Quote:Nasal spray can cause loss of smell, FDA warns

Zicam pulled from shelves; consumers urged to stop using products

WASHINGTON - Consumers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel and related products because they can permanently damage the sense of smell, federal health regulators said Tuesday.

The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell. The other products affected by the Food and Drug Administration’s announcement are adult and kid-size Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs.

The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999. Shares of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plunged to a 52-week low after the FDA announcement, losing more than half their value.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31388177/ns/...d_and_flu/

Quote:RUSH: That's what I wanted you to hear. This is a very partisan Democrat strategist, Julian Epstein, he was one of the Clintonistas back during the impeachment days, he also happens to be leading the Democrat fight against Zicam. More on that later. This is the guy with a lawyer group. It's very deceitful, this Zicam stuff, folks, someday I'm going to be able to tell you the truth about this. What the FDA did yesterday regarding Zicam is unprecedented. The FDA has never done before what it did yesterday. This is a company being targeted for, let's face it, obvious reasons. But more on that later.

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/s...guest.html

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert...cam-recall

Quote:"[Limbaugh's rant] may smell like bull **** to some people, but not to the users of Zicam"

- Stephen Colbert

You guys pay way too much attention to Rush. Maybe that is why he is making so much money.

All the cold remedies use zinc. What's fascinating is that some zinc compounds (zinc acetate) seem to be effective, while others (zinc gluconate) aren't, despite the Zn being in the same oxidaton state. But, the evidence is inconsistent. Zicam is the latter, curiously enough.

(06-23-2009 07:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  All the cold remedies use zinc. What's fascinating is that some zinc compounds (zinc acetate) seem to be effective, while others (zinc gluconate) aren't, despite the Zn being in the same oxidaton state. But, the evidence is inconsistent. Zicam is the latter, curiously enough.

Meanwhile ...I just avoid shaking peoples hands...stay away from people that are coughing and have runny noses and wash my hands frequently during the cold and flu season.....Then again...I have the constant reminder from my wife....who is director of our county health department and is an RN. The constant nagging about this stuff is NEVER ending!

Quote:The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999.

130 consumers in 10 years? Come on. And what exactly is a loss of smell? Was it complete loss, or maybe one day a guy woke up and his cat's litter box didn't smell as bad as it did yesterday?

People are going blind when they use Viagra. They just announced pot can cause cancer. Bacteria in gay Turkish bath houses are getting gays sick left and right. Why aren't we putting an end to any of this?

Oh, BTW, it would seem that blacks are getting hit particularly hard with AIDS these day. Since we can't seem to make AIDS go away, do we get rid of the problem by...........

(06-23-2009 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

Quote:The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999.

130 consumers in 10 years? Come on. And what exactly is a loss of smell? Was it complete loss, or maybe one day a guy woke up and his cat's litter box didn't smell as bad as it did yesterday?

People are going blind when they use Viagra. They just announced pot can cause cancer. Bacteria in gay Turkish bath houses are getting gays sick left and right. Why aren't we putting an end to any of this?

While I am sympathetic toward people who are trying to live well, and may be harmed by a product...you make a good point. The left is constantly defending unsafe/destructive lifestyle choices as "freedom"* yet somehow I lose the freedom to take a risk on this medicine.

Just add the risk to the label, then I'll take responsibility for my choice.

*Actually it's worse than defending, they steal money to encourage such choices.

I agree with Torch, add a warning and let the consumer make the decision. Same goes with seat belts, motorcycle helmets, and illicit drugs.

(06-24-2009 07:48 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-23-2009 09:57 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

Quote:The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam products since 1999.

130 consumers in 10 years? Come on. And what exactly is a loss of smell? Was it complete loss, or maybe one day a guy woke up and his cat's litter box didn't smell as bad as it did yesterday?

People are going blind when they use Viagra. They just announced pot can cause cancer. Bacteria in gay Turkish bath houses are getting gays sick left and right. Why aren't we putting an end to any of this?

While I am sympathetic toward people who are trying to live well, and may be harmed by a product...you make a good point. The left is constantly defending unsafe/destructive lifestyle choices as "freedom"* yet somehow I lose the freedom to take a risk on this medicine.

Just add the risk to the label, then I'll take responsibility for my choice.

Actually it's worse than defending, they steal money to encourage such choices.

EXACTLY !!!!!

