Got a cold? DON'T USE ZICAM.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

Leaving You Senseless?

Last Update: 6/26/2007 4:55 pm

By Investigator Lisa Fletcher
ABC15.com

You're sick with a cold and desperate to feel better.

You buy an over-the-counter remedy and trust it's safe.

But this popular homeopathic spray - called Zicam - is not approved by the FDA for safety or effectiveness.

Carolyn Chingros is one of hundreds of people who claim they used it and it destroyed their sense of taste and smell.

"I squirted it in my nose and as soon as I did I just literally hit the floor. It was such a burning pain like I had never experienced, my whole face felt like it was on fire."

Shortly after, she went to her doctor. "He said Zicam should not be on the market and then he took my hands and said I'm so sorry. I said what do you mean 'I'm so sorry' and he said you have permanent nerve damage."

News article.

Video.


So yeah, don't use this shit, unless you want to risk losing 2 of your 5 senses for the rest of your life.

[corriganjoshua]

Ohh Snap! Thats crazy, looks like no more Zicam for me.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

I use Mucinex nasal spray, which does the same thing Zicam does (clearing your sinuses, that is). But now I'm gonna check the box really carefully before I use it again to see if it's FDA approved...just to be safe.

Shit's scary.

[corriganjoshua]

Originally Posted by SHIFT_*grind*

I use Mucinex nasal spray, which does the same thing Zicam does (clearing your sinuses, that is). But now I'm gonna check the box really carefully before I use it again to see if it's FDA approved...just to be safe.

Shit's scary.

Yeah it will definitely make you a little more aware of what the hell your putting into your body hearing what that stuff has done thats for sure. And to think I never ever thought to look and see if it was FDA approved makes me feel terrible.

[osus14]

Originally Posted by SHIFT_*grind*

I use Mucinex nasal spray, which does the same thing Zicam does (clearing your sinuses, that is). But now I'm gonna check the box really carefully before I use it again to see if it's FDA approved...just to be safe.

Shit's scary.

From experience since i had allergies to dust mites sincei was a kid. The only OTC decongestant that works is sudafed. The one with Phenylephrine in it. Don't get the other stuff because it doesn't work. I use a prescription Nasal spray. Yeah but check the box or do a lil googling before you use that stuff. I was addicted to Afrin for a while, it worked great, i kept on using it. But after i was better if i stopped using it, i wouldn't be able to breath out of my nose. Nice find man, i always wondered if Zicam really worked.

[kingkilburn]

As a result of bad legislation and administration the FDA has the power the declare high fructose corn syrup natural(which it most definitely is not) but not the power the regulate medicinal products including these snake oil remedies and weight loss supplements.

[SimpleS14]

I honestly did not know drugs can be placed on the market legally without FDA approval. That is scary stuff...imagine not being able to smell and taste anymore.

[ryguy]

Damn, eating is one of my favorite things to do. I can't imagine not being able to tase. I use Afrin all the time, I better check to see if it has zinc in it.

[98s14inaz]

Originally Posted by kingkilburn

As a result of bad legislation and administration the FDA has the power the declare high fructose corn syrup natural(which it most definitely is not) but not the power the regulate medicinal products including these snake oil remedies and weight loss supplements.

I've always had a huge issue with that hypocrisy. In Arizona most schools have the vending machines removed and or filled with "healthy choices". All the "healthy choices" have HFC's in them...gatorade, granola bars, chocolate milk, fake maple syrup, etc. FDA is one of those organizations that needs to be obliterated and re-worked. Corrupt to the core. This zicam thing caught me by surprise. Definitely will be more selective when I use it. It does work, I wouldn't inhale that shit though.

Did you know if you buy the powdered gatorade it does not have HFC's in it?

[pwhitersxs]

Originally Posted by 98s14inaz

I've always had a huge issue with that hypocrisy. In Arizona most schools have the vending machines removed and or filled with "healthy choices". All the "healthy choices" have HFC's in them...gatorade, granola bars, chocolate milk, fake maple syrup, etc. FDA is one of those organizations that needs to be obliterated and re-worked. Corrupt to the core. This zicam thing caught me by surprise. Definitely will be more selective when I use it. It does work, I wouldn't inhale that shit though.

Did you know if you buy the powdered gatorade it does not have HFC's in it?

Does it have sugar?

The Gatorade G2 stuff has sucralose in it. That stuff freaks me out because it is a modified substance and they are putting it in everything! Just because the FDA approves something does not mean it is good for you or cannot cause health problems. The long-term affects of most of these modified substances are not known.

I for one hate modified substances and cannot believed how much they are used. High fructose corn syrup is horrible and I would gladly pay the extra 20 cents for normal sugar to be in products.

[boosted98gst]

Shit I used zicam for the first time last year, when everyone was getting sick, and thought I was also, I seen a commercial on tv about the stuff, and decided to try it, ehhhhhh good thing nothing bad happend to me. And the shit is like 10.99 a box.

[98s14inaz]

Originally Posted by pwhitersxs

Does it have sugar?

The Gatorade G2 stuff has sucralose in it. That stuff freaks me out because it is a modified substance and they are putting it in everything! Just because the FDA approves something does not mean it is good for you or cannot cause health problems. The long-term affects of most of these modified substances are not known.

I for one hate modified substances and cannot believed how much they are used. High fructose corn syrup is horrible and I would gladly pay the extra 20 cents for normal sugar to be in products.

Yes powdered gatorade has sugar of some form in it, real sugar not that fake crap. Think about the last time you watched a pro game that gatorade sponsors. Have you ever seen a pro athlete drink out of a "retail" bottle of gatorade during a game? Nope, powdered gatorade and water in squirt bottles or coolers. They know that HFC stuff isn't good for you.

