Drug stores pulling Zicam, offering refunds
FDA says cold remedy nasal spray can cause loss of smell
By Kent A. Miles
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Pharmacies are pulling the cold remedy Zicam from their shelves following a recommendation from federal health regulators that consumers should stop using a version of the product.
About 130 people since 1999 have reported a loss of smell, in some cases a permanent loss, after using Matrixx Initiatives’ Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The over-the-counter products contain zinc, an ingredient scientists say may damage nerves in the nose needed for smell.
CVS pharmacy began removing the products from the shelves Tuesday night and will refund customers the price of the product, spokesman Mike DeAngelis said Wednesday.
Customers seeking to return a Zicam product to a CVS store would receive a cash refund after producing a receipt.
Rite Aid is also following suit, a spokeswoman said.
“We’re cooperating fully with the recall,” Ashley Flower said. Customers wishing to return the product can do so with or without a receipt, she said.
Walgreens has stopped the selling the affected Zicam product and, like CVS, has quarantined the product from purchase. The products targeted by the FDA continued to appear Wednesday on the pharmacy’s Web site.
“For some reason, if it is there somewhere, if the customer brings it to the register to purchase it, it will not ring up,” media relations spokesman Robert Elfinger said.
Matrixx Initiatives advised consumers on its Web site to discard any unused Nicam nasal product. They can contact Zicam at 877-942-2626 or visit www.zicam.com to request a refund.
The FDA said Zicam Cold Remedy was never formally approved because, as a homeopathic product, it is not required to undergo federal review before launching. Homeopathic products often contain herbs, minerals and flowers.
Matrixx defended the safety of its products, but said late Tuesday it will withdraw them from the market.
Shares of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company plunged to a 52-week low after the FDA announcement, losing more than half their value.
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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