A few years ago I came across a product promising shortened duration of the common cold...lessened flu symptoms etc. I read the ingredients which I think was mainly Zinc. I admit, it seemed to work. Or maybe it did. How would I really know how long my cold would have lasted without it? How would I know how bad my cold could have been without it? I don't. But I was going to college and not wanting to miss a lot of school I tried it.
It did sting a tiny bit, but nothing major. I took a Nutrition class at school and the teacher recommended not using it too often because your body can get used to it, then it won't work anymore or something like that. Then I read something in the news about a woman using it and losing her sense of smell. The company claimed it wasn't their product or that it wasn't something that happened often or something like that. They blew it off. The woman was basically ignored or at least pushed to the back burner. It made me nervous. The woman claimed she couldn't smell anything and reminisced of smelling babies, and chocolate chip cookies. She cried about the sense of loss and I understand. Could you imagine? Imagine not being able to smell a gas leak or smoke in your home? I didn't know what to believe. I decided it was best to avoid it. Well guess what? The FDA has recalled it. Every single Zicam product. It IS causing people to lose their sense of smell!!! I used this product many times. I am freaked out and so glad I wasn't one of those people. I guess they claimed to be a Homeopathic drug and therefore didn't have to report anything to the FDA but due to all these claims of loss of smell it has been pulled. I am thankful but feeling they should have done something sooner. Claims began as far as 1999 I read and even more so in 2004 (which is when I heard about it).
If you have this product? PITCH IT! Zicam is arguing it of course, but this many complaints just seem to me not worth the hassle. I say, just deal with the cold.
9 comments:
thanks for the information!
I just saw the Zicam stuff on the news last night. I tried it a few times but was never overly impressed. After hearing the news that you can lose your sense of smell, I'm with you: just deal with the cold.
I've not used this product, but yikes. Sometimes the side effects are worse than the cure.
Have a terrific day Sandi. :)
I've never tried it but I also am lucky enough to not get colds very often. I do honestly believe that people rely too much on both over the counter and prescription drugs to get rid of colds and flu. Sometimes, with things like that, you just need to let them take their course.
Wow. I heard about this but I really didn't follow the story. Thanks for sharing. Um, and I'm glad you can still smell too. :)
gosh, I heard about this on the news this morning. People loosing their sense of smell is scary!
Ahh, thanks for the heads up! I agree with what you say about cold remedies - it's hard to tell if they work because you don't know how long a cold is going to last and how hard it's going to hit. Some people I know like to use that Airborne stuff to prevent colds... but how do you know it's warded off your colds? Maybe you just weren't going to catch one anyway.
Wow, good to know. I have some in my cabinet, and did use it once. My father-in-law uses it all of the time though. I will definitely tell him. Thanks:)
Thanks, I had never heard that!
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