Zicam Lawsuits - Zicam Lawyers

Zicam is a well-known line of products that are sold on an over-the-counter basis, and their purpose is to alleviate the symptoms of the common cold. There are different individual products sold within the overall line that is the Zicam brand, and recent news has surfaced that has brought scrutiny onto these products and their manufacturer.

Zicam Use

These products are used to help people minimize the effects they feel from a cold virus. They are preferred by many for several reasons, including the facts that you don’t need a prescription to use them, they tend to work quickly and the relief they provide from these cold symptoms has generally lasted several hours. Consumers are also aware of the brand name given the aggressive marketing campaign behind them.

Zicam and the FDA

There was no approval for the marketing, sale and distribution of Zicam products, which appears to be one of the foundations of the problem that now exists. The reason there was no approval was because Zicam products fit into a niche of products that do not require FDA approval before hitting the market. This niche is the ‘homeopathic’ niche, and these products can simply be formulated and offered to consumers with no FDA involvement prior to them hitting the shelves.

Zicam Side Effects

There is only one allegedly widespread symptom of the side effect linked to the use of Zicam, and that’s the loss of the sense of smell, which in medical circles is known as anosmia. The FDA received reports of approximately 130 instances where consumers suffered from this side effect, and its duration has yet to be defined with a high degree of clarity. Some consumers have stated that their anosmia lasted for several months.

Zicam Loss of Smell (Anosmia) WARNING!

Officials believe that the reason for the development of anosmia in consumers is the presence of zinc in the ingredients of these Zicam products. Zinc has been known to lead to this problem, as some believe that zinc attacks and damages nerve endings in the nasal cavity that are necessary for the sense of smell to work properly.

Until this week, there have been no outward warnings by any health officials or governmental agencies in regards to Zicam products, but the FDA did publicize a letter it sent to the manufacturer of these products ordering them to cease and desist with the marketing and sale of them unless and until the manufacturer pursued an approval from the FDA that would be commensurate with any other drug on the market that’s regulated.

The letter also came with an overall statement from the FDA that anyone who is using Zicam products should stop doing so immediately given the danger inherent in the use of them. Since that announcement, the manufacturer has announced that it is pulling these products from the shelves until the issue is resolved one way or another.

Zicam Contraindications

Since Zicam is known as a homeopathic product that has not been studied and/or approved by the FDA or prescribed by doctors, little is known about the potential contraindications between Zicam and any other medication. Since the problem with the product appears to be the presence of zinc, anyone who has any sort of heightened sense of sensitivity to zinc should avoid using these products altogether.

Common Zicam Questions

Who makes Zicam?
Zicam is manufactured by a company known as Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. It is a public company whose stock trades on the NASDAQ exchange, and its stock price fell precipitously when news of the problems with Zicam was released.
Why is anosmia such a problem?
There are several problems with anosmia. First, in relation to Zicam, no one is yet sure how long this condition will last. Secondly, the loss of the sense of smell can be dangerous. For instance someone without it could not detect a gas leak or the smell of smoke or other dangerous substances around them.

Which products have been affected by this issue?
There are three products in particular that have come under scrutiny, and they are:
Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel (15mL, NDC 62750-003-10)
Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-20)
Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (20 swabs, NDC 67250-003-21)

What should I do if I have used Zicam?
If you have been using these products but have no symptoms at this point, you should obviously stop using them immediately and pay close attention to your sense of smell. As soon as you notice something irregular, seek immediate medical attention.

What should I do if I have been injured by using Zicam?
If you have suffered side effects as a result of using any of these products, you need to contact the defective products lawyers at the Oklahoma law firm of Atkins & Markoff immediately to schedule a free initial consultation.