Zicam intranasal sprays containing zinc should be discarded by people using them immediately. Zicam is an over-the-counter medication used in the treatment of the common cold. Zicam may be found on the Internet, retail stores and pharmacies. There are four products affected in the Zicam Recall, including:

· 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)

· Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size,

The Truth Behind the Recall

The identified products have eliminated the senses of smell and taste which limit quality of life and pose a risk for failing to smell signs of fire such as smoke for some people using the product. Children are particularly at risk because they may not be likely to notice the impairment. There have been over 130 reports from people who indicate they have experienced a loss of sense of smell from Zicam. The condition, also known as anosmia, may be permanent.

The FDA sent a warning letter to Matrixx Initiatives, maker of Zicam, disallowing the firm to market the products without FDA approval and documenting the failure to adequate warn the public about the risk of anosmia.

If you or a loved one has experiences a side effect because of Zicam, see your healthcare provider and report to the FDA through the MedWatch program, either online or by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 11:49 am and is filed under Lawbits. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.