"Cold Fighter" Airborne pays $23M in lawsuit settlement

[ethyl]

http://www.local6.com/health/15486008/detail.html

The makers of Airborne, who claimed to fight colds with an herbal supplement, have agreed to pay $23.3 million over the claims, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which helped sue the company.

Airborne also agreed to pay for ads in major magazines and newspapers telling people how to get refunds. More information and a claim for are available at AirborneHealthSettlement.com.

CSPI said that a 2006 report by ABC news revealed that a clinical trial that Airborne cited as evidence its product worked was done by a two-person firm set up just for that study.

The group also says Airborne mostly includes common vitamins from multivitamins.

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt. "Airborne is basically an overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

The company denies that it did anything wrong or illegal.

The settlement applies to anyone who bought an Airborne product from May 1, 2001, to November 29, 2007. People who are included can apply for a refund. The deadline for filing claims is Sept. 15.

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Lets see if Zicam will be next to pay up... or those ridiculous foot sticky pads that are supposed to absorb the toxins in your body while you sleep.

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[MountainPharmD]

At least there are some studies on Zinc and Echinacia. Of course half say they are worthless and the other half say there may be some benefit. I have always thought Airbourne was worthless. Try convincing the people who come in is pointless. I swear someone could make money selling caps full of saw dust.

 

[Old Timer]

Customer: Does Airborne work?

Me: Only for the people who make it when they cash their inflated pay checks.

Half of them buy it anyway.....

 

[ADN1226]

I know that its just a boost of vitamins but my pharmacist swears by it... she takes it everytime she starts getting sick... hmm.

 

[Fatpharm]

I did my own one person study when I was getting a sore throat. I took it for two days and the sore throat went away.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

I did my own one person study when I was getting a sore throat. I took it for two days and the sore throat went away.

Yeah, but how many sore throats have you had that didn't? 🙂

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

I find airborne refreshing, it tastes good to me but I have yet to experience any real symptom relief.

 

[AngelaCL]

I did my own one person study when I was getting a sore throat. I took it for two days and the sore throat went away.

I did the same thing, but with booze instead of Airborne. It seemed to work. 🙂

 

[dr of rx]

didn't oprah pitch this product when it first came out?

If oprah said everyone should eat a bowl of dog $hit everyday, you'd see sales for cocker spaniels go through the roof...

 

[dgroulx]

didn't oprah pitch this product when it first came out?

If oprah said everyone should eat a bowl of dog $hit everyday, you'd see sales for cocker spaniels go through the roof...

Right after she said that Netti Pots were the best thing for sinuses, everyone came in to buy them. We actually ran out of stock.

 

[mustang sally]

I like Zicam.

 

[BidingMyTime]

I had my husband test Airborne when it first came out. He didn't like the idea of having to mix it and drink a whole glass of water when he was sick. So he never finished the first dose. But he fully recovered anyway. Does that mean the stuff is so powerful that only half a dose will cure you 😕

 

[Moxxie]

I've only had the fizzy Airborne (or is it all fizzy?). It was terrible. But everyone in my family swears by it. I try to tell them not to waste their money, then they say, "But it was developed by a schoolteacher! So it must work!" 🙄

 

[npage148]

I like Zicam.

Isn't there reports of permanent loss of smell with the nasal swabs? Not something I'd want to risk with a unproven remedy

 

[ethyl]

Isn't there reports of permanent loss of smell with the nasal swabs? Not something I'd want to risk with a unproven remedy

Any links for that? 😱

 

[Farmercyst]

Any links for that? 😱

quick google search, 2nd article.
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/3300130/detail.html

google scholar works better.

http://jpp.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/19/6/395

 

[MountainPharmD]

Isn't there reports of permanent loss of smell with the nasal swabs? Not something I'd want to risk with a unproven remedy

It was a big story on the news a few years ago.

 

[firefighter9015]

I did the same thing, but with booze instead of Airborne. It seemed to work. 🙂

ditto

 

[mustang sally]

Isn't there reports of permanent loss of smell with the nasal swabs? Not something I'd want to risk with a unproven remedy

I read some articles about that awhile ago. At least from what I can remember, it seemed that the people who lost their sense of smell were not following the directions properly (ie. snorting it up their nose way more than they were supposed to be). I have been using it for several years now with no problems...seems like it works for me.

 

[FruitFly]

I like Zicam. I feel it helps with my colds. 😀

 

[Haldol]

In my pharmacy everyone is asking for Emergen-C...we don't carry it but I guess it's just 1000mg of vit C. I have never heard of any substantial studies on Vit. C and cold reduction/prevention....at least this stuff isn't "invented by a school teacher"

 

[MountainPharmD]

I read some articles about that awhile ago. At least from what I can remember, it seemed that the people who lost their sense of smell were not following the directions properly (ie. snorting it up their nose way more than they were supposed to be). I have been using it for several years now with no problems...seems like it works for me.

I was considering using it before I counsel....Every time someone gets Tamiflu I cringe. I talk fast and try not to breath.....

 

[MeHungryRx]

I found this from a friend's facebook page: airbornehealthsettlement.com/secure/fileNew

 

[Farmercyst]

I found this from a friend's facebook page: airbornehealthsettlement.com/secure/fileNew

ambulance chaser's way of making money. This is just some attorney's self-made website. There are tons out there, just like vioxx and other medical mishaps.