Zicam - What do you Think?

Today it has been six months since I used Zicam Nasal Gel before boarding a flight. It has also been six months since I smelled or tasted anything. This has been a devastating experience. Please tell everyone you know that this is a very dangerous product and should be taken off the market immediately!

It has been 2 years since I first used Zicam at the first signs of the flu and it has been 2 years since I have gotten sick. Please tell everyone you know how wonderful this product is and to follow the usage directions. In other words, DO NOT SNIFF GEL UP YOUR NOSE BUT HOLD IT IN THE LOWER PART AND THEN BLOW OUT.

I tried it and it works for me. I advise follwing manufacturers directions, i.e. keep it in the lower part of your nose, follow directions and blow out.

If you use this product correctly it is a GREAT product. It states on the bottle to not sniff up the nose. I feel bad for people who have encountered problems, however, there is a reason they tell you not to do certain things when using Zicam.

Nowhere did they list loss of taste and smell as a side effect. Call any doctor who specializes in smell and taste and they will tell you the same thing. Don't use Zicam! It's to risky and you can have permanent damage. Seriously,ask a doctor! If I can't convince you they will.

I think it's crock.
I believe what is going on here is an attack on all those companys that "fund" talk radio.
If they won't drop their sponcership there are more ways than one to skin a cat.
Obama is doing the same to republican donors.
Going right down the list now it's threat of national health care AMA and insurance providers.

Zinc in appropriate amounts is an essential nutrient, and a great part of attemping a DIY cold cure (along with Vit C & magnesium.)

HOWEVER: do not SNORT IT !
only oral use.
the Zicam oral products aren't the culprit, it is the "nasal gel drug-delivery system" which is the problem. Major difference. Do not snort the Vitamin C either !

For the people who are suffering from lost sense of smell:
Zicam - lost sense of smell - cure by homeopathy

Zicam was recently removed from the market by FDA due to fraudulent labeling .. which was discovered as a result of numerous complaints of loss of sense of smell.
The labeling was a fraudulent offering for sale "an unapproved drug" .. by claiming unwarranted OTC status as homeopathic remedy.
Zicam IS NOT a homeopathic remedy...
-and luckily any loss of sense of smell caused by Zicam is very likely curable by homeopathy.

Searching 'loss of sense of smell' in the Radar 10 homeopathy software database, I find 106 homeopathic remedies listed. On the good side, that means that a professional homeopath will undoubtedly be able to cure a loss of sense of smell due to either high sensitivity to --or perhaps overuse of zicam, which contains Zinc, the active ingredient identified as likely cause of loss of smell.
On the downside .. so many choices means that it is much less likely that DIY use of homeopathic remedies will cure (this is basically true in almost any instance other than first aid; the most famous homeopathic remedy in first aid is Arnica for bruising & trauma; naturally loss of sense of smell is not your typical first aid situation.)

San Francisco bay area homeopath:
http://www.holistiq.com -referrals available in other areas.

Maxxim, makers of Zicam, have seen their stock drop +/- 80% prior to being frozen from further trading.
Hopefully, this will send a message to other pharmaceutical type companies who think it might be clever to try to take advantage of homeopathic remedies' Congressional approval as OTC medications within the strictly delineated labeling standards and in accord with HPUS, the U.S. Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia.

Homeopathy is a medical system with medical residencies & training in hospitals .. in India and other places where it is not rigorously suppressed by $pharma & AMA with all their 'skepdic' internet trolls; thanks to this suppression by $pharma, you have fewer choices in medical care, and thus are more likely to buy-in to the $300 Billion in annual $pharma sales .. all of which contributes to $pharma being recognized by health experts as #1 leading cause of death in the U.S. see http://www.iatrogenic.org

and now for some voices of hope & good cheer:
http://www.MakePeaceBrothers.com/Hero

Tags: cure, fda, fraud, homeopathy, hpus, illegal, label, otc, scam, smell

They are using the back door to shut down conservative free speech.
They are going to attack all big business that are donors to the Republicans

Abortion has been know to cause breast cancer, mental issues,sterility and death. No problem, I guess..........
As long as you can smell?

Zicam is not a homeopathic product, stating such is a misleading lie intended to imply Zicam does no harm. Read more here http://myhomeopath.blogspot.com/2009/07/false...
Myra Nissen, CCH

Are you Republicans ridiculous or what? You actually related Zicam to politics. You are about as ignorant as your favorite George Bush and Sarah Palin. Stick to the topic and get an education!

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/...

On June 16th the FDA issued a warning advising consumers not to use Zicam Nasal Gel or Nasal Swabs because of reports that it can damage the sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. This event highlights some problems with current regulations of health products.

There have been 130 cases reported to the FDA of decreased sense of smell following the use of one of these Zicam products – sometimes after a single use, sometimes after repeated use. All of these cases were reported by patients or their doctors; none were reported by the company, Matrixx Initiatives. According to reports, the FDA has asked Matrixx to turn over 800 consumer complaints regarding to Zicam. There is a 2007 law that requires company to report such complaints to the FDA, although the FDA has not said whether Matrixx violated this law.

Anosmia is a serious medical condition. The senses of smell is one of those things we take for granted until it is gone. People who lack a sense of smell cannot tell if milk has gone sour or if their food is bad. They cannot smell smoke to warn of a fire, nor can they smell a gas leak. The FDA fears that some of the cases of anosmia associated with Zicam use may be permanent.

Correlation does not prove causation, but there is reason to think that the anosmia in some of these cases may have been caused by the zinc in these Zicam products. As the FDA reports, viral upper airway infections can also cause anosmia, but the anosmia that results from zinc is associated with burning and is much more rapid in onset. Apparently some of these cases had features suggestive of zinc-caused anosmia.

Further, it has already been described in the literature that decreased smell (hyposmia) or loss of smell (anosmia) can result from the intranasal use of zinc.

There is some evidence that zinc preparations may reduce the severity or duration of the common cold if used within 24 hours of onset. This review of the literature concludes:

Clinical trial data support the value of zinc in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms of the common cold when administered within 24 hours of the onset of common cold symptoms. Additional clinical and laboratory evaluations are warranted to further define the role of ionic zinc for the prevention and treatment of the common cold and to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms through which zinc exerts its symptom-relieving effects.

Therefore, intranasal zinc products may have a modest effect in reducing the symptoms of a cold, but come with the risk of permanent damage to the sense of smell. Since the common cold is a self-limited illness that typically lasts about 7 days, this would not seem to be a favorable risk vs benefit ratio.

How, then, did these Zicam products make it onto the market in the first place?

The FDA regulates, among other things, drugs. They require adequate evidence for both safety and effectiveness before a drug can be placed on the market and sold to consumers. They also determine the level of regulation for each drug – can it be sold over the counter, with prescription only, and it is a controlled substance, like a narcotic.

There are two important exceptions to this general rule. The first is an exception that was carved out for homeopathic products in 1938. The FDA states:

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) recognizes as official the drugs and standards in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States and its supplements (Sections 201 (g)(1) and 501 (b), respectively). Until recently, homeopathic drugs have been marketed on a limited scale by a few manufacturers who have been in business for many years and have predominantly served the needs of a limited number of licensed practitioners. In conjunction with this, homeopathic drug products historically have borne little or no labeling for the consumer.

Cont:

Homeopathy was much more popular early in the 20th century in the US, and the homeopathic lobby was sufficient to gain legitimacy under the FDA. Specifically, Senator Royal Copeland of New York, a physician trained in homeopathy and a principal author of the FDCA, pushed for the inclusion of homeopathy as approved drugs. Homeopathic remedies are classified as “drugs” by the FDA, which means they fall under FDA oversight, but at the same time they are granted automatic approval as long as they appear in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia.

What this means is that the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United State, the non-governmental agency that writes the homeopathic pharmacopoeia, only has to add an agent to their list and it is granted automatic FDA approval.

Homeopathic remedies are typically diluted beyond the point where any active ingredient remains. Therefore, in practice there is no difference between any one homeopathic preparation and any other – or just plain water.(Here is a recent overview I wrote about homeopathy.)

The biggest problem with this regulation is that it amounts to official government recognition of pseudoscience. The FDCA should be amended to remove homeopathy completely.

But there is also a problem with definition. While most homeopathic remedies are diluted to the point that they are indistinguishable from water, that is not a requirement. Lesser dilutions may contain small amounts of active ingredient. If a “homeopathic remedy” contains a biological active amount of a drug as an active ingredient, is it not a regular drug?

This is relevant to Zicam because these products are regulated as homeopathic drugs – which means they were allowed on the market without having to provide any evidence for safety or efficacy.The homeopathic exception allowed the manufacturer to simply bypass the usual requirements, even though Zicam is not really homeopathic but contains biologically active levels of zinc.

But because homeopathic remedies do fall under FDA regulation the FDA has the power to decide that a product poses a safety risk to the public and therefore can demand evidence for safety. In this case the FDA has requested that Matrixx Initiatives “submit a new drug application to demonstrate safety and efficacy.”(I confirmed this over e-mail with the FDA.)

The second exception to the FDA regulation of drugs was created by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This law allows botanical drugs to be sold as supplements, with no requirement to prove safety or efficacy. While with products marketed as homeopathic “drugs” the FDA can step in if they feel there is a safety concern, with supplements under DSHEA the FDA bears a high burden of proof to show that a product is harmful before it can take action. So far it has only done this for one ingredient – ephedra.

Here, too, we see a significant problem with definition. Why is a botanical drug or herb regulated like food rather than a drug?

A more science-based regulatory system would eliminate homeopathic agents altogether. They are a relic from the past. Further, any substance meant to be consumed or taken internally for its pharmacological activity is a drug and should be regulated like a drug. This could still leave room for subcategories of drugs, as we have now (for example, over the counter vs prescription only). But regulating herbal drugs as food has only opened the flood-gates for dubious products with even more dubious claims.

