Homeopathic Drugs - "Remedies" - Potentially Hazardous?

Greg Webb — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Although it was sold for many years as a drug for colds, Zicam Cold Remedy was never tested by federal regulators for safety like many other drugs. Because the drug is considered a “homeopathic remedy,” categorized as a highly diluted drug made from natural ingredients, they can legally be sold without any checks for safety, effectiveness, or even the right ingredients by the federal government. This was perfectly legal until consumers began losing their sense of smell.

Many scientists and health care professionals regard these homeopathic remedies as modern day snake oil, ineffective but mostly harmless because the substances in them are in such small amounts. They are similar to dietary supplements, which use many of the same natural ingredients and are also not tested for safety or benefit. The AP’s analysis of side-effect reports filed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, found more than eight hundred homeopathic ingredients were implicated in health problems last year; complaints ranged from vomiting to attempted suicide.

In the case of Zicam, the FDA tied the drug to 130 cases of consumers losing their sense of smell. Because of this, the agency asked Zicam manufacturer Matrixx Initiatives to stop marketing three products that contain zinc gluconate: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Nasal Swabs, and the discontinued Swabs in Kids' Size. In order for the drugs to be marketed again, the FDA requires they be tested for safety and benefit like other conventional drugs.

Are homeopathic remedies like Zicam effective? Many people swear by them, but is it essentially having a “placebo effect” on them? This writer is highly skeptical of these remedies, but, as long as they are essentially “harmless”, it is effectively just a situation of folks’ throwing away good money on these “remedies”. When the harm shifts from merely economic to real health problems, however, then a true harm to society may be occurring. The latter result may be indicative of a systemic problem requiring some form of intervention and oversight. Because of the number of issues that have arisen over the past decade or so with supplements and remedies, it seems as if we may be seeing a systemic problem, compounded by the greed of manufacturers producing and marketing these products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

Zicam Cold Remedy Should Stop Being Used Says FDA

Greg Webb — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:14:43 GMT

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated via a press release today that consumers should stop using three over-the-counter Zicam Cold Remedy products, including: nasal gel, nasal swabs and the "kids size" swabs (which were discontinued). The reason for the FDA warning is because these products can cause the loss of smell, or "anosmia", which could be permanent.

Anyone who has experienced problems after using the Zicam products should immediately contact a doctor. The loss of smell, while obviously affecting one's quality of life, can be dangerous as well, eliminating one of the senses that protects us from danger.

The FDA does not officially have oversight power over Zicam's manufacturer, Matrixx Initiatives out of Arizona, because Zicam is considered a "remedy" rather than a drug. This is further evidence of the need to regulate the herbal remedy and supplement industry, which may be a ticking timebomb waiting to go off. The fact that these manufacturers have what amounts to a blank check with regard to the products they produce is astounding, not to mention many of the claims they make regarding their products.

Matrixx claims that Zicam is safe and that the allegations are "scientifically unfounded and misleading". Matrixx concedes that about 130 consumers have reported loss of smell since 1999 after using Zicam products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Greg Webb

Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer - Zicam

Homeopathic Drugs - "Remedies" - Potentially Hazardous?

Zicam Cold Remedy Should Stop Being Used Says FDA