Techipedia | Tamar Weinberg - Latest Comments in Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

tamar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:33:21 -0000

Tom, you really think only 130 people claimed to have lost their sense of smell? I think the FDA only caught wind of 130 offical complaints, but I'm sure there are thousands. I didn't realize I could contact the FDA, for example -- all I used was Google, only to lead me to that page on the 1+ year old class action lawsuit.

One billion is a high number -- care to cite your source on that?

If there's a higher chance that a human will be struck by lightning, then I wonder what the chances are that both father (mine, who also lost his taste from Zicam) and daughter would be struck by lightning!

Please stop defending them. Their product may be effective for some, but for others, all I have to say is that Zicam sucks.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Tom — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:27:38 -0000

Let’s review:

There have been around ONE BILLION doses of Zicam sold in the past 10 years and around 130 people claim to have lost their sense of smell. Do the math. There is a greater chance that a human will be struck by lightning than lose their sense of smell using Zicam.

Wise up! This is about the AMA and the huge pharmaceutical companies not liking the fact that more and more people were using Zicam and finding out how well it works.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Johnny — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:29:44 -0000

Thanks Tamar for your posts! You have been out there "preaching" Zicam was causing loss of smell and taste and now the FDA is too. Good job for putting up with the dumb ass people who rant rather than study the facts. I threw my Zicam away. I saw a news program ask, "What is the best thing to do instead of taking Zicam?" The answer was, "Eat chicken soup!" Grandma was right! She said to eat chicken soup and she can still smell! I also know taking Vitamin C helps me, but make sure you can take Vitamin C. Anway Tamar, thanks again for standing up and warning all of us!

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

tamar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:45:25 -0000

WOOOWWW, so what do you say to those who can smell just fine and can't taste a thing?

And further, what do you say about today's FDA announcement?

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

WOOOWW — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:42:15 -0000

omg guys i have a cold and i cant taste anything?!? im gonna blame the medicine for taking away my taste.
Our sense of smell in responsible for about 80% of what we taste.
Without our sense of smell, our sense of taste is limited to only five distinct sensations: sweet, salty, sour, bitter and the newly discovered “umami” or savory sensation. All other flavors that we experience come from smell.
This is why, when our nose is blocked, as by a cold, most foods seem bland or tasteless.
research before you complain, kthnx.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

tamar — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 08:44:56 -0000

Mike, it's hard to screw up the proper dosage of the oral mist which is the actual medicine that made me lose my taste temporarily. You're talking about nasal spray; I specifically mentioned that the oral mist was the product that caused the problem. ( If you overdosed, that's your only mistake, but all (?) of us didn't.)

While I understand you have good intentions, you're telling us to read the directions. I'm telling you to READ THIS POST because I never talked about the nasal spray. Don't assume that thousands of individuals lost their senses of smell and taste because they can't read. Maybe it actually is a chemical issue with the medication after all.

I know it works for some people, but clearly, it doesn't work for others. That's the bottom line. You're lucky it helped you. Not all of us are that fortunate.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Voltmonkey — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:31:57 -0000

OK, I've used Zicam dozens of times, and it's my miracle cold cure! The bottle has directions on it, and if you follow the directions, it works marvellously. If you try to snort the Zicam like you do a nasal spray, it will burn like fire. Don't snort it. Just get the drop (gel) into the nose, and pinch your nose shut for 30 seconds. Don't tilt your head back either. I think that's the problem with most people who've tried it is that they try to snort it up into their sinuses like sinus spray. Bad move. If they don't follow the manufacturer's directons for use, then they deserve to lose their sense of smell and taste for using a product in a manner inconsistent with it's labelling. That's just someone's stupidity being hung around the neck of a very well meaning company that makes a great product. Just like that stupid lady who put the hot McDonald's coffee between her legs and tried to drive her car. What a Dumb Sh1t. People are stupid and interpret things incorrectly because they lack common sense. If all else fails, READ THE DIRECTIONS.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

KJR — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:38:40 -0000

@ Give me a Break:
It's five months since I used Zicam one time and burned my olfactory nerve. Whatever I can smell or taste is distorted, and in many cases nauseating. Quite frankly I would rather be in bed with a cold for a few short days than suffer the aggravation and stress that this one time use has caused me for five long months.
Please try to have a little compassion.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

tamar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:43:09 -0000

"Give me a break," anyone in their right mind isn't going to use Zicam for more than one or two doses, thus not getting to the point where Zicam actually combats a cold or effectively addresses the cold symptom.

Ironically the "hooey" you speak of has affected hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

give me a break — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:23:51 -0000

sounds like hooey to me. even if you temporarily lost your sense of taste or smell, i'm sure that is counterweighted by the loss of cough or other cold symptom.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

MBW — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:22:45 -0000

I use Zicam all the time and have never had a problem...I love it and view it as a miracle drug, at least for me. For those of you who HAVE had a problem, I have a suggestion...

