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drug_recall cold-eezeAnosmia is the loss of smell, a disorder that affects not just smell, but also taste. Without the ability to detect any scent, people affected by anosmia do not have the ability to observe early warning systems that can indicate if a fire, fumes, leaking gases, expired foods or other dangers are present.
Anosmia can greatly affect a person’s life because smell is tied to so many other things, such as determining the flavor of foods and beverages that people eat and drink. In some professions, suffering anosmia can eliminate the ability to perform a job. Various diseases, conditions and medication can disrupt the olfactory changes that result in the loss of smell, but under growing scrutiny, as well as a flurry of lawsuits, are complaints that zinc nasal sprays, such as Zicam and now discontinued Cold-Eeze, can result in anosmia.
Complaints of anosmia describe no longer being able to enjoy once favorite foods, as well as a cook who can no longer work with in a culinary field. The number of people suffering from anosmia is unclear, but it is believed about 2.5 million Americans suffer from a partial or complete loss of smell, according to the National Institutes of Health. There have been different estimates and numbers trying to determine the number of anosmia sufferers, but a UC San Diego Web site says it has been estimated that three million to five million Americans suffer from anosmia.
In October 2004, the FDA had received more than 100 complaints about zinc nasal sprays. Though popular zinc nasal spray makers of Zicam (Matrixx Initiatives) and Cold-Eeze (Quigley Corporation) pointed to tests on their drugs to argue anosmia was not an adverse event, the products are homeopathic or herbal remedies that do not have to be FDA tested to ensure their safety.
The FDA does have the ability to remove homeopathic or herbal remedies from the shelves, but only if they are found to be too unsafe. Currently, there are no rigorous studies available to determine if an anosmia zinc nasal spray risk is present, just reports from doctors seeing patients that could no longer smell after using the products. Defending zinc nasal sprays, some people argue anosmia has so many potential causes that the products are being blamed unfairly.
While the FDA continues to say they are evaluating anosmia reported related to zinc nasal sprays, the consumers who thought they would shorten the duration of their cold for a few days and wound up permanently without a sense of smell and taste possibly because of the zinc nasal sprays thinks more answers are needed.
If you suffer from anosmia, and have taken Zicam or Cold-Eeze, please contact us for more information.