Shock Brigade Harvester Boris (talk | contribs) →Use and ingredients: translate |
Whitewashing has to stop. |
||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
Sponge Cucumber[http://www.bioforceusa.com/pflant-encyclopaedia/luffa_operculata.php]</ref> and [[sulfur]]. |
Sponge Cucumber[http://www.bioforceusa.com/pflant-encyclopaedia/luffa_operculata.php]</ref> and [[sulfur]]. |
||
==Product withdrawn from sale after warning letter from Food and Drug Administration== |
|||
==Controversy== |
|||
In 2006, Matrixx Initiatives paid $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits from Zicam users who "claimed that the product destroyed their sense of smell"<ref name="NYT1"/> (medically termed [[anosmia]]), although the company did not admit fault.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-08-01-zicam_N.htm</ref> As of 2009, "hundreds more such suits have since been filed."<ref name="NYT1"/> On June 16, 2009, the [[Food and Drug Administration (United States)|Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) advised consumers to discontinue use of nasally administered versions of Zicam because of a "serious risk" of anosmia associated with the product. According to the FDA approximately 130 Zicam users reported a loss of smell since 1999.<ref> |
In 2006, Matrixx Initiatives paid $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits from Zicam users who "claimed that the product destroyed their sense of smell"<ref name="NYT1"/> (medically termed [[anosmia]]), although the company did not admit fault.<ref>http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-08-01-zicam_N.htm</ref> As of 2009, "hundreds more such suits have since been filed."<ref name="NYT1"/> On June 16, 2009, the [[Food and Drug Administration (United States)|Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) advised consumers to discontinue use of nasally administered versions of Zicam because of a "serious risk" of anosmia associated with the product. According to the FDA approximately 130 Zicam users reported a loss of smell since 1999.<ref> |
||
{{cite web |
{{cite web |
Revision as of 16:12, 17 June 2009
Zicam is a branded series of homeopathic cold and allergy remedies using zinc. The Zicam name is derived from a combination of the words 'zinc' and 'ICAM-1' (the receptor to which rhinovirus binds in order to infect cells).[1] Zicam is produced, marketed and sold by Zicam, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.,[2][3] an American pharmaceutical company.
Use and ingredients
Zicam Cold remedies reduce the duration of the common cold[4] and reduce the severity of cold symptoms.[5] Zicam Allergy remedies have been shown to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other upper respiratory allergies.[6] The active ingredient in Zicam Cold Remedy is zinc gluconate; the active ingredients in Zicam allergy remedies include galphimia glauca,[7] histamine dihydrochloride (homeopathic name, histaminum hydrochloricum),[8] luffa operculata,[9] and sulfur.
Product withdrawn from sale after warning letter from Food and Drug Administration
In 2006, Matrixx Initiatives paid $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits from Zicam users who "claimed that the product destroyed their sense of smell"[10] (medically termed anosmia), although the company did not admit fault.[11] As of 2009, "hundreds more such suits have since been filed."[10] On June 16, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to discontinue use of nasally administered versions of Zicam because of a "serious risk" of anosmia associated with the product. According to the FDA approximately 130 Zicam users reported a loss of smell since 1999.[12] The FDA also issued a warning letter to Matrixx, stating that the products cannot be marketed without FDA approval.
The company initially refused to recall its products despite the FDA consumer alert, a "highly unusual event".[10] However, the company later issued a press release indicating that it will withdraw the products from sale. This release stated that, "based on the FDA’s recommendation, consumers should discard any unused product or contact Zicam ... to request a refund."[13] Still, the company found the FDA action unwarranted. William J. Hemelt, acting president of Matrixx, stated, "Matrixx Initiatives stands behind the science of its products and its belief that there is no causal link between its Zicam Cold Remedy intranasal gel products and anosmia."[13] He noted "that the most common cause of anosmia is the common cold" itself, and that there is no indication that complaints among Zicam users exceed those "that would be expected in the general population."[13]
References
- ^ Bella J, Rossmann MG., J. Struct Biol. 1999 Dec 1;128(1):69-74, "Rhinoviruses and their ICAM receptors"[1]
- ^ Matrixx Corporate Page[2]
- ^ Gorman, Christine (November 15th, 1999). "Block That Cold!". Time.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Mossad SB., QJM. 2003 Jan;96(1):35-43, "Effect of zincum gluconicum nasal gel on the duration and symptom severity of the common cold in otherwise healthy adults"[3]
- ^ Sid Kirchheimer, WebMD Health News, Jan. 7, 2003, "Zinc Spray Shortens Colds"[4]
- ^ S. Nobel : "Daily Application Of The Homeopathic Remedy Zicam Allergy Relief Significantly Improves The Quality Of Life And Impairment In Patients With Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis", The Internet Journal of Family Practice, 2000, Volume 1 Number 1[5]
- ^ A Homoeopathic Proving of Galphimia glauca[6]
- ^ Description of Histaminum Hydrochloricum[7]
- ^ Luffa operculata L. COGN Sponge Cucumber[8]
- ^ a b c Harris, Gardinier (June 16, 2009). "FDA Warns Against Use of Zicam". New York Times.
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-08-01-zicam_N.htm
- ^ "FDA Advises Consumers Not To Use Certain Zicam Cold Remedies: Intranasal Zinc Product Linked to Loss of Sense of Smell". U.S. Food and Drug Administration. June 16, 2009.
- ^ a b c "MATRIXX INITIATIVES VOLUNTARILY WITHDRAWS ZICAM COLD REMEDY SWABS, ZICAM COLD REMEDY NASAL GEL". Matrixx Corporation. June 16, 2009.