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drug_recall cold-eezeDoctors’ case reports continue linking zinc nasal sprays to anosmia, the medical term for the permanent loss of smell. The Quigley Corporation, the makers of the popular homeopathic remedies Cold-Eeze Cold Remedy products, have also received Cold-Eeze side effects complaints regarding its now discontinued zinc gluconate nasal spray.
Quigley launched its zinc lozenge in 1995, and since then has seen sales of its products take off. The company’s net sales for 2004 were $43.9 million, even though it suffered a charge to gross profit margins after it discontinued the nasal spray. On the market just one year, Quigley said it was removing the nasal spray because of disappointing financial returns, despite the growing scrutiny and lawsuits involving anosmia reports including Cold-Eeze side effects complaints.
The Cold-Eeze side effects reports have led to safety evaluations and lawsuits. While there is no science showing definitive evidence on the risks of nasal sprays containing zinc, doctors are cautioning against the use of them until more information is available. Quigley has said the Cold-Eeze side effects reports might be a coincidence since anosmia is most often caused by viruses which in turn cause the cold symptoms that might have led to the use of their spray.
The over-the-counter product was on the shelves just over a year, but Quigley says the discontinuation of it had nothing to do with Cold-Eeze side effects reports and was strictly a financial decision. Still, with hundreds of lawsuits around the country claiming zinc gluconate nasal sprays caused anosmia, many people believe the Cold-Eeze side effects reports caused a liability concern.
When Cold-Eeze nasal spray side effects concerns first began to come under scrutiny in early 2004, a spokesman for Quigley said there were no reports of problems among 80 people involved in a study of Cold-Eeze. Experts are concerned that the popularity of homeopathic remedies like Cold-Eeze has consumers confused over what actual safety information is available. Unlike over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications, products like Cold-Eeze are allowed for sale unless the FDA can prove they are harmful.
An FDA spokeswoman said in February 2005 that the FDA is evaluating complaints related to zinc nasal sprays, like Cold-Eeze side effects reports, but in the meantime, sales of zinc gluconate nasal sprays are booming. There are so many potential causes of anosmia, but if the Cold-Eeze side effects reports that it is because of these products, millions of patients are being exposed to the possible risks.
There is no cure for anosmia, and even though zinc lozenges and oral sprays have been shown in some studies to shorten the duration of colds by a few days, there are also studies that show it has no effect when used in nasal zinc products. Some scientists believe that zinc, in certain amounts, could have an astringent effect that can damage cells in the nasal cavity controlling the sense of smell.
Zinc nasal sprays are widely available at stores, but some doctors, in response to Cold-Eeze side effects reports, as well as other product cases, believe the possible risks of permanently losing smell is not worth knocking a few days off of a cold.