There is a drug called *Periactin*, which is an antihistamine...my son had chemotherapy which effected his taste buds...nothing tasted good, things tasted very metallic. After speaking with other parents, several suggested trying Periactin. It worked great...it normalized his taste buds within just a few days and got him eating again. (He is doing great now, over two years out from diagnosis)

Periactin is available in generic form and is very inexpensive. I am not sure if it will work, but is worth a try.

Like other anti histamines, it can make you a little tired, so it is best to take before bedtime.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

EDPD — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:06:26 -0000

i just got some zicam today and took it for the first time. hope i dont get any of these symptoms. I got the RapidMelt kind and it tastes awful

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

KMJ — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:03:11 -0000

KJR this really alarms me. I used Zicam on Dec 18 and had severe burning in my nose for about 3 hours after that no sense of taste or smell. 3 days later and I occasionally get a very brief whiff or taste of something. Since Dec 20 the doctor has me on prednisone for 6 days. I am so hopeful it comes back but I hear stories like yours and I dont hear stories that anyone experienced the burning and has recovered. Have you heard of anyone regaining their sense of smell? I love to cook and smell candles and the scents of nature...I worried

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

KJR — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:52:50 -0000

Sorry that Facebook Group should be:

Warning! Don't Use Zicam!

Thanks.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

KJR — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:52:03 -0000

I used the Zicam nasal gel (original spray bottle) once a little over four months ago, and have been in smell/taste hell ever since. The immediate reaction was crazy burning, then I realized I had absolutely no smell or taste at all. Within 24 hours I was at the ENT, and was put on prednisone to reduce inflammation. The two ENTs I have been to are both surprised that this product is still on the market. They have seen too many patients come to their offices with the same injury.
Any recovery to date has been minimal, and what I do taste or smell now, tastes/smells terrible. I hope that this will change over time, but I still can't smell my delicious children or my lovely husband. I try to look on the brightside - no smell at all when my two and a half year threw up all over my car last week! - but it's hard to be chipper when I can't even enjoy a glass of wine with friends.
I have started a group on Facebook called Warning! Don's Use Zicam. I urge you to join.
Tamar - I wish you well and hope things start to improve. Stay positive!

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

ZiICAM Petition — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:19:14 -0000

It may be a great product for you. But there are hundreds of people effected the same way by the use of Zicam. The loss of smell and taste is devastating. And until you walk in their shoes you really don't have the knowledge or understanding of the situation to respond with a comment that infers that they are making it up. Why would they? There are plenty of medical problems and/or effects of drugs that cannot be seen, but that does not negate their existence. Why not have a little compassion for those who have suffered at the hands of a company who does not care enough to at least warn their paying customers of the potential harm?

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

bev codner — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:01:21 -0000

one other thing how can you prove you lost your taste buds or sense of smell ? is it like you cant prove your back doesnt hurt? i think its hogwash.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

bev codner — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:56:18 -0000

but i do have to say when one hears somebody complain about a product they say oh i think i had that too. just too much time on their hands, its a great product.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

bev codner — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:53:17 -0000

guess it would make a good diet product too lol

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Annice Brown — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:28:48 -0000

As flu season approaches, I use a wildcrafted remedy called Immune Blend from Red Moon Herbs in North Carolina. It's a small local company using the highet quality of ingredients. It's a tincture, take it for 6 weeks - stop for 6 weeks and then the flu season is over. Great stuff and totally affordable.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

tamar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:28:02 -0000

I'm not sure if it's specific to zinc. I've taken Airborne many times and I have also taken Cold-Eeze before (I *hate* the taste of zinc). I'm not sure what it was, but I don't think it was zinc related because I never encountered this problem until I actually tried Zicam.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

Nothing without God — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:25:22 -0000

I've taken Cold-Eez and Airbourn numerous times and though I can't say they really work (the last time I took them I ended up in the hospital with a super severe cold).
As I type right now I have Zicam in both nostriles and I've been taking it for 3 days. My wife has taken Zicam as well. No issues with taste or smell. My guess is that some people have a reaction to zinc.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

ZICAM Petition — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:36:44 -0000

We've tried everything; doctors testing and medicnes to eastern remedies and acupuncture to repair the Zicam caused anosmia. We've contacted the FDA, and lawyers and the media. Best we can do now is to try to get the word out. Tell your family and friends and get them all to sign the petition at ipetitions.com Seach for Zicam. Maybe we can stop the next user from becoming a victim.

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

curtis — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:12:49 -0000

i took zicam 3 days ago and i love granny apples and now when i eat em they taste bitter and hot wings taste burnt even a margrita tasted nasty and it was even straberry i thought it was cause i was sick but im better now and everything i eat taste nothing like it did i wish i read this before useing it is there anything i can do this is bull *&^%

Re: Zicam and the Reputation Management Fiasco

ZICAM Petition — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:25:18 -0000

I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I recently
signed:

"ZICAM REMOVAL FROM SHELVES"
http://www.ipetitions.com/p...

I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add
your signature, too. Please encourage others
to sign the petition as well. It's free and takes less than a minute of your
time.

Thanks!