posted on December 9, 2005 09:52:21 AM new
A nationally advertised cold product that may now be in your family medicine cabinet could rob you or your children of the ability to smell -- to smell gas or a fire in your home or to enjoy the aroma and taste of your food, 7NEWS Investigator John Ferrugia said.
7NEWS began investigating Zicam a month ago after one of our own employees said she had lost her sense of smell after using it. Now the Food and Drug Administration has begun its own investigation of complaints around the country.
Linda Bayley is finally coming to the realization that she has lost her sense of smell. According to the doctors at the University of Colorado Center for Taste and Smell Disorders, it's not likely she will get it back.
"You just do not have enough receptor cells to know what you are smelling," Dr. Miriam Linschoten told Bayley.
"You know, looking at your whole life and not being able to smell and not being able to have flavors, all because you used a product. I mean, it's just not fair, it's just not fair," Bayley said, sobbing.
Bayley and other consumers around the country claim that that product is Zicam gel, which contains zinc gluconate and is applied in the nose.
Bayley is one of more than a dozen patients Dr. Bruce Jafek has either examined personally or referred to others when they reported the loss of smell after using Zicam Intranasal Zinc.
He is now preparing to publish his findings.
"At least in the majority of the patients we have seen, there hasn't been a return of function," Jafek said.
Jafek says Bayley's experience with Zicam mirrors the stories of others who have used the Zicam compound and lost their sense of smell.
"I put it up my nose, like you are supposed to ... you don't inhale it, and you are supposed to hold your nostril closed ... and the burning," Bayley said. "I had the most intense burning sensation that was just ... I mean, it threw me for a loop, it was so bad. "
The next day, as she picked up her cat, she realized she had a serious problem.
"I was cleaning her cat box and I realized I couldn't smell. I couldn't smell the cat box," Bayley said.
And then she couldn't smell her favorite food -- pumpkin pie.
"When I ate a piece I couldn't taste it. It was just bland mush," Bayley said.
Jafek says the problems of zinc compounds used in the nose are well-known -- they began in the 1930s when people were trying to prevent polio.
"It did not work for polio but was found that about 10 percent of the people lost their sense of smell as a result of the zinc application ... permanently," Jafek said. "Closer to the present day, then it has been used in animal experiments, particularly in fish and rodents, mice and rats, in which the purpose was to put zinc into the nose and destroy the sense of smell."
But in those cases, a compound of zinc sulfate is used. Zicam contains zinc gluconate. The manufacturer, Matrixx Initiatives, says there is a significant difference in the compounds.
"Not in my mind. The idea in terms of the zinc treatment of a cold is that you want to get the zinc ion into the nose where it will have anti-viral activity," Jafek said.
Matrixx declined an on-camera interview but told 7NEWS in an e-mail: "Statements alleging that intranasal Zicam products cause anosmia (loss of smell) are completely unfounded and misleading."
The company says, "The safety and efficacy of zinc gluconate for the treatment of symptoms related to the common cold have been well established in two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials."
It also noted, "a multitude of environmental and biologic influences are known to affect the sense of smell."
Both Jafek and Linschoten examined the company's studies and say they simply do not address the safety question.
"Since they didn't test for smell loss before and after, no (these studies) are not relevant," Linschoten said.
"There's no doubt in my mind there's a cause and effect just because I took it, it burned like crazy, the next day I didn't have any sense of smell," Bayley said.
For Bayley, the thought has brought anger, frustration, and an emotional sense of loss.
"You know, the people who are closest to you, your family, it's not something you think about, but being able to smell them -- my little infant, my baby cousin. I can't smell babies anymore," Bayley said. "That human closeness. It's a connection. It's a connection lost."
Zicam makes several products. Only one is in question: the nasal gel or swabs for your nose, which contain zinc gluconate and is listed on the packaging. This does not apply to lozenges or other Zicam products.
In addition to the FDA investigation of complaints, there have now been four separate lawsuits filed against the maker of Zicam. The company has denied liability.
Another nationally known company makes a zinc spray one that people may use. There are reports of similar loss of smell with this product as well.
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An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 9, 2005 10:02:08 AM new
I've been using Zicam since it came out on the market and haven't ever had a problem. No burning, no loss of smell. You must use it as directed and not over use it. I think some people over use the product thinking the more they use, the faster their colds will go away.
One of the warnings: Temporary discomfort such as burning. . .may result. To avoid irritation do not sniff up gel.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on December 9, 2005 12:20:38 PM new
Now that would be useful for weight loss! With no sense of smell food is not as appetizing...
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posted on December 9, 2005 06:10:41 PM new
I have used zicam with no problems but it is a scarry thought. I will probably not use it anymore. hahaha.
************** I'm making a list and checking it twice!
posted on December 9, 2005 06:43:58 PM new
There's a similar but temporay fix already on the market bunny. It's blocks the taste of sugar. Not natural sugars like in fruit, just processed sugars.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 9, 2005 06:44 PM ]
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 9, 2005 06:51 PM ]
posted on December 9, 2005 07:18:15 PM new
Fenix,you might want to add this one to your list as well.
Many antibiotics have another common permanent side-effect that even many doctors are not aware of. Some antibiotics cause hearing loss. The AMA has also known about the problem since the 1930's.
Just google "antibiotic hearing loss" for more info. I have known several people who suffer from antibiotic induced hearing loss.
As for the loss of sense of smell. It is very real, not to mention dangerous. I know a lady who lost her sense of smell and her young children suffered several cases of food poisoning because she could not tell she was feeding them spoiled foods such as eggs or milk.
posted on December 9, 2005 09:58:43 PM new
LT - as a general rule, antibiotics are about the only thing I am willing to take. Cold remedies are a watse of time and money. You feel like crap but you get over it... I've had pleanty of colds, none have killed me yet .
The only thing I have ever taken that has effected my hearing was diet Dr Pepper. I have no idea why but it's shifts the tinitus into high gear where I feel like I'm stuck in a wind tunnel with a banshee. You would think it's because of the aspartame since that's one of it possible side effects but I drink diet Pepsi and Crystal Light Iced Tea by the gallon with no effects and it's in both of those.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.
posted on December 10, 2005 05:51:21 AM new
There are potential side effects to any treatment, whether mainstream or "alternative". Seems to me like a person needs to weigh the benefits against the potential risks before using any medication. You make a personal decision to use a product for something as innocuous as a cold, and then sue the maker when things go wrong...I'm not sure that makes any sense.
In the case of antibiotics, very few documented cases of serious side effects versus millions of human and animal lives saved over the last century. Pretty much a no brainer for me. In personal experience, we vaccinate every horse, sheep, goat and cow on this place twice a year for protection against various nasties. We also often use antibiotics to treat things like coccidiosis, pneumonia, enterotoxemia, mastitis etc. We don't use antibiotics prophylactically, as that's what has caused so many resistant bug strains, far as I'm concerned. Whenever we give shots, we always have prepared syringes ready with epinephrine in case an animal goes into anaphylactic shock from the medication or vaccine. In my life I've probably given WAY more shots than the average human doctor, and I've had a total of 1 occurence of shock. One. Thousands of shots, One case of shock, and I saved the horse with another shot!
I think it's critical to look at how these side effects cases get blown all out of proportion in comparison to the millions of positive results you never hear about.
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Habla siempre que debas y calla siempre que puedas....
I'm making a list and checking it twice!
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