North Carolina Man Among Hundreds of Alleged Zicam Victims

David Richardson of Greensboro, North Carolina says he is forced to live life “like watching a sunset in black in white” after losing his sense of smell as a result of using the popular Zicam Cold Remedy products.

“The things that you take for granted, not only smelling fresh-cut grass or bread in the oven, you miss those parts of your life,” Richardson, 46, is quoted as saying in an Associated Press report. “There’s not a day that goes by that you’re not reminded of it.”

Three brands of Zicam remedies – Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and children’s doses of the nasal swaps – are the subject of a new Food and Drug Administration warning about the risks of developing anosmia, also known as loss of the sense of smell.

Since 1999, at least 130 people have lost their sense of smell after using one of the Zicam products, the FDA said. The Zicam therapies never were reviewed or approved by the FDA because they are so-called homeopathic therapies, such as vitamins, herbal remedies, and echinacea, which are not considered drugs by the FDA.

However, the FDA has now ordered Matrixx Initiatives, the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based maker of Zicam products, to stop selling them and submit a new-drug application to the agency. Until then, the Zicam products will no longer be available, although a formal FDA recall has not been announced.

Matrixx has offered Zicam users full refunds, agreed to stop all shipments and sales of the products pending FDA review, and said a product recall is possible.

Single Use of Zicam Caused Problems

Richardson can’t help but feel snake-bit, since he says he used Zicam just once for a stuffy nose when his mother, a retired nurse, offered him some. Richardson told the AP that when he held the gel to his nose and inhaled, he immediately felt a burning sensation, but figured his reduced sense of smell was the lingering effects of the cold.

Later, when his cold symptoms improved but not his sense of smell, Richardson became nervous and went to his doctor. At first, no one could figure out what went wrong, but after Richardson searched the Internet and read about lawsuits filed by other Zicam users who claimed they lost their sense of smell, he underwent testing and tentatively connected the problem to Zicam.

Richardson said treatment has allowed him to regain about 20 percent of his former sense of smell. He has consulted with a personal-injury attorney about his legal rights but has yet to file a formal lawsuit against Matrixx.

Earlier Settlements Paid

Although Zicam officials contend their products are perfectly safe, the company has had to open up its wallet before to settle other lawsuits similar to Richardson’s claim.

In 2006, the company agreed to pay $12 million to 340 Zicam users who said the products cost them their senses of smell. The company still faces at least 17 lawsuits and hundreds more claims from patients who have reserved their rights to sue in the future, according to the AP report.

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