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Loss of Smell and Cold-Eeze

Hundreds of lawsuits around the country are alleging the loss of smell and Cold-Eeze and other zinc nasal sprays. Zinc lozenges and oral sprays have been shown in some studies to shorten the duration of colds by a few days, but the effectiveness of nasal zinc products are mixed. Just over a year on shelves, the Quigley Corporation discontinued making its nasal spray in September 2004, claiming financial reasons, though critics believe reports of loss of smell and Cold-Eeze and the fear of liability were a lot of the motivation.

According to Cold-Eeze advertising, the line of products contains zinc gluconate glycine, a formula consistently proven to be effective in helping to reduce the duration of the common cold by up to 42 percent. Citing recent studies at Dartmouth, the Cleveland Clinic and Heritage Schools, Inc. as reinforcing the effectiveness of zinc gluconate glycine, Cold-Eeze products are marketed as 100 percent natural.

When Quigley discontinued its nasal spray, complaints that the loss of smell and Cold Eeze were occurring and the FDA had said it was reviewing the complaints. In the midst of the investigation, Quigley filed a financial notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission to discontinue the nasal spray "because the product has not developed into a viable entry in the nasal spray cold remedy category."

In February 2005, the FDA said it was still evaluating complaints related to zinc nasal sprays, but some safety experts think that more studies must be performed in order to determine if loss of smell and Cold-Eeze and other nasal sprays exist. In the absence of strict FDA regulation, as well as no rigorous studies allowing definitive scientific evidence on the risks of the products, if reports of loss of smell and Cold- Eeze are accurate, the booming zinc nasal spray category is potentially posing a high risk for arguable benefits.

Sales of homeopathic products have taken off since they have been placed on shelves among other cold remedies. To many consumers, intermingling the products can be confusing, especially if trying to discern what type of studies are available to weigh benefits and risks. In the case of Cold-Eeze nasal sprays, when loss of smell and Cold-Eeze reports were being made, Quigley claimed its product was safe.

Before the product was discontinued, a spokesman for the company said there were no reports of problems among 80 people involved in a study of Cold-Eeze, but homeopathic remedies do not have to go through the approval process like over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications. Only if the FDA proves they are unsafe will the products be removed from the market, a source of controversy especially after the 1997 withdrawal of the diet pill cocktail fen phen.

Currently, 2.5 million Americans are believed to suffer from a partial or complete loss of smell, according to the National Institutes of Health. Even though some consumers no longer face the possible risk of loss of smell and Cold-Eeze, other high selling zinc nasal sprays remain on the market. Loss of smell and Cold-Eeze reports are thought, by some scientists, to occur because of zinc's astringent effect that can damage cells in the nasal cavity controlling the sense of smell.

Doctors around the country report seeing patients that have complained of a burning sensation followed by the loss of smell after using a zinc nasal spray, but until more studies are performed, the link will continue to be argued.

For more information on loss of smell and Cold-Eeze, please contact us.

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