Sucralose is the generic name for "splenda" which is just as bad for you as nutrasweet.

[emersonLP]

Originally Posted by ryguy

Damn, eating is one of my favorite things to do. I can't imagine not being able to tase. I use Afrin all the time, I better check to see if it has zinc in it.

Like one other guy above said, if you use Afrin too often it will screw your sinuses up worse than they were. I used it a lot and my sinuses started getting raw. Now I just use Flonase.

[flip3d]

The liquid Zicam that you take orally works alright.

[jackjack]

oh damn. well.... i dont use any of that stuff anyway.

[brndck]

airborne/emergen-c ftw.

[ESmorz]

Cold Eeze always does the trick

[Dirty Habit]

I stick with that tussin....

[PRADOgy]

dristan is the best iv ever used.. iv been prescribed for my heavy sinus issues .. due too refusal of surgery.. and Dristan never failed

[eastcoastS14]

Originally Posted by 98s14inaz

I've always had a huge issue with that hypocrisy. In Arizona most schools have the vending machines removed and or filled with "healthy choices". All the "healthy choices" have HFC's in them...gatorade, granola bars, chocolate milk, fake maple syrup, etc. FDA is one of those organizations that needs to be obliterated and re-worked. Corrupt to the core. This zicam thing caught me by surprise. Definitely will be more selective when I use it. It does work, I wouldn't inhale that shit though.

Did you know if you buy the powdered gatorade it does not have HFC's in it?

my cousin had serious stomach problems for a while....it can still flare up on him sometimes but its gone for the most part...but his doctors tried every kind of diet with him, and for a time they told him to not eat high fructose corn syrup...and it was next to impossible cause its in eeeeeverything....shit that you wouldnt even know it was in

[Kaizen.]

I don't get sick because I take pharmaceutical grade nutrional supplements.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

[LB.Motoring]

I use zicam, but the nasal swabs...


I havent noticed anything, I RARELY get sick, I was feeling under the weather once this year and used it, I was maybe sick or close to it for 3/4's of a day.

[Gnnr]

Originally Posted by brndck

airborne/emergen-c ftw.

I wouldn't use that either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airborn...nd_controversy

If you are sick with the common cold, stop being a pussy and let your body fight it without taking medicine for the symptoms. Trust me, this is waaay better. Most medicine just makes it worse and draws it out longer. The most important thing is that you get rest.

[SHIFT_*grind*]

I normally don't take anything when I get a cold, just try to get as much rest as possible and whatnot. My allergies are a bitch though and I frequently go for days where my sinuses are so clogged I can't breathe. Claritin, Sudafed, Benadryl, you name it, it doesn't work for me, except the Mucinex spray. I just shoot it up my nose before bed so I can actually sleep.

[waynehead05]

Oh wow... I'm throwing my Zicam nasal spray away. No problems, but that's scary. No lawsuit can ever fix that either.

[wrapmeup2005]

Originally Posted by kingkilburn

As a result of bad legislation and administration the FDA has the power the declare high fructose corn syrup natural(which it most definitely is not) but not the power the regulate medicinal products including these snake oil remedies and weight loss supplements.

Are there any government departments that aren't corrupt or that actually do anything useful? The government, in this case the FDA isn't here to help us, hell no, just like every other department...money is what drives it. All the medicines that have FDA approval have spent millions of dollars, some for testing and some to the FDA for that special approval. Does that FDA approval make people feel safe? Yah its like a guarentee to make you feel good but have you ever noticed that all these medicines have adverse side effects. There are natural remedies that have been used for thousands of years that actually work but nobody will pay for the FDA approval on a natural medicine. (Same thing as FIA approval, how long has BRIDE been making incredible seats, they know what they are doing but aren't going to pay extra to have some junk sticker that means nothing to them) The FDA will gladly feed us with chemically enhanced meats/dairies/vegetables with a smile on their face because as long as they get some of the profits then nothing is wrong.

Originally Posted by SimpleS14

I honestly did not know drugs can be placed on the market legally without FDA approval. That is scary stuff...imagine not being able to smell and taste anymore.

Lots of drugs are put out on the market without FDA approval, even if there is FDA approval you still have side effects to worry about and even a long term effect that was unable to be tested.

Originally Posted by brndck

airborne/emergen-c ftw.

These conform to DSHEA standards but are not FDA approved.

Lots of pill form medicines in drug stores that are both FDA approved and not are either temporary fixes, a placebo effect, or are even detramental to your health.

Sorry for the rant, sick of the government and the blindfolds they've managed to put over everyone's eyes. My family changed lifestyles after my dad's heart attack 5 years ago and now shop at organic food stores and eat towards our blood type.

[SW20Racer]

i get the feeling a couple people arent up to speed with their vaccination scare yet, (they've been found to be loaded with mercury) or how the flouride in the water your city supplies you is actually causing your brain to be dumber http://www.holisticmed.com/fluoride/

[lucky7]

um. ive been sick for a week. ive been trying everything. my nose was stuffed up, so i tried this shit in the cabinet the other day. burned the shit out of my nose.. guess what it is??? .........................
i wish i was joking. i saw this thread a few times. but i really didnt think anything of it till right now. like two days ago, i was just telling my mom how much being sick sucked because you cant taste food or anything... now im slightly concerned.

[lucky7]

i squirted a shit load into both my nostrils because i couldnt effing breathe. it hurt so bad. i tried to bear it, hoping it would clear the passages. but it didnt. just burned.


i seriously hope this is just the cold fucking with my taste and smell.

[kingkilburn]

If you need to clear your sinuses just use neosinefrin. It doesn't last very long but it really works, is FDA approved, and has no funky side affects.