Zicam nasal gel may damage sense of smell.

As many of you know by now – and as I’ve written in the past – I’m not exactly the president of the Food and Drug Administration’s fan club.  In fact, I just recently criticized them for not cracking down on the prevalence of GMOs in food, something that many within the FDA were trying to crack down on in the 1990s, but apparently gave up on.

But just as every cloud has its silver lining, the FDA occasionally casts that ray of sunlight on drug companies that are all too often shrouded in mystery as to their side effects (though they’re now required to state the side effects in commercials).

So it is with Zicam, a supposed-cold reliever that’s taken to alleviate symptoms associated with nasal congestion.

And “supposed” is the operative word here, because while it takes away the congestion, Zicam takes it a step further:  it takes away your sense of smell!!

According to a multitude of complaints filed to the FDA, Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel has caused serious problems for a lot of people who’ve used it.  Many of them are no longer able to smell quite like they used to prior to their using it, and in some cases, can’t smell at all!  And those who’ve lost their sense of smell entirely lost it after their first dosage.

Approximately 130 people have reported this nasal puzzle since 1999.  But that’s a very unofficial number, as those are only the cases that have been reported to the FDA.  Who knows how many people suffer from anosmia overall, thanks to Zicam’s zany “remedy.” (anosmia is the medical term used for loss or impaired sense of smell).

Matrixx, the maker of Zicam, denies these claims, saying the links made to anosmia and Zicam’s use are “misleading” and “scientifically unfounded.”

Their denials weren’t enough to salvage their stock price, though, as shares of Matrixx took a nosedive, falling 55 percent in a single day (closing at $8.56).  Trading is now halted on Matrixx shares per the FDA’s warning.

See, occasionally, the FDA bites the bullet and clamps down on dangerous over-the-counter drugs.  They could be doing more, but I suppose it’s only fair that I give them credit when it’s due.

If you really want to combat a cold, arm yourself with what I like to call “The Mangano Common Cold Defense Arsenal.” You can find more in-depth information on this cold-weaponry here, but the arsenal includes zinc, vitamin C, Echinacea, goldenseal, and garlic.

Successful battles are won with a great defense, and when it comes to “cold war” battles, these defense mechanisms will have cold symptoms raising the white flag of surrender.

This report shows why it’s important to steer clear of Zicam and other over-the-counter drugs that so often do more harm than help; sapping your sense of smell is just the latest example.  You’ll never find that with natural supplements like these.

The only thing they’ll sap is a cold’s ability to wreak havoc on your immune system.

Sources:
money.cnn.com

As a parent it is important to know that although there are many cough and cold medications to choose from, which are targeted towards children, this does not mean there are no FDA warnings or they have not been recalled due to dangerous affects. When you are choosing a medication for your child make sure to read the label and you may find FDA warnings that you otherwise would have missed. According to this study 1-in-3 children who were taken to an emergency center had been given an over the counter cough and cold remedy to cure their bronchiolitis. This is a common respiratory infection, which children of this age tend to be more susceptible to.

Although this study did not find any particular groups that were found to be at a higher risk than others, there were common factors discovered. Factors such as daycare attendance, exposure to second hand smoke, wheezing and use of antibiotics were all associated with the increased used of cough and cold medications. With this being said as a parent of a young child you may want to look into the alternative and natural methods of healing this type of cold for their safety.

Honey is one of the most popular natural alternatives to a cough and cold medication. It has been used for centuries to help cure and alleviate any infection within the respiratory area and is still just as effective today. In comparison to over the counter drugs, honey is by far much safer and provides the same if not faster results. This is what parents are looking for today. Another option is the use of garlic. You may already be aware of its healing properties when it comes to cancer and other serious conditions but it can be a great asset when it comes to the common cold in children as well. Basically you will want to remove the skin of 5-6 cloves of garlic and prepare a necklace using these cloves. During the day and when your child is sleeping the garlic will work its magic!

By making sure that your children are receiving all the nutrients and vitamins they need from their diet you are taking action to prevent these colds from becoming a regular occurrence. A young child with a weak immune system becomes susceptible to any cold or virus they come in contact with and this can lead to more and more serious conditions when not acted on immediately. Begin thinking about the natural ways to solve these cough and cold problems so you no longer have to worry about side effects or long lasting dangers that can be derived from over the counter products.

The FDA made it official last week and acknowledged what many of us already knew: over-the-counter (OTC) cold medicines are dangerous for young children. Though the FDA has made a lot of boneheaded moves in the past—I suppose it’s only appropriate that we note their smart moves. This is certainly one of them.

However, many parents are now left feeling, wondering what cold medicines are left that they can give to their cold-ridden children.  According to a new study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology, the answer may be floating in the ocean—the Atlantic Ocean, specifically.

The answer appears to be the salt in the ocean water, according to the researchers from Europe who conducted the study.  The 390 children were split into two groups—one receiving a nasal decongestant you’d see at any drug store, the other group given several shots of salt water nasal spray.  Both groups of children were given treatment for six weeks and received check-ups to see if their symptoms were diminishing.  Not only were they diminishing to a more significant degree among the group given the salt water nasal spray, but eight weeks after the study began, the salt water nasal spray group’s symptoms occurred less frequently (fewer sore throats, coughs) and had fewer battles with sickness throughout the year than the group given standard nasal decongestant treatments.

Though it’s not known what specifically it is about the salt water that eased children’s cold symptoms, the researchers speculate it may have something to do with the chemical makeup of the saline in its ability to clear excessive mucous from the nose and throat.

Certainly, more research will be conducted on the efficacy of salt water and the relieving of cold symptoms, but this is yet more evidence of the health benefits nature provides.  What’s wrong with OTC cold medicines?  Besides the fact that some children have died as a result of taking these medicines—a side-effect serious enough to give any doting parent pause, despite its rarity—several studies indicate OTC cold medicines just plain don’t work.

Of course, the dangerousness and inefficiency of OTC cold medicines applies to children under the age of two, but that leaves a large swath of children over that age in the dark.  Does the warning on OTC cold medicines apply to them as well? 

At this point, that answer remains unclear.  Though cold remedies are administered to children billions of times a year and a fraction of that number report any severely adverse reactions, a number of health groups caution against using them because they are so easily overdosed.  For instance, instead of administering the cold medicine with the supplied plastic cup, many use a large spoon instead, resulting in mistaken overdose administrations.

The Food and Drug Administration plans on making a statement about its safety to children over the age of two sometime this spring.  In the meantime, your best bet is to veer away from OTC cold medicines.  Health officials make it clear that because colds are viral, they’re immune from antibiotics.  Thus, the alleviation of colds is best achieved through the traditional method:  plenty of sleep, plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.

And maybe plenty of salt water, too.