There was a Cough Medicine that I found at the "Dollar Store" for a Dollar a Bottle that worked like no bottle of $100 dollar cough medicine could and some Dude somewhere, thought it caused heart attacks and it was pulled from the shelves pronto.

Now I have Blood Pressure issues that are unreal and I drank this stuff like water when I was sick with a cold - - my work put me in close proximity with sick folks a lot, so this medicine for a Dollar a Bottle was a Miracle for me and they just dumped it one day.

Why not put a "Skull & Crossbones" on it with a big fat written warning and let me decide if I wanted to risk taking it and not cough, over not having it to take and coughing until my lungs bled ???

Robert, you better start staying out of those Turkish Bath Houses there son !!!!!

.

seems the Dems are risking a portion of their base if they start targeting Homeopathic medicines like this, and I would assume supplements. The Whole Foods granola crunchers tend to be pretty liberal.

wonder if they'll ban Colladial Silver, I've taken it before and it helps but I didn't take enough to turn into a Smurf like this guy:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317564,00.html

(06-24-2009 08:02 AM)mlb Wrote:  I agree with Torch, add a warning and let the consumer make the decision. Same goes with seat belts, motorcycle helmets, and illicit drugs.

Belts and helmets aren't the same as drugs. They aren't unsafe products put into the stream of commerce.

They are still enforced by laws to protect me from myself.

(06-23-2009 07:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  All the cold remedies use zinc.

Yea, they all use it, but its not an issue until you start squirting mass quantities of it up your nose. The lozenges are fine.

(06-24-2009 02:50 PM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(06-23-2009 07:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  All the cold remedies use zinc.

Yea, they all use it, but its not an issue until you start squirting mass quantities of it up your nose. The lozenges are fine.

Actually there is some evidences that some of the lozenges make things worse. Fascinating stuff IMO.

As for squirting it up your nose, caveat emptor. I'm not being indifferent, I genuinely mean that.

(06-24-2009 02:46 PM)mlb Wrote:  They are still enforced by laws to protect me from myself.

not really... you could make the argument that the belts and helmets are. but the regulations on drugs are to protect you from the drugco's.

the helmet and setablet laws are compromises that allow car companies to put dangerous products out there. it's a compromise to protect you from them.

i'm not disagreeing with your general position. I'm just refining the point.

If there is a label on the drug stating any complications that could arise from use, then as far as I'm concerned we are good to go. Simple as that... if I chose to use or not use a product after being given a warning then it is on me for anything that happens.

(06-24-2009 02:56 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-24-2009 02:50 PM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(06-23-2009 07:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  All the cold remedies use zinc.

Yea, they all use it, but its not an issue until you start squirting mass quantities of it up your nose. The lozenges are fine.

Actually there is some evidences that some of the lozenges make things worse. Fascinating stuff IMO.

As for squirting it up your nose, caveat emptor. I'm not being indifferent, I genuinely mean that.

Frankly, I stay away from any non-FDA approved "drugs" in the first place. IMO this kind of thing falls into the same category as Head On, Enzyte, and all the other homeopathic therapies.

(06-24-2009 03:03 PM)mlb Wrote:  If there is a label on the drug stating any complications that could arise from use, then as far as I'm concerned we are good to go. Simple as that... if I chose to use or not use a product after being given a warning then it is on me for anything that happens.

Heartburn medicines are killing people's livers and causing cancer and worse problems down the road, thats not going to be outlawed I suspect.

its funny to listen to all the side effects listed when they advertise, they are wanting to make the supplements and herbal medicines have to do the same thing. Plus you have the lawyers looking for some pockets to sue.

I'm sure the Pharmacutical industry wants this, alot of people have started turning away from Drugs and to alternatives.

(06-24-2009 03:13 PM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(06-24-2009 02:56 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(06-24-2009 02:50 PM)niuhuskie84 Wrote:  

(06-23-2009 07:32 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  All the cold remedies use zinc.

Yea, they all use it, but its not an issue until you start squirting mass quantities of it up your nose. The lozenges are fine.

Actually there is some evidences that some of the lozenges make things worse. Fascinating stuff IMO.

As for squirting it up your nose, caveat emptor. I'm not being indifferent, I genuinely mean that.

Frankly, I stay away from any non-FDA approved "drugs" in the first place. IMO this kind of thing falls into the same category as Head On, Enzyte, and all the other homeopathic therapies.

Enzyte is just a total fraud. The guys that brought you "Smiling Bob" have been sued by the Federal Government and sever State AG's for fraud.