Mark wrote:

Cont:
Homeopathy was much more popular early in the 20th century in the US, and the homeopathic lobby was sufficient to gain legitimacy under the FDA. Specifically, Senator Royal Copeland of New York, a physician trained in homeopathy and a principal author of the FDCA, pushed for the inclusion of homeopathy as approved drugs. Homeopathic remedies are classified as “drugs” by the FDA, which means they fall under FDA oversight, but at the same time they are granted automatic approval as long as they appear in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia.
What this means is that the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United State, the non-governmental agency that writes the homeopathic pharmacopoeia, only has to add an agent to their list and it is granted automatic FDA approval.
Homeopathic remedies are typically diluted beyond the point where any active ingredient remains. Therefore, in practice there is no difference between any one homeopathic preparation and any other – or just plain water.(Here is a recent overview I wrote about homeopathy.)
or herb regulated like food rather than a drug?
A more science-based regulatory system would eliminate homeopathic agents altogether. They are a relic from the past. Further, any substance meant to be consumed or taken internally for its pharmacological activity is a drug and should be regulated like a drug. This could still leave room for subcategories of drugs, as we have now (for example, over the counter vs prescription only). But regulating herbal drugs as food has only opened the flood-gates for dubious products with even more dubious claims.

This is totally incorrect. It is a clear case of FDA sleeping over a claim and not doing the job it is supposed to do. Just because a company has misrepresented facts, does not mean the system is at fault. This logic would have closed down ALL conventional pharmaceutical companies. Every one of them has not one, many drug recalls.

This is information from ZICAM site.

"When using Zicam RapidMelt tablets, dissolve entire tablet in mouth. Do not chew. Do not swallow whole. Take one tablet at the onset of symptoms. Repeat every three hours until symptoms are gone. To avoid a minor stomach upset, do not take on an empty stomach. Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use. Do not eat or drink citrus fruits or juices for 30 minutes before or after use. Otherwise, drink plenty of fluids. "

"Zicam Cold Remedy RapidMelts contain Zincum Aceticum and Zincum Gluconicum as active ingredients."

Any one who understands homeopathy knows this is NOT homeopathy.

ikz wrote:

<quoted text>
This is totally incorrect. It is a clear case of FDA sleeping over a claim and not doing the job it is supposed to do. Just because a company has misrepresented facts, does not mean the system is at fault. This logic would have closed down ALL conventional pharmaceutical companies. Every one of them has not one, many drug recalls.
This is information from ZICAM site.
"When using Zicam RapidMelt tablets, dissolve entire tablet in mouth. Do not chew. Do not swallow whole. Take one tablet at the onset of symptoms. Repeat every three hours until symptoms are gone. To avoid a minor stomach upset, do not take on an empty stomach. Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use. Do not eat or drink citrus fruits or juices for 30 minutes before or after use. Otherwise, drink plenty of fluids. "
"Zicam Cold Remedy RapidMelts contain Zincum Aceticum and Zincum Gluconicum as active ingredients."
Any one who understands homeopathy knows this is NOT homeopathy.

Did you read the article or other posts in this forum? The form of Zicam specifically referred to is the nasal spray & drops. These are sprayed/snorted directly into the nose. It has nothing to do with tablets.

You are correct in that the FDA has failed. Because the product was marketed as homeopathic it did not need to pass the same standards if it had been marketed as a proper medicine. This means that the FDA needs to changes its standards for homeopathy to match those of proper medicine. Of course homeopaths wouldn't want this because they know their magic water would not pass the standards for efficacy.

Sorry - nasal spray & gel.

ikz - are you a homeopath?

Mark wrote:

Sorry - nasal spray & gel.

There are no nasal sprays or gels in homeopathy. A doctor is to check your symptoms and prescribe. Homeopathy does not go along with OTC drugs.

Mark wrote:

ikz - are you a homeopath?

No.

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
Did you read the article or other posts in this forum? The form of Zicam specifically referred to is the nasal spray & drops. These are sprayed/snorted directly into the nose. It has nothing to do with tablets.
You are correct in that the FDA has failed. Because the product was marketed as homeopathic it did not need to pass the same standards if it had been marketed as a proper medicine. This means that the FDA needs to changes its standards for homeopathy to match those of proper medicine. Of course homeopaths wouldn't want this because they know their magic water would not pass the standards for efficacy.

The time you spend to look for articles that may damage the reputation of homeopathy, spend 1/10 the time to locate the damages the drugs are doing and you will stop taking drugs- including the Cholesterol tablet on which you are blowing your hard (?) earned money. This is based upon a science that allows the drug company to make money because a doctor and the patient are not ready to use their heads.

FDA should be closed down and replaced with a scientific unit that has brains. The FDA continues to let companies release drugs and allows recalls. What has it learned from the earlier mistakes? What has changed?

The drug cartels from Columbia make such effort to smuggle cocaine and heroin into the USA. It is easier for them to label it as a homeopathic drug and sell. The FDA will close eyes and sign on a dotted line and for a change; this will pass the double blind test!

You have NO CLUE about homeopathy, no understanding about the function of a MEDICINE. All you probably understand is drugs. It is time for you to locate a new web site for information. And it will be good to learn about homeopathy and then comment: the comments would carry meaning.