PSA: Don't snort Zicam

[Queasy]

Reuters

WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. regulators warned Matrixx Initiatives (MTXX.O) on Tuesday to stop selling zinc-containing, intranasal versions of its Zicam cold remedy after more than 130 reports of people losing their sense of smell.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also urged consumers to stop taking the over-the-counter products, agency officials said on a conference call with reporters.

Matrixx must seek FDA approval if it wants to continue selling the zinc-containing versions of Zicam that are administered through the nose, agency officials said. (Editing by Maureen Bavdek)

Bloomberg

June 16 (Bloomberg) -- Matrixx Initiatives Inc., maker of Zicam Cold Remedy products sold in drugstores, lost more than half its value in Nasdaq trading after U.S. regulators warned its products may cause users to lose their sense of smell.

Matrixx, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, fell $10.68, or 56 percent, to $8.56 before Nasdaq Stock Market trading was halted. That?s the biggest intraday decline since its 1996 initial public offering.

The Food and Drug Administration warned the company today its homeopathic Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Gel Swabs and Kids Size swabs have been linked to more than 130 reports of people losing their sense of smell. The FDA letter says many homeopathic products can be sold without U.S. approval. Because of ?a significant and growing body of evidence? that the Zicam products ?may pose a serious risk to consumers,? the agency said Matrixx must get FDA approval for its remedies.

 

[Ns1]

doh!

I thought this was gonna be a thread about Zicam fucking you up in good ways.

Losing your sense of smell? FTS!

 

[SonnyDaze]

Losing sense of smell? That could be a good thing after a chili dinner.

 

[Modular]

Wow, that really sucks. I just got over a cold in which I took the Zicam tablets. I guess they aren't officially blacklisted, but I don't think I need to take them ever again.

It's DayQuil all the way for me from now on!

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Modular
Wow, that really sucks. I just got over a cold in which I took the Zicam tablets. I guess they aren't officially blacklisted, but I don't think I need to take them ever again.

This is just for the nasal inhaler and swabs. Not for the tablets.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: Modular
Wow, that really sucks. I just got over a cold in which I took the Zicam tablets. I guess they aren't officially blacklisted, but I don't think I need to take them ever again.

This is just for the nasal inhaler and swabs. Not for the tablets.

True, but I don't want to lose my sense of taste either. I'm sure they're nice and safe, but DayQuil works way better anyway.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Losing sense of smell? That could be a good thing after a chili dinner.

Except it would make the chili taste like ass. Sense of smell accounts for about 70% of what we "taste". That's why most stuff tastes like crap when you have a bad head cold.

 

[Chronoshock]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Losing sense of smell? That could be a good thing after a chili dinner.

Except it would make the chili taste like ass. Sense of smell accounts for about 70% of what we "taste". That's why most stuff tastes like crap when you have a bad head cold.

That's why he said after. Referring to the gaseous after effects

 

[Kirby]

I hope there's nothing wrong with the tablets, I just took one.

 

[SP33Demon]

How the hell did this product get through the FDA? /fishy

 

[MrDudeMan]

This is what people get for running to the medicine cabinet every time they have a little issue. Everyone needs a quick fix so they can hurry back to their daily grind. Medicine is so overused.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Losing sense of smell? That could be a good thing after a chili dinner.

My wife might be on her way to pick some up...living with me can be "challenging" at times.

 

[Nik]

Zinc is what helps red blood cells bind to oxygen. How does Zinc make one lose their sense of smell?

 

[randay]

does it come back at any point in time? or is it lost forever?

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
This is what people get for running to the medicine cabinet every time they have a little issue. Everyone needs a quick fix so they can hurry back to their daily grind. Medicine is so overused.

Often times drugs like decongestants and anti-inflammatories can reduce the chance of a cold turning into a sinus and or ear infection.

 

[Amused]

Seems to me 130 complaints out of millions of customers means this reaction is VERY rare.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: Amused
Seems to me 130 complaints out of millions of customers means this reaction is VERY rare.

rare but severe. smell is a pretty important sense.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: Amused
Seems to me 130 complaints out of millions of customers means this reaction is VERY rare.

rare but severe. smell is a pretty important sense.

Oh I agree. It's just odd. I wonder what the trigger is besides Zicam to cause this in such a small group?

 

[uclaLabrat]

Originally posted by: Nik
Zinc is what helps red blood cells bind to oxygen. How does Zinc make one lose their sense of smell?

Isn't that Iron? Heme is an Iron porphyrin complex.

 

[Pepsei]

wow, even has an article on snopes, i guess snopes needs to update their article.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Originally posted by: Nik
Zinc is what helps red blood cells bind to oxygen. How does Zinc make one lose their sense of smell?

Clearly the only ingredient is Zinc.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

What they don't tell you is that Zicam allows you to smell fear.

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
This is what people get for running to the medicine cabinet every time they have a little issue. Everyone needs a quick fix so they can hurry back to their daily grind. Medicine is so overused.

Often times drugs like decongestants and anti-inflammatories can reduce the chance of a cold turning into a sinus and or ear infection.

Zicam lets you get over your cold quicker by absorbing zinc directly into the blood which I believe turns into antibodies.

I don't know what's wrong with anyone wanting to feel better quicker.

 

[randay]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: randay

Originally posted by: Amused
Seems to me 130 complaints out of millions of customers means this reaction is VERY rare.

rare but severe. smell is a pretty important sense.

Oh I agree. It's just odd. I wonder what the trigger is besides Zicam to cause this in such a small group?

my mother lost her sense of smell, wonder if it was from zicam or similar nasal cold medication...

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: MrDudeMan

Originally posted by: Nik
Zinc is what helps red blood cells bind to oxygen. How does Zinc make one lose their sense of smell?

Clearly the only ingredient is Zinc.

Yes, it's Iron not Zinc. My bad.

Anyway, the article makes a strange point of mentioning that it contains zinc. Why else would it single out and mention an innocent ingredient and ignore the guilty ingredient?