Zicam Lawsuit – Zicam Lawyer

Zicam Lawsuit Information

*Important Information about Zicam Lawsuits for Smell Loss*
Pritzker Olsen law firm is is representing several people who lost their sense of smell after using a Zicam Cold Remedy product manufactured by Matrixx International Inc.  Our clients experienced a burning sensation while using the Zicam products and then lost their sense of smell. Read about Zicam smell loss (anosmia).

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On June 16, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to stop using three products marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies after they were associated with the loss of smell (anosmia). The three products are:

• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)

According to the FDA, it received more than 130 reports of loss of smell associated with the use of the three Zicam products. A subsequent media account reported that Matrixx failed to alert the FDA about 800 reports it received from Zicam users who told the company they lost their sense of smell after use of the product.

In response to the FDA warning letter, Matrixx withdrew Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel from the marketplace.  Read about the Zicam recall.

In 2004, the physician authors of an article in the American Journal of Rhinology concluded that:

“…The temporal association of the use of intranasal zinc gluconate with the development of severe partial or total loss of the sense of smell raises significant concern regarding its safety for intranasal application in humans. Given the prevalence of viral URIs, the strong desire of patients for symptomatic relief and the widespread availability and marketing of OTC products for this purpose, there is the potential for a very large number of people to be exposed to intranasal zinc gluconate…The public may assume that because intranasal zinc gluconate is sold as on OTC ‘patented, homeopathic’ preparation containing a ‘natural,’ or even ‘essential’ element, that it is safe. This report raises important questions about that generalization…”

According to the same journal article, direct application of zinc to the inside of the nose was known to be toxic over sixty years ago.

The result of that toxicity – loss of smell – is a serious problem affecting the quality of life for users of these products. As the FDA warning noted, “We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason.”

This is very strong language from the FDA and presumably reflects the agency’s concern about the safety of these Zicam products and the failure by Matrixx to report the hundreds of complaints it received.

Pritzker Olsen first became aware of the problems associated with this product over two years ago when a potential client contacted us to report loss of smell immediately following first use of Zicam.  We have been following the legal and medical issues associated with Zicam Cold Remedy products and welcome this long overdue action on the part of the FDA.

Our Zicam cases share the following characteristics:

1. Immediate, severe burning sensation in the nose after use of Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel or Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs followed by a significant reduction in the ability to smell and to detect odors (hyposmia) along with either smelling odors that are not present (parosmia) or absence of the sense of smell (anosmia)
2. Previously normal sense of smell and taste
3. No other causative history to account for the loss (e.g. previous sinus surgery, chronic sinusitis, non-cancerous nasal growths, use of other potentially toxic medications, head injuries, exposure to toxic fumes and sprays, etc.)

Zicam Lawsuit: Proving Your Case

Proving a case of loss of smell caused by Zicam products requires information about you that helps us rule out other causes for this condition. Thus, in addition to the above information, we also need to know:

1. When you used Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs or Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)
2. When you first developed symptoms
3. Where (In what state) you were living at the time you used the product
4. Proof of product purchase/use (e.g. sales slips, credit card statements, etc.)
5. Your age at the time you used Zicam products
6. Whether your doctor attributes your loss of smell to Zicam (or some other source or cause)
7. Whether you have any other condition or exposure known to affect your sense of smell (allergies, illegal drug use, chronic smoke exposure, surgery or treatment involving face, head or neck, sinusitis, etc.)
8. When you first knew or suspected your loss of smell may be due to use of Zicam products

If you suffered loss of smell following use of Zicam products, we would like to speak with you about a Zicam lawsuit. Please contact us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free consultation form.  If we agree to represent you, our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you.

the managing attorneys for our Zicam cases are Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen.