Home > Health > On Women > Throw Out Your Zicam, and Rethink Other Alternative Cold Remedies

Throw Out Your Zicam, and Rethink Other Alternative Cold Remedies

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I have used zicam extreme congestion relief for 2 years now and I have no adverse side effects. I have nasal swelling and congestion and this stuff is the only thing I have found to work. I can still smell and taste as I have before. I hope this helps others not get my miracle product pulled from the shelves.

Samantha of KY 5:52PM December 22, 2011

very helpful information... thanks a lot

chemicalpee-cost.com of AZ 4:04AM August 02, 2011

I've used it many times, and I can still smell just fine. Certain things smell better.
Moreover - even if you could "prove" total loss of smell - how could you further connect that "loss of smell" exclusively with the use of Zicam, or anything else for that matter?
This looks to me to be a money grab. I guess lawyers can prove anything - given enough people willing to come forth, for potentially a little payback.

Richard Hale of CA 3:14PM December 03, 2010

Most people who try Zicam find the same thing. They get no side effects, but claim their cold is cut in half. But honestly, how do you know it was cut in half? It's more than proven that literally every cold you get will be of a different strain of Rhinovirus. Every cold you get will have a different length, so there is no real way to tell if you will have a shortened span.
The problem with this stuff is that, though it has Zinc, it is in a 2X Homeopathic formula. This basically means whatever the dose amount they have on the label (something like 16mg) is taken into a solution of 1/10 with water (16mg in 160ml of water), and then that is a 1X. This is then DILUTED again with another 1/10 parts solution to water. This leaves you with 16mg Zincum per about 1.8 liters of water. This is what they put into the spray bottles.
There is no side effects, or any effects for that matter, beyond the standard expected placebo effect. This is because basically, you are spraying water in your nose, and you are lucky to get half of a mg of Zinc in a little 2fl.oz bottle.

Ian of NY 2:22PM February 18, 2010

Evaluating how far into the nose canal you put the nozzle is not the issue. The product isn't safe. if you KNOW your water supply isn't safe do you continue to drink it? obviously something is wrong with this product. however, it your nose. smell you later.

a. P. of PA 3:53PM January 21, 2010

Tastes like sh*t no matter what flavor it claims to be, but gets the job DONE. Zinc is awesome for you especially when you're battling a flu bug. I'm usually really sensitive to meds and I have had no side effects except that recovery time is cut in half. Love it!

Bry of CA 9:36AM January 20, 2010

I have been using this product zicam for about a year and haven't had a problem. Maybe it works maybe it doesn't but i do as the directions say,when you feel a cold coming on use it. It is not like afrin,don't spray it in and sniff it up. Maybe people are allergic to a ingredient or just don't follow directions. I haven't been sick like i used to get during cold season.Do what you want but i am still going to continue using it and stay healthy(if that is what is keeping me from getting a cold I don't know,but i take it and cold doesn't last the way it used to). No I don't work for the company or have any affiliations with them.

Carl of NY 1:44AM January 16, 2010

People need to read inserts and use ALL products EXACTLY as instructed. Zicam says insert nozzle 1/4" into nose - NOT fully into the canal. Also, only one spritz per nostril. Who knows what the person writing the current e-mail warning did?
Also, anyone can be allergic to anything - even natural herbs, etc. Thing is, seldom does anyone actually die of allergies (note I say seldom - it does happen).

JE of CA 4:51PM January 14, 2010

Concerned I am , you need to just chill out and let it go. You are preobably fine and are just causing yourself headaches from worrrying. Stress can kill you, even if it is self induced stress.
If you can still smell after this long, the danger has passed. (Or your fixing to die one or the other, quit worrying!)
Zicam has been on the market as a nose spray for over a decade. ANd I never heard of anyone being harmed by it. Maybe they changed their recipe and accidentally caused it to induce loss of smell.
The only real ingredient in it that helps you is zinc, which makes it difficult for bad things such as viruses and so forth to get anchored into your nasal pasages, I've used the zinc lozengers and they really help if you start to use them at the beginning of a cold.
I never yused the zinc spray but once when it first came out, and I just didn't like it, and swithced over to the lozengesr.

Clem Parkhill of OK 8:36PM January 09, 2010

I think that all the above are right when they claim we got 'taken'. The nasal gel with the zincum gluconicum worked to good - and caused some disturbance in the scheme of corruption (industry/gov agencies) and robbery on the consumer.
...nothing new, has happened - will happen again.

Doomed :-( of FL 10:41AM January 06, 2010