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FDA Says Homeopathic Cure Can Cause Loss of Smell
Hugh Pickens writes "The FDA has advised consumers to stop using Matrixx Initiatives' Zicam Cold Remedy nasal gel marketed over-the-counter as a cold remedy because it is associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia) that may be long-lasting or permanent. The FDA says about 130 consumers have reported a loss of smell after using the homeopathic cure containing zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell and health officials say they have asked Matrixx executives to turn over more than 800 consumer complaints concerning lost smell that the company has on file. 'Loss of the sense of smell is potentially life-threatening and may be permanent,' said Dr. Charles Lee. 'People without the sense of smell may not be able to detect life-dangerous situations, such as gas leaks or something burning in the house.' The FDA said the remedy was never formally approved because it is part of a small group of remedies known as homeopathic products that are not required to undergo federal review before launching. The global market for homeopathic drugs is about $200 million per year, according to the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists. Matrixx has settled hundreds of lawsuits connected with Zicam in recent years, but says it 'will seek a meeting with the FDA to vigorously defend its scientific data, developed during more than 10 years of experience with the products, demonstrating their safety.'"
It's a total mass produced, corporate, industrially made drug
Ah, so a drug made by one person is OK, then? How about two people? Ten? At which point does the number of people working in the facility that puts a given chemical into a given form change it from being Good to being Bad? Ah, I see, you're a blowhard nitwit.
Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
That depends on what they're considering proof. I mean, I have great results with things like ecchinacia, which I believe are required to carry warnings that there is absolutely no proof that they do anything at all. Hell, even the best OTC sleep aids I've ever used (Valerian) are required to carry a warning that they have had no real FDA research. I mean, sure, we probably wouldn't lose anything more than just convenience drugs, but it would take quite a while for the research to go through and prove anything at all. And you have questions like, if it seems to work on 1% of the population, does that count? And would there even be enough money to make it worth getting these things certified? I mean at under $10 a bottle, I'm sure these things are profitable, but nowhere near the $20+ per pill mark that most prescription drugs hit...or the $1+ per pill of most OTC drugs. Most of the herbal and homeopathic stuff works out to be closer to $0.20 a pill. Even generic brand cold OTC cold pills tend to be several times that.