Florida Zicam® Cold Remedy Recall Attorneys

Zicam products are used primarily to treat cold and flu-like symptoms, and are sold over the counter at pharmacies and other retail locations wherever cold medications are sold. Zicam products come in a variety of forms, including gel swabs, gel sprays, tablets, and liquid form. The active ingredient in Zicam products is Zincum Gluconicum, and the claim made by Zicam is that the timetable for showing cold or flu-like symptoms is diminished when one uses a Zicam product, in comparison to the timetable for showing symptoms that would belong to a person who did not seek the aid of any medication.

According to the National Center for Biotechnological Information, Zincum Gluconicum has been shown to shorten the duration of common cold symptoms in healthy adults. However, during testing, subjects who used the medication, as well as those who were using a placebo, complained of nasal stinging. Though there was no proof that any sort of ingredient present within the Zicam product may have caused the stinging, especially since the placebo patients also complained of similar pain, there may be a correlation between the pain and how the medication is administered.

Regardless of effectiveness in use, the nasal stinging Zicam side effect may be more something more serious than a simple nasal irritation. While there has been no adverse discovery or recall of products that are taken orally, the irritation that these nasal sprays and gels cause could be the body's defense mechanism against distributing substances such as Zicam directly into the nasal cavity. The sensitivity of this area could be greatly compromised as a result, and could be the catalyst for which the loss of smell, either temporary or permanent, may occur.

The FDA has recalled the following products:

• Cold Remedy Nasal Gel (15mL, NDC 62750-003-10)
• Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-20)
• Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-21)

More than 130 users of these products have notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of loss of their sense of smell since using the recalled Zicam products. In all cases, loss of smell either resulted immediately after using the product for the first time, or after more than one use of the product. Loss of smell, otherwise known as anosmia, is a life altering condition that requires adjusting to and diminishes quality of life over time. Our sense of smell can warn us of danger (e.g. gas leaks or smoke from a fire), and can ultimately save our lives in doing so. Without this sense, victims of purported Zicam-loss of smell have been placed at higher risk of injury from here on out.

The Zicam recall attorneys at Farah & Farah are currently investigating claims by those who have suffered adverse side effects due to the over the counter drug Zicam. If you have lost your ability to recognize smells, or experienced any other side effects as a result of using Zicam products, please don't hesitate to contact a skilled Farah & Farah attorney immediately for a consultation of your case.