Zicam is a lifesaver...

pickledpepperRN · Feb 4, 2005

I use it too. I keep the candy like lozenges in my car.

At home I have the nasal spray.

So far I havent had more than a runny nose in over five years (when it first came out).

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/58/66373.html?src=Inktomi&condition=Cold%20and%20Flu

Zinc Spray Shortens Colds

Duration Slashed Up to Half in Those Who Began Treatment Within 48 Hours

By Sid Kirchheimer

WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD

on Tuesday, January 07, 2003

Jan. 7, 2003 -- New research suggests that the length and severity of a cold may be cut in half when treatment with a zinc nasal spray is started within two days of the onset of symptoms.

In previous studies that showed relief from the use of such zinc sprays, significant relief was achieved only when these products were used within the first 24 hours of the first signs of sniffling, congestion, hoorificeness, and sore throat, says study researcher Sherif B. Mossad, MD, FACP, FIDSA, of The Cleveland Clinic.

"No one really knows why zinc works, but there are several theories," he tells WebMD. "My feeling, and the leading theory, is that the zinc blocks the cold virus from combining with surface proteins that trigger symptoms."

In his study, published in the January issue of the medical journal QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, patients using Zicam, an over-the-counter nasal spray, cut the length of their colds an average of 1.5 days compared with those treated with a placebo. However, some patients slashed their cold duration in half -- from six days to only three.

The study was paid for by the makers of Zicam, a spray that sells for about $10 and is available at most drug stores.

This study, which involved 80 patients who were in their first two days of a new cold, is now the sixth to show that colds could be shorter and less severe when using over-the-counter products containing zinc, says Mossad, an infectious diseases specialist. But eight other published studies showed no benefit from using these products. Three of those trials showing relief involved the use of nasal sprays, and one has shown use of the spray could halve a cold's duration, but only when taken in the first day of illness.

"The spray contains the same type of zinc gluconate that is in lozenges [such as Cold Ease], but I cannot say whether there is an advantage of using a spray administered in the nose over something that is put in the mouth," he tells WebMD. "I think it's a matter of personal preference. I've tried both and think that people could probably consider one of them to shorten the length of a cold. But theoretically, a spray might be better because colds originate in the nose and eyes, so if you take action at the point of entry, I would think that might be an advantage."

His study did not compare the benefit of sprays vs. lozenges.

The finding did not surprise Sabrina Sobel, PhD, of Hofstra University, a researcher who co-authored several papers examining how zinc lozenges affect cold symptoms and duration.

"In our studies, the best benefit came when the lozenges were taken within 24 hours of the first sign of symptoms, cutting colds by almost in half," she tells WebMD. "If you take zinc lozenges within 48 hours, there was some relief, but not as dramatic -- it cut cold duration by only about one-third."

She says that zinc acts as a physical barrier that prevents viruses from gaining entry into cells that line the nose and throat, "sort of like clogging a keyhole with a lot of pieces of sand. Every zinc ion acts like a piece of sand."

In Mossad's study, half of the participants -- all between ages 18 and 55 -- used the spray four times daily in each nostril, beginning within 48 hours of the first onset of symptoms; the others received a placebo. The participants did not know which they received. Those using the spray not only got over their colds more quickly, but they showed measurable improvement in most symptoms, especially a reduction in nasal drainage and congestion, hoorificeness, and sore throat.

Nasal stinging or burning was the most reported side effect. No study to date has examined how zinc products affect children, who typically have up to six colds a year -- about three times as many as adults.

"I think the message is that you need to take action fairly quickly, within the first 48 hours of the beginning of a cold, because beyond that, the benefit will be minimal," says Mossad. "However, all previous evaluations [of zinc spray] showed effectiveness of treatment that was started in the first 24 hours of symptoms. With our study, the treatment could be started as late as the second day of illness."

Use of a zinc product does not help prevent colds, he adds, and long-term ingestion of excess amounts of this trace element can weaken immunity and may decrease levels of HDL "good" cholesterol.

mitchsmom · Feb 4, 2005

I SWEAR by this stuff!! I have taken it when I feel a cold coming on for about 4 years and I have only had about one full blown cold since then. I used to get several per year. I find that I have to keep taking it a few times a day during the time that the cold is trying to attack to keep it fended off but like I said, I swear by the stuff!!

