Zicam 101 - and why you should be afraid

We are smack-dab in the middle of cold and flu season, so I thought I'd tell you a little story to help keep you from making the same mistake I did last year. That mistake ... was Zicam.

In 2006, I ended up struggling with two back-to-back colds. One during the summer and one that hit me hard around September. I treated the summer cold with various over the counter products, including different forms of Zicam. I used the lozenges and the nasal swabs and the nasal spray. I thought I had found a miracle cure in the nasal spray. I really felt as though my cold was zapped by that stuff. The nasal congestion clearly was.

When I started feeling the onset of another cold in September, I broke out the nasal spray right away. It helped with the congestion, helped me to breathe, and really seemed to keep the cold from going full-blown. Sure, every once in a while when I'd spray the stuff in my nose, I'd feel a slight tingling sensation, but that's just the Zicam working, right? I mean, as soon as I shot that stuff up there, my passages would clear up and I could breathe, that's what's supposed to happen.

After returning home, I remember waking up in the middle of the night and wondering why I smelled coffee burning. I hadn't made coffee that evening. Hmmm. Maybe my cold was just returning? But that couldn't be right, after all .. I was breathing fine and had no congestion whatsoever. When I finally got up in the morning, I could still smell burning coffee .. but now it was accompanied by the scent of cigarettes. Weird. Then I realized that I couldn't taste my food. Nothing. Well, nothing except coffee. I fired up the computer and googed "phantom odors" and "burnt coffee and cigarettes" and ended up with a plethora of information ranging from nasal tumors to anosmia and dysnosmia. WTF? How the hell did that happen?

I shared my confusion with friends, wrote about it here, and eventually, I got an email from AB that she had received from a family member in the medical profession. The email was an accounting of the potential side effects of using Zicam nasal spray and it's connection to anosmia. In case you don't know. Anosmia is a loss of ability to smell. What's really strange is that AB's family member just sent the email as a head's up, she didn't even know I was having this problem. The timing was 'just right'. Also discussed in the email? The fact that the manufacturer of Zicam (Matrixx Initiatives) had settled a $12 million lawsuit brought against them by 340 consumers who suffered the same problem as I was. The suit had been settled only a few months before my first use of the product.

Because Matrixx settled the suit, and therefore claims no admission of liability, the product remains on the market .. without a consumer warning. Additionally, think about this for a minute. Zicam's main ingredient is Zinc. Zinc is used to destroy smell in laboratory animals and can be toxic to the sense of smell in people. Also, the spray that I initially purchased did not have this "new and improved" "control tip sprayer". Matrixx claims the original nozzle did not produce enough momentum to reach the higher part of the nose. BULLSHIT. When I primed the bottle, that fucking nozzle shot liquid clear across the room. Matrixx also claims the new nozzle design was NOT a reaction to the multitude of lawsuits filed against them. They claim the new method of dispensing was in the works since 2001. The introduction of the new "control tip sprayer" in 2006, however, did not include removing the older bottles from store shelves. Those were left in stores for the purchase and use by .. yours truly.

And here's the thing that ticks me off the most. Because Zicam is considered "homeopathic", it is not subject to safety testing and manufacturing regulations and guidelines. Zicam is NOT an FDA-regulated product.   No regulatory oversight. Nothing. And because they settled the lawsuit and claim no admission of liability .. no warning labels are required.

For months I underwent many different tests, spent thousands of dollars on Doctor visits, MRI's, CAT scans, was poked, prodded, had blood taken ... all without any evidence of any underlying tumors or other possible causes of the problem. I went to an ENT who .. while taking my medical history .. was not happy at all when I told her I had used Zicam nasal spray to treat a cold. In her words ... I was screwed. The ENT advised me to get an attorney. I shit you not. The ENT told me that there was a slim chance that the nerves in my nasal cavity might repair themselves somewhat. She told me that by the end of this year, whatever I could smell would be it. End of story. For the rest of my life.

