Upset with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Zicam maker Matrixx Initiatives Inc. has withdrawn two of its cold remedy nasal products even though company officials maintain the products are safe. The FDA said it received more than 130 complaints from consumers saying they have lost their sense of smell after using the products.
Jennifer Warren, a former school teacher who lives in Huntsville, Ala., said she lost her sense of smell after using Zicam to prevent the duration of a cold a few years ago, but had never complained to the FDA or the company because she figured there was no way to prove Zicam caused her anosmia. She said she doesn’t want to sue Scottsdale-based Matrixx (Nasdaq:MTXX) even after learning others have had the same experiences.
William Hemelt, acting president and chief operating officer of Matrixx, said the FDA action was taken without reviewing research he would have been more than willing to provide. “We think the science does not support this allegation at all,” he said. “Quite honestly, we would not be selling the product if we thought it was unsafe.” When the FDA sent the warning letter to Matrixx and advised consumers not to use certain Zicam cold remedies, on June 16, Matrixx’s stock plummeted 70 percent to $5.78 a share. It bounced up a bit to $6.13 a day later, but nowhere near its 52-week high of $19.74, near its trading point before the FDA sent the warning letter.
Damn, and I just bought some on JCD’s recommendation.
It’s absurd that some medicines aren’t tested as medicines.
It’s long over-due that homeopathic and other “natural” medicines be tested for safety and efficacy before being allowed on the market.
I believe this is pre-class action lawsuit FUD.
Prior to a class action lawsuit, there is are always stories released to the press making claims.
One thing you will notice as this goes on, almost all of the people who will be mentioned as the victims will be women.
There is a biological reason for this that has nothing due to Zicam and everything to do with the fact that women who don’t eat balanced diets can lose their sense of smell.
What is missing from your blurb is not the fact that some people claim Zicam made them loose their sense of smell. It is the fact that this “cure” was put on the market without testing.
How does a company manage to sell a cold product without testing? Simple. Put the word “homeopathic” on the box.
The company behind Zicam used to sell chewing gum. That is their background. Not medicine or medical research. Chewing gum. And they create a snake oil “cure”, slap the magic word on the box, and *voila*, it appears on the drug store shelves next to FDA testing cures.
there is zicam that comes in a chewable tablet. works great….
They are not pulled off the shelves everywhere yet (been in CVS today and nice Zicam display and all the various forms of it are there for purchase, not even a warning).
@#3: “How does a company manage to sell a cold product without testing? Simple. Put the word “homeopathic” on the box.” – All “Natural medications” are not as well “homeopathic”. Also, “homeopathic” fake medicines are usually harmless (you essentially should get a clean water if they are made by the standard…). But, some label is needed (skull & bones?).
I’ve used the spray. It made every thing taste like zinc, made milk taste like it was spoiled. I stopped using it even though I think it did help get over the cold symptoms much faster than normal.
i havent used the “cold” version, but the regular one. i couldnt smell before, b/c i was stopped-up (sinuses) i took it. the gel spray did make it better, so my drainage stopped and my nose stopped running. couldnt tell you if i couldnt smell after taking it.
I’ve heard this since it was first released years ago. My mom even called me to warn me about it a couple years ago. I’m surprised it took this long to get pulled off the shelves.
I still used it when I got a cold though even if it is snake oil. I used to take zinc lozenges when I was sick so i guess i’ll switch back to them. Luckily I don’t get a serious flu every year so one bottle of zicam has lasted 2-3 years and the zinc lozenges last me enough years that I had to throw the last bottle out because they started to turn black so even if it is snake oil it doesn’t cost me too much.
It works great for me, and I can smell everything just fine. I don’t think it causes any loss of smell, I think the people lost their sense of smell and happened to be taking it. The loss of smell was due to their cold. I have not had a cold for six years, because I use this stuff at the first sign of a sore throat or congestion. Walgreens makes a generic version. Not quite the same.
This would be great if you suffered from bad gas.
Faxon (#9),
Nice statistical analysis – I didn’t lose my sense of smell so it couldn’t have happened to anyone else. Thankfully the FDA and basic scientific studies don’t work like that. Did you read what the FDA found? No?
The loss of smell is indeed old news. I read up on it a few years ago. It is caused when the user shoots the spray straight up the nose. Do not sniff this product! You need to apply the spray to the bottom of the nose.
I have take the product for a few years, and it always seems to work great. The cold is gone is one or two days.
#11
I don’t think it is harmful, if properly used. Don’t ALL medications say, “USE AS DIRECTED”?
How many people die from aspirin every year?
Ron,
I am totally with you on this. If something claims to treat and illness/disorder/condition, then it is a medicine and must be tested for safety and efficacy.
A more interesting story would be whether or not the Obama administration is targeting Rush Limbaugh’s sponsors.
I thought it was curious that they would take a direct role in GM’s advertising budget.
Now this.
Have they over-reached yet?
Wake me up when you’ve finally had enough.
Calling this product “homeopathic”, is like calling an SUV an economy car. Homeopathic “drugs” are usually greatly watered down placebos. And they don’t need regulation, because they’re more faith healing cures, than real medicines. So I can’t see how something that actually works, but has possible destructive side-effects, could be labeled homeopathic. But to ride the grave train of “natural” cures. Yeah, that probably why.
As for these 130 people who lost their smell sense. I’ll bet there’s a least 130 jobs, where a lack of smell is an advantage. And if the maker could come up with a temporary anosmia product. It would make changing diapers and having sex, much easier and more enjoyable. Maybe even be useful as a dieting aid.
The very fact that it’s ‘homeopathic’ should disqualify it as genuine medicine.
I actually used the stuff a few years ago during a bad cold, and lost my sense of smell for about three months. It came back, but it scared the heck out of me at the time.