree with the use of warning labels; that’s why we have them. Cigarettes are still here with warning labels, and they kill people. But we all have have to suffer the full duration of a cold with all its inconveniences because a minor number people lost their sense of smell and taste?