I also found out that a colleague of mine had also lost his sense of smell after using Zicam years ago. He was so distraught over it, he actually never told anyone about it. I take the absolute opposite tactic. I'm telling everyone .. and now he is, too. We've had many long conversations about how our lives have changed. We both share a love of wine and wine tasting .. that's something we can no longer enjoy. Because smell is tied directly into taste, we both have difficulty enjoying cooking or dining in general. Subtle flavors are lost to us. For that matter, our cars could be leaking gasoline, and we would never know. I could have a gas leak at home, and I would never know. I could be burning something in the oven, and I would probably never know. It's more than just a quality of life issue, it's a life safety issue.

I have been fortunate. I've regained some sense of smell, and I no longer have a problem with phantom odors. I can taste most tomato-based sauces, but I can't tell the difference between a cheddar cheese and a swiss cheese. I can sort of taste milk chocolate, but not dark chocolate. I can taste vanilla, usually. I can't tell chicken from pork, but I can tell the difference between steak and chicken .. most of the time. I can sort of taste peanut butter, but not peanuts. I can't tell the difference in taste between walnuts and pecans .. which is bad because I'm allergic to walnuts. So, for me, if my tongue starts to tingle, I know I'm eating walnuts.The sad thing is, I think I'm smelling and tasting these things, but I'm really not sure. Since memory is so closely tied to smell, for all I know I'm not smelling or tasting correctly.

Speaking of memory, I doubt I'll ever have a smell take me back to a nostalgic memory. I've noticed that I still can't smell pine trees. This being the holiday season, I don't get that sense of comfort from a childhood memory when I get a whiff of a Christmas tree. At Thanksgiving, I couldn't smell the food cooking. Think about all the memories that would bring up for you. On the up side, when someone says "What is that foul odor?" I usually don't know what the hell they are talking about. I'd trade the occasional cringe-worthy stink for the ability to smell chocolate chip cookies baking.

I used to tell people that I believed it was only the nasal spray that was harmful, but I have since read that there are also complaints regarding the nasal gel swabs. Personally, I don't care if Matrixx invents the cure to the common cold, I will never, EVER, use another Zicam product.

And as if all of that weren't enough to make your skin crawl, take a look at this article on The Men Behind Zicam.

Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw.

My holiday wish for you is that you never, ever have to go through this. Zicam is evil. Don't use it. Ever. It's not worth the risk.

Comments

[TigerWillow]

wow. I'm gobsmacked! Thanks for the heads-up. To be honest, I had a cold and did two doses of it, but it's so unpleasant and makes me sneeze it out immediately. Plus I don't think the nozzle is all that sanitary for reuse... nothing like reintroducing cold germs into the schnozz when you're just getting well?

but yeah, holy canole, I didn't know about the lawsuit. Thanks for posting...

[leannwoo]

I was just wondering about you and your sense of smell the other day. I was talking with a girlfriend who lives in Canada and takes something for her colds. I asked it it was Zicam and she'd never heard of it! Thank goodness!

My husband has never had any sense of smell in his life, so he has no clue what he is missing. I can't imagine not being able to smell certain things. :(

[KJR]

Hope you're still checking responses to your post.
Reading your story I was struck by the crazy similarities to my own experience with Zicam. I too used the Nasal Gel with the original pump. I immediately had terrible burning and suddenly realized when I was cooking my children's dinner that I could neither taste nor smell. Later that evening I called Zicam to complain about the lack of warnings on their bottles and was told that placing zinc in your nasal passages is like putting salt on an open wound. She basically admitted that putting zinc up your nose was dangerous!
Anyway, I went to an ENT the next day and he was shocked that Zicam was still on the market, and told me to put smoke detectors in every room in my house because I wouldn't be able to smell a fire. I freaked out! I was put on Prednisone and Nasonex to try to reduce the inflammation. Four months on I have some small improvement in taste/smell, but much of it tastes/smells disgusting. I totally know what you're talking about with wondering whether you're actually smelling/tasting, or whether it's just memory. I definitely cannot distinguish bland foods, and walking by the bakery and pastry departments at my local supermarket literally makes me want to vomit. I get that burnt coffee smell all the time, and if anyone has strong perfume or cologne on I have to walk away - it smells that bad. I can't smell my delicious children or my lovely husband - it sucks.
I've started a group on Facebook called WARNING! Don't use Zicam. If you're on Facebook you should check it out.
BTW, now that it's more than a year on, what's your recovery like?
My best to you.

