Zicam recalled -- can cause anosmia

Started by confettiflyer
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As soon as I see homeopathic on anything, I run the other direction. Not that homeopathic technically should do anything physiologically (it's supposed to be diluted beyond anything being left in solution). But the other stuff these natural companies add to their homeopathic junk certainly will and has the potential to harm.
 
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confettiflyer said:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-zicam17-2009jun17,0,2685826.story

Funny lots of pharmacists I've worked with recommended this OTC product (from personal experiences), there was at least one published study stating it was somewhat effective (forgot who the authors were).
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From what I remember, the study said that it shortened cold symptoms by no more than a few hours if started at the immediate onset of the cold. Definitely didn't seem worth the price alone, not to mention the metallic taste and nasal irritation.

Maybe this will be a good thing in the long run, turn people off to unproven and possibly dangerous "alternative" therapies.
 
confettiflyer said:
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-zicam17-2009jun17,0,2685826.story

Funny lots of pharmacists I've worked with recommended this OTC product (from personal experiences), there was at least one published study stating it was somewhat effective (forgot who the authors were).
Click to expand...

Zicam might well live on - My GF bought me a bottle of "Zicam" that has no zinc at all. Instead it has tylenol, dextro, and guaf in it... hahah - I would imagine it will be staying on the shelf.
 
This was reported on in Pharmacist's Letter back in March of 2004 so it's not really new.
Pharamacist's Letter said:
Please see the FDA's new warning concerning Nasal Zicam products

Some patients are now claiming that the cold remedy, Zicam (zinc nasal gel) causes loss of smell...possibly permanently.
We described this potential problem last year in our Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. The Database rates intranasal zinc "Possibly Unsafe" due to this possible side effect.
Now the FDA is looking into these reports...and attorneys are putting together lawsuits.
Zinc has been linked to loss of smell in the past.
Intranasal zinc sulfate was tried for polio in the 1930s. About 25% of patients lost their sense of smell...some permanently.
It's thought that applying high concentrations of zinc directly in the nose might damage sensory nerves.
But so far there's no proof that Zicam or other zinc nasal products can cause loss of smell.
To be on the safe side, don't recommend NASAL forms of zinc. There are no reports of smell loss with the ORAL zinc lozenges.
If you have a patient who has had problems with nasal zinc products, report it to 800-FDA-1088. View Detail-Document #200304
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metrarx said:
Now we need Airborne to be recalled for its ******ed idea by an equally ******ed 2nd grade teacher. But what infuriates me more is the slogan..."created by a school teacher!" Somehow I'm supposed to think that I'm supporting a grade school teacher who's not making much money who obviously retired as soon as her **** appeared on Oprah. No thanks, I like my pharmaceuticals to be made in reputable companies, not the basement.

I think all the herbals, non-essential vitamins, and especially homeopathic junk needs to be banned. Either show some proof or don't charge $50 for a 30 day supply
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But but, valerian root gives me a really good nights sleep.
 
This makes me sad 🙁. Zicam is my favorite OTC product, and it has always worked really well for me. I read a few reports online a year or two ago that there were lawsuits because people had lost their sense of smell, but Zicam has yet to do this to me and I have been using it since it first came out. I kind of got the sense that the people who had problems were overusing the product and not following the directions.
 
mustang sally said:
This makes me sad 🙁. Zicam is my favorite OTC product, and it has always worked really well for me. I read a few reports online a year or two ago that there were lawsuits because people had lost their sense of smell, but Zicam has yet to do this to me and I have been using it since it first came out. I kind of got the sense that the people who had problems were overusing the product and not following the directions.
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Hopefully you do not push that junk on patients just because you have convinced yourself it works.
 
Sparda29 said:
But but, valerian root gives me a really good nights sleep.
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Actually Valerian is one of the more "proven" herbals out there. It is really similiar to benzodiazepines and one of the major herbs I watch out for.

Sometimes I am starting to wonder if you are a troll or not. Most pharmacy students never heard of valerian... and the stuff you say do lack common sense assuming you were being sarcastic in your post.
 
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aboveliquidice said:
Zicam might well live on - My GF bought me a bottle of "Zicam" that has no zinc at all. Instead it has tylenol, dextro, and guaf in it... hahah - I would imagine it will be staying on the shelf.
Click to expand...

Yeah, kind of like that diet crap "xenadrine" except now it's sans the ephedra.
 
I like the quote that there's no such thing as alternative medicine, there's just medicine.

I myself use tea tree oil and think it works great. I've read a few of the studies on it, and it seems to have few side effects (unless you're a particularly unlucky teenage boy). And there are some studies that suggest other herbals may be beneficial as well.

I'm definitely not against all herbals. I am against companies making outrageous claims, promoting homeopathy, and other woo.

If you're really pro-medicine and against the craziness of 'alternative medicine,' there's a really good blog to check out: Science-Based Medicine. The link: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/

Some of the doctors that write on that are also affiliated with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, which you can subscribe to on iTunes. It's one of my favorite podcasts. It's entertaining to listen to, and they focus on all sorts of science stuff.
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
Actually Valerian is one of the more "proven" herbals out there. It is really similiar to benzodiazepines and one of the major herbs I watch out for.

Sometimes I am starting to wonder if you are a troll or not. Most pharmacy students never heard of valerian... and the stuff you say do lack common sense assuming you were being sarcastic in your post.
Click to expand...

Valerian really does give me a good nights sleep as compared to 50 mg diphenhydramine or 3 mg melatonin.

We had a lecture on the herbal medicines and their interactions. It's actually because of the lecture that I went out looking for valerian root.

I can't find any Kava kava anywhere though.
 
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Sparda29 said:
Valerian really does give me a good nights sleep as compared to 50 mg diphenhydramine or 3 mg melatonin.

We had a lecture on the herbal medicines and their interactions. It's actually because of the lecture that I went out looking for valerian root.

I can't find any Kava kava anywhere though.
Click to expand...

Sorry.
 
Isn't most of zicam homeopathic? Which means the active ingredient is actually diluted to untraceable levels? I wonder if it's an issue with inactive ingredients?
If you don't know what homeopathic is read up on it, it's not the same as herbal or natural medicine. There is no scientific proof behind it, it deals with giving body poison diluted to untracebale levels and the body recognizes the small about of poison and and somehow fights off symptoms. Oh and the preparation of these meds involves a magic shaking after each dilution and if you don't do it it will not work. When you sell people Humphreys, Leg Cramps, oscillococcinim or anything by Hylands or Similasan you are basically selling them sugar tablet or liquid with no tracebale active ingredient in it. Which is why they are safe in infants and children.
 
the makers of zicam should contact that marijuana pharmacist because i'm sure theres a type that will help with colds.

f#cking herbals
 
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