On June 16, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory, warning consumers to stop using the following three products manufactured by the company Matrixx Initiatives:

• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size

The three products all contain zinc, which has been shown to cause anosmia (smell loss) when it makes contact with the olfactory nerve in the nose. The FDA’s warning can be found here.

While the FDA warning is a step in the right direction, the fact is that the risks associated with zinc nasal sprays have been known for many years. In 2005, Roger Booth of Booth & Koskoff filed a lawsuit against Quigley Corporation, the manufacturer of Cold-Eeze Nasal Spray (another zinc-based nasal spray), alleging that the product caused Mr. Booth’s client to lose his sense of smell. After litigation in federal court that involved the depositions of Quigley’s CEO and Medical Director, and reports from medical experts, the case settled for a confidential amount.

When the connection between its product and anosmia came to light, Quigley Corporation took its zinc nasal spray off the market. However, Matrixx Initiatives, the maker of Zicam, continued to sell its zinc nasal spray, despite having full knowledge of the risks.

Booth & Koskoff is currently investigating numerous cases of smell loss caused by Zicam products. The firm has experience handling many pharmaceutical cases, including both prescription and over-the-counter medications.