[Jeannie]

This has been such an informative post to read...as while I have used Zicam in the past...I had stopped using it based on the information that was coming out about a lost sense of smell.

Oddly enough, my story is very similar, but Zicam was not the catalyst. I'd had a horrible bout with sinus problems from February to May...and had finally asked my doctor to re-prescribe Flonase. After 2 weeks, I had no more relief, so out of desperation (due to the inability to breathe), I bought some Afrin. One morning, I used the Flonase, and it felt as if it radiated throughout my face and head...and within a week, I'd realized that I'd significantly impacted my sense of smell.

At first, I couldn't smell anything bad...and other odors were diminished. After some time it changed. While some things smell the same (but diminished) other things have been categorized in to 2 odors. Soaps, detergents and some perfumes smell like asphalt. Other odors (which in my opinion is far more disturbing) smell like rancid coffee (or something like it). This includes coffee, popcorn, urine, body odor, diesel trucks and other scents. It's disconcerting that they've lumped in to 2 categories.

Admittedly, I find myself anxious a lot, because I wonder if I stink. I worry that I won't smell smoke or chemical spill.

Originally I went to a neurologist who quickly stated that it must be ENT related because of the onset. He gave me a referral to a specialist. The ENT appt was very frustrating.

He put salt and sugar on my tongue and had me do a scratch and sniff test on about 60 cards or so. He left the room while I did it...and I found myself practically stuffing the cards up my nose to smell anything. After I finished he said, "you only got 5 wrong"...and told me to take Benadryl at night.

I'm tired and frustrated...and I don't like to seem like a hypochondriac, but it seems that this has really impacted my quality of life. I'm wondering if I'm the only one feeling this way?

[Rachel Thompson]

I've had all the same Zicam experiences as the proceeding people. BE AWARE! This stuff is really dangerous and will change your life!

I don't think I'll honestly ever get over it. I miss the personal smells of my loved ones, and even my dog. But worst is not smelling that sweet new Grandson I have. No it's not life-threatening, but it's life-changing.

My best to all the Zicam victims. I know what you're going through.

RRT

[Jordan]

Last night I used the gel swabs on my nose and about 20 minutes later I started feeling a burning sensation in my nasal passage. I thought this was just the product working until the pain began to become unbearable... the pain was behind my eye.... my entire forehead... my teeth and then down my neck. I was so uncomfortable I considered going to the ER... instead I looked on Google to see if I was having some sort of allergic reaction when I found that numerous people were having the same issues. I cannot believe this product is still on the market.... I don’t know where to go from here...

[KMJ]

Geez, me too. I used Zicam Dec 18 with the same experience of the unbearable burning for about 3 hours then my sense of smell was gone. Went to the dr. on Dec 20 who prescribe prednisone and said "good luck, I'll never use it." I am so worried that it is permanent. Is there anyone that has recovered?

[Bill Wiseman]

U R GHEY

[Cathy]

I too fell victim to this. I used the gel swabs when I felt a cold coming on and the last time I had a cold I used the congestion spray. I was a believer at the immediate relief and became a walking talking advertisement to anyone who'd listen to buy this product if they suffered from any congestion. Well I used it towards the end of April and haven't been able to stop because of the rebound congestion. I too thought it was an "all natural" product. I recently purchased a titration kit online called Rhinostat to help me ween off the active ingredient in Zicam, oxymethozoline, the same ingredient in Afrin which I had been warned to stay away from because of it's addictive quality. Argh....and when you mentioned the smell thing, I often, recently think I smell cigarette smoke when there is nothing there. Yikes. I can't get off this stuff soon enough.

[Cynthia]

I just found this interesting site about health problems and the loss of taste and smell from which some Zicam users have suffered. There is also important safety information here:
http://www.zicam-smell-loss-lawyer.com/