Zicam Cold Remedy Recall Puts Homeopathic Drugs in the Spotlight; Are These Treatments Really Safe?

Ever since last week, when three brands of Zicam Cold Remedy products were blamed for causing dozens of users to lose their sense of smell and pulled from the market, many consumers have been asking “what exactly is a homeopathic drug?”

Zicam and other homeopathic drugs are highly diluted drugs that are made from plants and other natural ingredients. They do not carry explicit claims of medical benefits and are not subjected to the same pre-marketing Food and Drug Administration research and testing as conventional medications.

The FDA has established manufacturing standards for homeopathic drugs, just as it has for conventional drugs. But unlike conventional drugs, homeopathic medications are not required to verify their ingredients or the amounts of ingredients used to the FDA. Even dietary supplements, such as pills, powders, and other products for weight-loss, energy, and muscle-building, must verify their ingredients.

Homeopathic products and dietary supplements are not always required to prove that they are safe and effective for use before they are approved by the FDA.

Just like conventional drugs, homeopathic products such as Zicam Cold Therapy products must state on their labeling which conditions they are designed to treat. But as far as proving they are safe and effective for treating that condition, that’s not necessary.

As we saw with the Zicam Cold Remedy situation, when the FDA receives reports of problems associated with the use of homeopathic drugs, the agency can step in and order the products pulled from the market.

The FDA reported last week that it had received 66 reports of people losing their senses of smell since 1999 when Zicam products debuted. However, the company later admitted that it did not forwarded to the FDA another 800 reports of users losing their sense of smell it had received, which greatly increases the number of potential victims.

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