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disease anosmiaThe law allows the sale of herbal products and homeopathic remedies unless the FDA proves them harmful. Just a few quality controls and labeling rules exist for these products, yet they can be found on the shelves among over-the-counter drugs that have been tested, approved and regulated by the FDA for safety and efficacy.
Both Cold-Eeze and Zicam are popular homeopathic remedies that offer zinc gluconate products. In some studies, zinc lozenges and oral sprays have been shown to shorten the duration of colds by a few days, but research on the effectiveness of nasal zinc products is mixed. The exact number of people who suffer from a condition called anosmia, the loss of smell, is not known, but the National Institutes of Health believes about 2.5 million people suffer from partial or complete loss of smell.
Some of these anosmia sufferers, in recent years, have alleged zinc nasal sprays were the cause of their permanent loss of smell. As of February 2004, the FDA was accepting complaints regarding zinc nasal sprays through its hot line from people suffering from anosmia. At the time, both companies said their products were safe and that they had no indication in any studies that their zinc nasal sprays had caused anosmia, but there were no rigorous studies allowing experts to make a scientific conclusion.
The companies said anosmia and the use of their nasal sprays could have been coincidence, though specialists in conditions involving taste and smell had been seeing patients complaining of a severe burning sensation and then anosmia after using one of the zinc gluconate products. Millions of people have used zinc nasal sprays, and critics question why products that can result in potential side effects like anosmia are allowed for sale prior to adequate safety tests.
Not only have the products been questioned for efficacy, but for serious safety concerns as well. By September 2004, Quigley Corporation pulled its Cold-Eeze zinc nasal spray from the market, citing disappointing sales. There have been hundreds of lawsuits alleging zinc nasal sprays caused anosmia. The doctor’s case reports linking the products to anosmia still do not offer any science and hard research.
If you suffer from anosmia, and have taken Zicam or Cold-Eeze, please contact us for more information.