My husband is a convert too but he hates the nasal gel so he uses the mouth spray that they have.

markbeast · Feb 5, 2005

I SWEAR by this stuff!! I have taken it when I feel a cold coming on for about 4 years and I have only had about one full blown cold since then. I used to get several per year. I find that I have to keep taking it a few times a day during the time that the cold is trying to attack to keep it fended off but like I said, I swear by the stuff!!
My husband is a convert too but he hates the nasal gel so he uses the mouth spray that they have.

I'm all about Airborne.. but I like things that bubble a whole bunch.

My wife had a nasty cold last week, coughed all over me nearly every night.. Didn't get one symptom. I take it whenever(within reason) I feel like I have been exposed to a cold virus and am not able to immediately wash my hands. Gets a little expensive though. I have only has one cold in the past 2 years...

KrisRNwannabe · Feb 5, 2005

I am also a faithful Zicam user. i, however, use the chewy things. they taste like strawberries sort of. but the same results. i felt like i was going to get to a cold a couple of times but took the zicam and never even got a sniffle!! love the stuff. i don't care how much it costs.

Kris

TracyB,RN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

I also swear by Zicam.... I would say it works 9 out of 10 times for me.... except for this week.... I started it on Sunday, didn't take it as often as I usually do & missed a few days... Well, yesterday, full blown cold s/s... DAMN... oh well. I think it really does help, when you use it per bottle instructions. I use the nasal spray, & have a slight burning sensation, but I would rather have that than a cold. I have used the nasal swabs on my kids, b/c they refuse the spray, & none of us can stand the taste of the oral stuff....

NurseFirst · Feb 5, 2005

Tbere have been a number of folks who have come out with zinc cold "remedies" (preventers, really). I've known about zinc lozenges for so long I can't even remember when I first heard about them. My guess is that you can find some zinc lozenges for far less than the $10 zicam.

I wish I'd been smart like Cold-Eze and tried to market it the stuff...!!!

fotografe · Feb 5, 2005

I would be very wary of the Zicam spray. I used it once, lost my sense of smell completely for over 2 months, and now have impaired sense of smell. I would stick with the lozenges. The only upside to all this, my husband smells my sons dirty diaper first, so first smeller get to change it!

mitchsmom · Feb 5, 2005

Tbere have been a number of folks who have come out with zinc cold "remedies" (preventers, really). I've known about zinc lozenges for so long I can't even remember when I first heard about them. My guess is that you can find some zinc lozenges for far less than the $10 zicam.
I wish I'd been smart like Cold-Eze and tried to market it the stuff...!!!

I used to take zinc before I found Zicam and it didn't have as good of an effect for me.

fotografe, I saw an article in the media about someone who had the impaired sense of smell from it, but I've never had any side effects myself. Sorry that happened to you, pretty serious effect really. What percent smelling ability do you think you have now?

fotografe · Feb 5, 2005

It is hard for me to guess how much of my sense of smell remains as I do not realize I am not smelling things until someone points it out to me. I guess I should be tested or something. I was just terrified in the beginning that I would never smell ANYTHING again. For the 2 months that I could not smell at all, I would sit with my infant son in my lap desperately trying to smell his hair -- one of my favorite smells. One day I got a faint whiff of it. It got better for a few weeks and I thought I was fine. Then my husband would cook a garlic monstrosity and my daughter would complain the house stunk, and I could not smell anything. Anyway, I saw that there are swabs for kids, and I would not use this stuff on them. Especially the young ones who would not be able to tell you they can not smell anything.

I used to take zinc before I found Zicam and it didn't have as good of an effect for me.
fotografe, I saw an article in the media about someone who had the impaired sense of smell from it, but I've never had any side effects myself. Sorry that happened to you, pretty serious effect really. What percent smelling ability do you think you have now?

oregonrene · Feb 5, 2005

I would be very wary of the Zicam spray. I used it once, lost my sense of smell completely for over 2 months, and now have impaired sense of smell. I would stick with the lozenges. The only upside to all this, my husband smells my sons dirty diaper first, so first smeller get to change it!

My doctor warned me against using Zicam for this very reason. He said it has been linked to damage of olfactory nerves. He was actually surprised it's still on the market.

:confused: