Preventing Anosmia from Intranasal Zinc Administration

Anosmia Defined

What is anosmia? By definition in the UNESCO/IUBS/EUBIOS Bioethics Dictionary, QUOTE: "ANOSMIA: (Greek a + osme 'without smell'). 'Odor blindness' - the total loss or impairment of the sense of smell. Anosmia may be temporary resulting, for example, from an obstructive respiratory infection or a blow on the head which may damage the olfactory receptors, or be permanent as a result of an irreversible damage to any part of the olfactory apparatus. Sometimes anosmia (the so called specific anosmias) does not involve a total loss or reduction of the sense of smell but is instead specific to particular substances; for example, 3% of the population has trouble smelling the odor of sweat, 12% have diminished sensitivity to musky odors. It is important to note that anosmia may be induced by injuring the olfactory receptors consequent to inhaling caustic substances such as lead, zinc sulfate, or concentrated matter such as cocaine." UNQUOTE.

Here is eMedicine's discussion of taste and smell abnormalities. Search for the word "zinc". Here is the American Academy of Family Physicians page, showing some interesting graphics of the inner nose.

Evidence that Intranasal Zinc Can Cause Extreme Pain and Anosmia

Extreme intranasal pain immediately after instilling into the nose soluble and ionizable zinc compounds like zinc sulfate and zinc gluconate is an indicator that the olfactory region has been contaminated with rhinotoxic amounts of zinc. If this pain occurs and does not rapidly resolve, it may be treated by nasal irrigation in an attempt to remove the zinc as described here. Although incidence of anosmia from intra-nasal zinc administration of common cold remedies (the only commercial products that use intranasal zinc) is quite rare, extreme intranasal (olfactory region) pain is a universal precursor, and must be treated immediately in the hope of preventing persistent, perhaps permanent, anosmia. Anosmia in children and animals seems reversible within several weeks in most cases, treated or not, but there is concern that anosmia induced by intranasal zinc in adults may become persistent and perhaps permanent.

Intranasal zinc solutions have been known to kill the ability to smell by both animals and people for many years. However, there has been no use of intranasal zinc in humans since its brief use in 1938 in an attempt to prevent polio (see below). Due to homeopathic provisions of U.S. Food and Drug Administration laws, these new homeopathic common cold remedy products containing soluble zinc such as zinc sulfate or zinc gluconate have not been required to be approved by the FDA for either safety or efficacy.

There is some medical literature evidence that the problem has occurred in people both in history and today as:

• In this 2009 article by Jae H. Lim (1), Greg E. Davis (1), Zhenshan Wang, Vicky Li (2), Yuping Wu (2), Tessa C. Rue (3), Daniel R. Storm (2) at the (1) Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (2), Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (3), Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America; Zicam-Induced Damage to Mouse and Human Nasal Tissue. the authors found clear evidence that Zicam zinc gluconate nasal gel induced damage to both mouse and human nasal (olfactory) tissues. there abstract reads: "Intranasal medications are used to treat various nasal disorders. However, their effects on olfaction remain unknown. Zicam (zinc gluconate; Matrixx Initiatives, Inc), a homeopathic substance marketed to alleviate cold symptoms, has been implicated in olfactory dysfunction. Here, we investigated Zicam and several common intranasal agents for their effects on olfactory function. Zicam was the only substance that showed significant cytotoxicity in both mouse and human nasal tissue. Specifically, Zicam-treated mice had disrupted sensitivity of olfactory sensory neurons to odorant stimulation and were unable to detect novel odorants in behavioral testing. These findings were long-term as no recovery of function was observed after two months. Finally, human nasal explants treated with Zicam displayed significantly elevated extracellular lactate dehydrogenase levels compared to saline-treated controls, suggesting severe necrosis that was confirmed on histology. Our results demonstrate that Zicam use could irreversibly damage mouse and human nasal tissue and may lead to significant smell dysfunction."
• In PERSISTENT ANOSMIA FOLLOWING ZINC SULFATE NASAL SPRAYING, F.F. Tisdall, M.D., Alan Brown, M.D. and R.D. Defries, M.D. in Toronto, Ontario at the Hospital for Sick Children and the School of Hygiene and Connaught Laboratories, University of Toronto published in the Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 18, No. 1, Pages 60 - 02, July, 1938, the authors found that about 15 percent of the children treated with intranasal zinc sulfate (for polio prevention) developed anosmia. See original 1938 report as graphics here (page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4).
• In THE USE OF ZINC SULFATE SOLUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLIOMYELITIS IN MAN, E.W. Schultz and L.P. Gebhardt of Stanford University published in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 1938, Vol 110, page 2024 correspondence showing their concern that intranasal zinc sulfate nasal treatment to prevent polio might be producing permanent anosmia in adults, although anosmia often seemed to abate within 2 weeks in children. They reported that both the duration and severity of pain and anosmia were much greater in adults than in children.
• In ANOSMIA DUE TO INHALATIONAL ZINC: A CASE REPORT, C.A. DeCook, Hirsch, A.R. Chemical Senses. 25 (2000) 659 (graphic image here) or PDF version, see abstract 225.
• In ANOSMIA ASSOCIATED WITH [censored word] USE, a Power Point poster presented at the Fall 2003 meeting of the American Rhinologic Association by Bruce W. Jafek, Miriam R. Linschoten, and Bruce W. Murrow, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine. The image " jafek.jpg" is presented here. See pages 48 and 49 of the Association's Fall 2003 program here.
• The work by Jafek, Linschoten and Murrow has been published in a peer reviewed medical journal, the American Journal of Rhinology, a leading nose research journal in 2004 in volume 18, pages 137 - 141. Their work expands on their 2003 work and their abstract reads: BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential mineral. Beneficial zinc absorption takes place via enteral, parenteral, or cutaneous routes. However, direct application to the olfactory epithelium has been reported to cause loss of smell. Recently, intranasal zinc gluconate has been recommended as a treatment for the common cold. Severe posttreatment hyposmia and anosmia have been observed. METHODS: The case report of a typical patient is presented and analyzed in detail, followed by a series of patients with severe hyposmia or anosmia after the use of intranasal zinc gluconate. RESULTS: Although interindividual variation in drug response and drug effect is apparent, the severe hyposmia or anosmia appears to be long lasting or permanent in some cases. The mechanism of olfactory loss is thought to be the direct action of the divalent zinc ion on the olfactory receptor cell. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc ions are toxic to olfactory epithelium. Reports of severe hyposmia with parosmia or anosmia have occurred after intranasal use of zinc gluconate. The full text of the article is here. The graphic images of this report are as follows: Page 137, page 138, page 139, page 140, and page 141. Of extreme importance in this article is the statement in the lower left corner of page 139, which reads '...By 1982, Cancalon attributed the "necrotic effect" of various salt solutions to the divalent "zinc cation" in irrigation experiments on the catfish olfactory mucosa, using concentrations of 6 to 960 mM of zinc sulfate. He noted that ZnSO₄ (zinc sulfate) and ZnCl (zinc chloride) were "equally effective in destroying the olfactory epithelium, offering evidence that it was the zinc cation that produces the toxic effects. He reported that the damage was very reproducible, largely concentration independent, and almost completely specific for the olfactory receptor cells...'.
• Alexander and Davidson wrote an article titled "Intranasal zinc and anosmia: the zinc-induced anosmia syndrome." in the September, 2006, edition of Laryngoscope. this is their abstract, or central findings: "OBJECTIVE: Commercial preparations of intranasal zinc gluconate gel are marketed as a remedy for the common cold. However, intranasal zinc has been reported as a cause of anosmia in humans and animals. Seventeen patients presenting with anosmia after the use of intranasal zinc gluconate are described. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective case series of patients presenting to a nasal dysfunction clinic and conducted complete history and physical examination on all patients, including nasal endoscopy. All patients underwent detailed odor threshold and identification testing. RESULTS: Threshold and identification testing revealed impaired olfaction in all patients. Inflammatory and traumatic causes of anosmia were excluded based on history, physical examination, and imaging. All patients diagnosed with zinc-induced anosmia or hyposmia reported sniffing deeply when applying the gel. This was followed by an immediate sensation of burning lasting minutes to hours. Loss of sense of smell was then perceived within 48 hours. Seven of 17 patients never developed symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. CONCLUSIONS: The zinc-induced anosmia syndrome, characterized by squirt, sniff, burn, and anosmia, occurs after the exposure of olfactory epithelium to zinc cation. It can be distinguished from postviral anosmia based on history."

The intranasal zinc as cause of anosmia observations are part of a more general problem caused by several metals in solution when in contact with the olfactory receptors of the nose. In F. W. Sunderman's year 2001 review article "NASAL TOXICITY, CARCINOGENICITY, AND OLFACTORY UPTAKE OF METALS", he reviewed the evidence for injury from intranasally introduced metals (eg, Al, Cd, Co, Hg, Mn, Ni, Zn) in a wide variety of species including man. He also reviewed the evidence that these metals pass via olfactory receptor neurons from the nasal lumen through the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulb of the brain. Furthermore, he reviewed the evidence that some metals (eg, Mn, Ni, Zn) can cross synapses in the olfactory bulb of the brain and migrate via secondary olfactory neurons to distant nuclei of the brain. Some of these metals, such as cadmium and nickel, can produce carcinogenic effects, but not zinc. Graphic images of each page of Sunderman starts here, while a scanned OCR file of Sunderman is here.

Nasal congestion, excessive nasal mucous (particularly from goblet cells in and adjacent to the olfactory receptor tissue) and swelling of the nasal turbinates occurring during a common cold may physically protect olfaction, helping to explain the low incidence of anosmia resulting from administration of doses of intranasal zinc that would otherwise produce extreme intracranial pain and anosmia in as many as 15% of people not having severe nasal congestion.

Some have questioned the importance of olfaction, perhaps in an effort to defuse the intranasal zinc as cause of anosmia issue. Let all be aware that the science of olfaction has strong support in science and medicine. In fact, the 2004 Nobel Prize for medicine and physiology went to Richard Axel, and Linda B. Buck for their discoveries of odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system.

George Eby's Common Cold Research

As the inventor of zinc lozenges for common colds, George Eby does not use, and does not recommend intranasal zinc sprays or pumped gels to treat colds or for any other purpose in humans because his research showed that intranasal zinc sprays did not shorten the duration of colds, and because they caused excruciating intracranial pain if contact with the olfactory region occurred. More recently others have also found poor or null results using intranasal zinc sprays and gels to shorten the duration of colds. Zicam® zinc gluconate nasal gel was found to have no effect in preventing rhinovirus-induced experimental common colds by Turner, a leading U.S. common cold researcher, a finding that only one person challenged, which was easily countered. Even though the positively charged zinc ion has many in vitro effects useful in treating colds, the only report to show intranasal zinc shortened common colds in over 100 years of treating colds with zinc, starting with Merck's 1901 "Manual of the Materia Medica", New York:Merck and Co., page125 and in Merck in 1923, is the report of Hirt. Consequently, the report of Hirt remains unconfirmed and suspect.

All zinc for common cold research articles were reviewed in the first accurate meta-analysis of the subject by Eby, as reported in the February, 2004, issue of Bioscience Reports, in an article entitled "Zinc Lozenges: Cold Cure or Candy? Solution Chemistry Determinants". The abstract reads: Common colds were shortened by 7 days in a 1984 clinical trial using zinc gluconate throat lozenges each 2 h. Between then and 2004, 10 other double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials showed widely varying results. This re-analysis of these trials presents solution chemistry methods to elucidate differences in efficacy. Statistically significant correlation was shown between total daily dosages of positively charged zinc species and reductions in median (p = 0.005) and mean duration (p < 0.02) of common colds in these trials. Part of the discussusion section concerns intranasal zinc for common colds, and it reads in part: "On the other hand, positively charged substances, such as zinc ions, applied on top of the nasal mucous are repelled by electrons flowing from the mouth outward through the nasal and nasal pharyngeal tissues, causing them to be expelled by the mucous and down into the throat. The mouth–nose BCEC also suggests no possibility for meaningfully reducing the duration of colds using intra-nasal zinc without electricity to reverse the mouth–nose BCEC."

George Eby's Painful Experience with Intranasal Zinc

As part of George Eby's research in 1979 using various zinc-related techniques to shorten colds, he prepared a 150 milliMolar solution of zinc gluconate and sprayed it into his nose using an emptied nasal spray bottle. He immediately developed excruciating intracranial pain, a sensation that filled his entire head with the greatest, sharpest, most intense pain he had ever experienced - even to this day over 25 years latter. The pain was worse than passing a kidney stone! It was worse than fire! He immediately and repeatedly irrigated his nose with plain tap water and the pain resolved in about an hour, leaving him in a state of near shock. He used a zinc gluconate concentration 5 times higher than the main U. S. commercial intranasal zinc product, Zicam® zinc gluconate nasal gel .

Only because he irrigated his nose with water to remove the rhinotoxic zinc, did he not become anosmic or develop anosmia or develop any other smell loss or taste loss sensory problem.

In the Quigley vs. Gum Tech (now Matrixx Initiates) patent infringement trial in 2000 in Philadelphia, PA., he testified under oath that more than 10 milliMolar zinc gluconate concentration intranasally sprayed caused nasal pain. My findings of "extreme nasal pain" from 150 mMol intranasal zinc gluconate were read into this Judge's Memoranda before the trial. Also see these archived copies of for the March 9, 2000 and the April 19, 2000 memoranda. In my no-effect clinical trial of 10mMol zinc gluconate isotonic nasal spray and zinc orotate lozenges in 1981 (published in brief in my handbook), some patients complained of nasal pain from the nasal spray. The full 1981 report was recently resurected from CPM files, updated to include these anosmia issues and published in 2006 as shown in the full article located here. However, not until Dennis Christensen notified George Eby in 2003 of his lawsuit against the manufacturer of the intranasal zinc gel product as cause of his anosmia, did he begin to suspect how close he came to causing himself to become anosmic.

Irrigate the Nose! How George Eby Removed Intranasal Zinc Gluconate

See various pages on the Internet for "nasal irrigation". A simple isotonic solution can be made using a teaspoon of table salt (sodium chloride) and a teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a liter of warm water. Here is a page for a high-quality, home-made nasal irrigation formula. In retrospect, he probably should have used isotonic water to treat the astonishing pain of intranasal zinc gluconate, but the pain demanded immediate attention. He certainly could not wait until he traveled to a doctor's office. Nasal irrigation is exactly like it sounds. From the tiny bit of experience collected, it seems imperative to irrigate promptly before permanent damage to the olfactory apparatus occurs. How long is "promptly"? George Eby has no idea, but the pain in his case from 150 mMol zinc gluconate forced him to do it immediately. Here is a page showing various nasal irrigation techniques including the use of a Water-Pic®. George Eby used a Water Pic® daily to rinse out his nasal cavity as part of his normal daily hygiene, although the tip was enlarged by cutting off the end to reduce the pressure but maintain the high flow rate.

Treatment for Intranasal Zinc Induced Anosmia

At this time, George Eby knows of no cure for anosmia due to intranasal zinc after it occurs. The anosmia may be transient, which appears to be the case in small children, or anosmia may be persistent, which appears more likely in adults. In other words, he doubts that permanent anosmia can be prevented or anosmia reversed by any specific medical treatment or procedure if nasal irrigation to remove the zinc gluconate is not immediately performed by the victim.

On the other hand, since George Eby is the only known person to have tried to remove intranasal zinc gluconate through nasal irrigation, who knows if it will or will not work in other people. Schultz and Gebhardt in 1938 suggested, "The risk of inducing a lasting anosmia may possibly be reduced if the zinc sulfate solution is followed within a few minutes by drops of physiologic solution of sodium chloride (meaning isotonic salt water) instilled by the Shahuinian method. This would have the effect of reducing the length of time that a full strength solution of zinc sulfate would be permitted to act, should it tend to be held by capillary attraction in the superior common nasal meatus".

There is no ethical scientific way to experiment with intranasal zinc to see what actually happens in human adults due to the severity of the zinc-anosmia reaction. Judging from the reports of others, the damage in adults appears to last many months or years, and is likely to be life-long in duration. Patients that have become anosmic from intranasal zinc should remain the subjects of investigation and reporting for at least 10 years to generate actual data. Realistically, anosmia from intra-nasal zinc sprays and gels lasting longer than several months in adults or children appears likely to be permanent.

Side effects from drugs are not always seen in clinical trials and are often seen only in large populations. To protect the public concerning these rare events, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set up the "Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program", which should be used to document unexpected adverse reactions, such as anosmia from intra-nasal zinc products.

Capsaicin nasal sprays (Sinus Buster®) are being touted by the manufacturer, SiCap Industries, to restore the sense of smell in people rendered anosmic from various causes, usually inflammation, and that it might help people with intranasal zinc-induced anosmia. Is there clinical evidence? Not yet. None. Not even a single case report for intranasal zinc-induced anosmia. Capsaicin is considered to be a strong neurotoxin by a manufacturer. Capsaicin seems to have quite complex neurochemical effects. While it deceases pain by decreasing substance P levels, and it is frequently used as a treatment of neuropathic pain, it works by differentially modulating substance P in pain pathways. Thus, it is the interaction between substance P and the particular receptor sites that causes either nociceptive (pain causing) or anti-nociceptive (anti-pain causing) effect. In other words, in high doses it causes pain, and at low doses it prevents pain. Yet, no documented evidence that capsaicin has any beneficial effect on anosmia exists, and certainly not for intranasal zinc-induced anosmia.

Zinc Gluconate Chemistry

Distribution of zinc ionic species in the Zn2+ and gluconic acid system. Curves were constructed from pK values shown after the reactions: Zn2+ + L_ <=> ZnL+ (1.62) and ZnL+ + OH_ <=> ZnL(OH)0 (8.14) at a concentration of 30 mMol zinc. The pK values are courtesy of Gerritt Bekendam, Akzo Chemicals BV Research Centre, Deventer, The Netherlands, 1989. The Zn2+ fraction over pH 6 is strongly affected by the second pK value [hydroxide (OH)]. Precipitates of hydroxides of zinc result in supersaturated solutions. Computer-simulated distribution of zinc ionic species is courtesy of solution chemist Guy Berthon, 1992. Zinc gluconate is highly soluble in water, and this computation is directly applicable to Zicam® Zinc gluconate Nasal Gel (Zicam).

The Zicam® Zinc Gluconate Nasal Gel Problem

The mMol zinc concentration of Zicam is claimed to be 33 mMol, which is essentially identical to the concentration of zinc in the computation by Berthon. Sodium hydroxide in Zicam affects the availability of zinc ions dependent upon the pH of Zicam as shown in this figure. The physiologic pH is 7.4 (the pH of nasal tissue, blood, and lymph). The pH of Zicam is stated to be 7.2, and from the figure of Berthon, there should be many zinc ions in Zicam nasal gel. If one were to make a 33 mMol solution of zinc gluconate in a chemistry lab, its taste would be extremely astringent, orally drying and very harsh in taste. [To make an approximate 33 millimolar solution, add one and one half level teaspoons (4.2 grams) of zinc gluconate to a quarter liter (~one-half pint) of water.] Zinc gluconate is 13.14% zinc. Inexplicably, the taste of Zicam zinc gluconate nasal gel is more like "paper" than zinc gluconate and there is no observable astringency. Since astringency (oral drying) is the main marker of positively charged zinc ions in the mouth, absense of astringency suggests that there are no or very few zinc ions in the preparation, which makes understanding how Zicam zinc gluconate nasal gel can cause anosmia (or be efficacious) very difficult. However, since 33 MMol of zinc would be expected to cause massive (at least 20 percent) incidence of anosmia, perhaps the low incidence of anosmia claimed incident to use of Zicam could be expected. The notion of no positively charged zinc ions in Zicam is supported by the following sentence in the Zicam patent U.S. Patent Number 6,673,835: "We have discovered a novel gel composition and method for delivering ionic (negatively charged) zinc and other active substances to the nasal epithelial membrane without encountering the disadvantages normally associated with lozenges." Perhaps there is a mistake?

Regardless, clinical evidence shows that Zicam zinc gluconate nasal gel does cause anosmia, at least in the mouse model and human tissues according to this 2009 clinical trial. The abstract of Lim et al. reported: "Intranasal medications are used to treat various nasal disorders. However, their effects on olfaction remain unknown. Zicam (zinc gluconate; Matrixx Initiatives, Inc), a homeopathic substance marketed to alleviate cold symptoms, has been implicated in olfactory dysfunction. Here, we investigated Zicam and several common intranasal agents for their effects on olfactory function. Zicam was the only substance that showed significant cytotoxicity in both mouse and human nasal tissue. Specifically, Zicam-treated mice had disrupted sensitivity of olfactory sensory neurons to odorant stimulation and were unable to detect novel odorants in behavioral testing. These findings were long-term as no recovery of function was observed after two months. Finally, human nasal explants treated with Zicam displayed significantly elevated extracellular lactate dehydrogenase levels compared to saline-treated controls, suggesting severe necrosis that was confirmed on histology. Our results demonstrate that Zicam use could irreversibly damage mouse and human nasal tissue and may lead to significant smell dysfunction."

Comparative Zinc Sulfate / Zinc Gluconate Chemistry

Zinc sulfate, the zinc compound used in the polio research in the 1930's and in animal research, is similar to zinc gluconate because both are highly soluble and highly ionic in nature, that is they both readily release zinc ions. Zinc sulfate is extremely soluble in water (1.7 kilograms per liter). At the low concentrations used in these experiments and at physiologic pH 7.4, zinc sulfate is believed to be 50% Zn²⁺ and 50% zinc sulfate¹⁺, thus zinc sulfate releases all of its zinc as positively charged zinc. Solutions of zinc sulfate are reported to have a pH of 4.6. Solutions of zinc gluconate are reported to have a pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.5. Zinc sulfate does not react with water to form zinc oxide or sulfuric acid, except at temperatures over 500C (932F) as products of thermal decomposition, conditions that are not applicable to human use. Zinc gluconate is less soluble at 100 grams per liter, and releases only about one half of its zinc as positively charged zinc species (33% Zn²⁺ and 16% Zn Gluconate¹⁺) at physiologic pH 7.4 at 30 millimolar concentration (as shown in the figure above).

Brand Names of Zinc Containing Nasal Sprays

• Zicam® DISCONTINUED This is the latest and last intransal zinc product to be taken off of the U.S. market. They sold 35 million units before being forced off the market by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 19, 2009. Read FDA article here.
• Cold-Eeze® DISCONTINED SEC Filing: "On September 13, 2004, The Quigley Corporation (the "Company") notified its customers of its decision to discontinue the Cold-EEZE(R) Cold Remedy Nasal Spray product..."
• Natra-Bio® zinc has been removed from product
• Zinc Nasal Spray; DISCONTINUED
• Zinaz® DISCONTINUED
• EASEaCOLD DISCONTINUED
• Neti Wash Plus Now advertised to be zinc-free
• Breeze DISCONTINUED
• Air Defense DISCONTINUED
• SYMTEC Cold & Sinus Nasal Spray DISCONTINUED

Known Intranasal Zinc Lawsuits - Some or All have been settled??????

• Dennis Christensen and Debra Christensen v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al.
• ANNABEL BENTLEY, RODNEY C. BRITT, COLLEEN D. BRITT, TERRENCE D. WOODRUFF and CAROL DEE WOODRUFF v. MATRIXX INITIATIVES, INC., ZICAM L.L.C., BOTANICAL LABORATORIES, INC., ABC COMPANIES
• Janie Sutherland, et al. v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., et al.
• Susan Nelson v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., Zicam LLC, Savon Drugs (a subsidiary of Albertons) (2.7 mb .tif file)
• Tammy Ringbaurer v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., Botanical Laboratories, Zensno, Inc., and Zengen, Inc. (1.9 mb .tif file)
• Paige Davidson v. Quigley Corporation
• Janara J Abramsen, Arthur J Balog, Sharlene Beck, Judy L Bedingfield, Ronald R Bell, Robert R Benton, Randall B Bush, Kate M Buswell, Frank M Buttigieg, Michael E Cannan, Joan L Comes, James E Connelly, John C Cox, Laura A Cripe, Steve B Crouch, Tracy M Crucitti-Porter, Danny S Curtis, Richard J Daly, Andrew N Dennison, David A Edlund, Leslie A Engen, Ana Maria Estevez, Jerry Felts, Franni M Ferrero, Patricia A Garcia, Dale W Garten, Morey Grosse, Martha K Hadley, Donna K Halley, Gretchen Herd, Lea J House, Debra A Hurley, Paula V Jackson, Matthew Karp, Mark L Kenyon, Regina C Lawrence, Donald F Llewellyn, Vickey W Maples, Janis H McKenzie, Richard H Monte, Jimmy D Mooring, Deborah Morris, Raymond P Onidi, Sandra Orr, Kathryn J Platner, Sally I Powell, Avian T Quock, Richard N Ray, James T Scherz, Barbara A Schiavone, Brian Smith, Mary Ann Spence, Kent D Stark, Noel H Stock, Kathleen Taormina, Judith A Tart, Belinda K Taylor, Michelle D Thomas, Donna G Van Dries, Richard W Wagner, Gregory W Warren, Rosa M Weitzel, Colleen L Whiteford, Sandra A Wutsch. v. Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc., Zensano Inc. and Zengen Inc
• Lynn Powell, Spencer Reid & Todd Mason v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc. & Zicam L L C
• Lucy B Lutche v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc., Zensano Inc., & Zengen Inc.
• Edwin R Adams, Mary Jean Anderson, Benjamin Armstrong, Linda L Bayley, Carolyn E Bennett, Robert J Bezio, Kevin Boddicker, Kathleen Bolton, Ginger L Boyd, Cathy Bright, Ruthie Carr, Garland Cataneda, Merry Cibula, Marguerite M Cochran, Mariana Coku, Thomas C Cooper, Gary R Cuvelier, Christopher H Day, James Degivenchy, Rajen Desai, Ann Marie Doscher-Willing, Melanie A Duvall, Val Dziagwa, Wanda Estes, Dorothy Felton, David E Field, Elana Fine, Claude Gaspard, Frank Gilbert, Rhonda I Graeber, Dennis Greenstein, Matthew V Hammarlund, Joanne M Hanson, Lawrence Hanson, Allen N Hawley, Jack R Hendrixson, Margaret Henslee, Kermit G Hickman, Kelly Hoover, Paula Hubsch, Glenn L Jetton, Herschel R Johnson, Joyce L Jurgensen, Kathleen M Kerr, Norbert M Khalifa, Maryon F King, Audrey A Koval, Jennifer Kruger, Pernell Larson, Donna G Laycock, Daniel Levin, Susan C Lyons, Daniel Malloy, Raoul K Mangrum, Walter Maraist, Eileen McClaughlin, Don McCollough, Sherri B Messimer, Agnes Mikel, Mary Morris, Phillip E Murray, Lee Oneal, Paul Page, Gary L Passmore, Coast D Pauline, Marta Pluta, Barry Rabson, Carlos Ramos, Donna J Reynolds-Miller, Ruth Robinson, Marla J Rosenberg, Marion T Rowland, Noreen R Sadler, H Joe Shimpfky, Claude W Shires, Elizabeth A Sims, Lorraine Sorensen, Stephanie L Sugar, Alan Torppa, Adolph J Voigt, Janine Wallace-Mehta, Elizabeth D Wampler, John Wankner, Sherri Wedel, Susan Weiss, Consetta Wells, Mary West, Judy Zorn, David Zueger v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc., Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc., Zensano Inc., Zengen Inc.
• Siracusano v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc.
• Jodi Hunter, Earl Ciasull, Carol Japngie, Tina Kirkham, Richard Miller, Mary Mulhern, Diane Russell, Julie Schoch v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc., Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc., Zensano Inc., Zengen Inc.
• Jeffrey Bryant v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc.
• Rebecca Akers, W Frank Alexander, Jake H Armstrong, Paul R Bartholomew, Fred Becht, Jay O Bennett, Susan D Beselin, Alison M Boteler, Bruce Bowler, Kolleen Brigance, Kay Brinkley, Elaine N Brogoitti, William Burkett, Lavenia L Burleson, Nancy Byrnes, Robert Carey, Jack D Carter, Emily O Chadwick, Rodney Chavez, Philip J Chiappini, Julien Cook, Yvonne F Crouse, Eugene E Curry, Geri C Davis, Suzanne Day, Lorraine Desiervo, Robert K Dewitt, Gretchen M Dittrich, Marie Eckert, Diane M Esch, Richard Espinoza, Robert A Foster, David Franzen, Emery W Freeman, Georgia Freshwater, Jill D Gillespie, Robert E Gillis, Kathryn J Hackett, Ann M Hepworth, Sharon E Hickox, Sandra L Hinson, Sherry Holladay, Cynthia Hucko, Don Jacobs, Mihaela R Jardini, Nancy C Johnson, Jennifer Jordan, Dawn Kenward, Dorothy Lagrone, Betty L Lauchlan, Jody Lerner, William R Lewis, Judy H Lewis, Amy J Lietz, Lucia Malenky, Mary Ann Martinovsky, Lorane Mattarazo, Hilaria I McAllister, Lois McGuire, Millie L McKelvy, Robert S McLean, Mary M Melchor-Ludwig, Eric T Miller, Carol Miner, Meredith L Moon, Connie A Morehouse, John Morris, Gregg C Newquist, Janice Ottosen, Vincent Pacifico, Linda Pope, Kathy S Popejoy, Allyson C Powell, Samuel S Ramirez, Charles E Ramsay, Ruth E Richards, John V Robinson, Cindy M Rossi, Carol Ruettinger, Linda L Ryan, Jonathan Schachter, Matthew F Solatka, Catherine P Teutsch, Ronald O Thompson, Tracy L Todaro, Elisa M Umpierre, Debbie Venden, Curtis Ward, Robert L Weibush, Raymond D Weimer, Jeanine Wilson, Melvin Wyman, Gebi Yemane-Berhane, Margaret Young, William G Zarlengo, David J Zimmerman, Kyla J Todaro v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc., Applied Laboratories Inc, Zensano Inc, Zengen Inc, Albertsons Inc, Bashas Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, C V S Corporation, Eckerd Corporation, Fred Meyer Stores Inc, Frys Marketplace, Genuardis Family Markets Inc, Kroger Co, Osco Drug Inc, Ralphs, Safeway Inc, Sams Club, Sav-On Drug Stores Inc, Target Corporation, Walgreens Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
• Nicholas C. Edwards v. Quigley
• Caron Cappy, Dennis Christensen, Sharon F Cunningham, Lorene Debartolo, Cynthia A Dunn, Heidi Huglin Deane, William C Ladley, Shelley Levine, Joseph J Martzig, Patricia S Meola, Roger L Nakata, Ruth Robinson, Sharyl J Rodina, Timothy H Ross, Laura L Walker, Kenneth W Wigton, Gail E Newman, Linda H Roark Strummer, v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories, Zensano Inc, Zengen Inc, Zila Inc, Zila Swab Technologies Inc, Innovative Swab Technologies Inc, Walgreen Co, Walmart Stores Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, C V S Corporation, Kroger Co, Rite Aid Corporation, Safeway Inc Reuters: Ariz. Lawsuit Blames Zicam Spray for Loss of Smell
• Dorothea P Adamson, Ronald M Akin, Cheryl Alter, Mary A Alvarez, Alberto Aviles,Frank Barreca,Janis Bartley,Bart J Becherer,Karina S Bryant,Carol R Casciato,Bonnie Conn Zale,Karen A Cooley-Utech,Louise J Dame,Ann Demolet,Mark Dossey,Elizabeth Edmunds,Analit A Eloyan , Kristine S Ferris,Phyllis B Fischer,James A Fivian,Benjamin J Ford,Pat Garcia , Thomas J Gerhardt, Mary R Giovino,Sharon Grossman,Karen Haskell,Mathew Healey,Martina Henry,Michael J Honke,Ray W Hughes,Barbara I Jackson,James Jacobs,Kathy Kamrath,Gary A Lamoureux,Effie Lee,Mark D Leimberger,Bruce Little,Wendy Malenchak,James G McDaniel,Janet A McKernan,Kathryn McLoud,Gary Miskie,Judith Mitchem,William A Oravez,Kenneth W Porter,Raymond L Read,Susan V Redwine,Nancy A Reed,Marilyn J Reese-Deline,E Bruce Roggenstein,Barbara Ross,Derrick S Routt,Daniel Sapp,Christopher F Schutte,Kelly R Scoggins , Susan M Scovel,Deborah A Stanford,Linda Stewart,Walter C Street,Barbara A Vorhees,Lisa Weatherington,Barbara Whittle,James Wille,Joann Wofford,Juanita Wright,Wilma I Young, v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc ,Zicam L L C ,Botanical Laboratories Inc ,Applied Laboratories Inc ,Albertsons Inc ,Costco Wholesale Corporation ,C V S Corporation ,Eckerd Corporation ,Fred Meyer Stores Inc ,Sams Club ,Sav-On Drug Stores Inc ,Target Corporation ,Walgreens Co ,Wal-Mart Stores Inc ,
• Ross T Hudson, Irene R Meyers v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc, Zensano Inc, Zengen Inc, Zila Inc, Zila Swab Technologies Inc, Innovative Swab Technologies Inc, Walgeen Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc
• Sharon Cheney v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C
• Michael S Alexander, Myra Alliston, Tammy J Babikian, Dennis Bozung, Rosalie G Cavanaugh, Bryan K Clontz, Twyla L Cochran, David Colton, William Cosman, Carol Dennington, Karen Dimock, Susan Dye, Cheryl Gallegos, Danalene Glaser, Julia S Goldberg, Shelley M Grandy, Todd G Hanson, Geysell Herrera, Gustavo Herrera, Norman Hicks, Barbara Hoffman, Brenda Houghton, Richard M Hoxer, Melissa S Johnson, Dorothy Lawrence, David Maraist, Joyce A Marden, Charles Melton, Sheri L Morant, Lorraine Oliveri, William J Parker, Monica Plaisance, Sabrina Reigenborn, Linda Rudd, Kathryn B Scheidt, Jerome W Speaker, Judy M Vessey, Joseph B Vittitow, Janene Wolfe, Jacci Zabukovic, v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Botanical Laboratories Inc, Applied Laboratories Inc, Albertsons Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, C V S Corporation, Eckerd Corporation, King Soopers, Kroger Co, Osco Drug Inc, Safeway Inc, Sav-On Drug Stores Inc, Walgreens Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
• Gwendolyn J Allen, Susan Baggett, Jonathan Bartels, John Beattie, Brenda J Beckley, James Bond, James J Brommer, Taryn G Brooks, Jeffrey S Bryant, Werner E Buecking, Thomas W Campbell, Yvonne Carney, Richard Coco, Ronnie Cohen, Letty Coy, Don Drury, Brian K Gillette, Amanda Graham, Theodore H Graham, Janet Harmon, Steven E Hartley, Denilyn Herndon, Mary S Hughes, Louis R Hunt, Terri Jones, Carol A Kalfian, Margaret Klobuchar, Cindy A Lumpkin, Carol Macmeans, Edwin D McCaa, Diane McCarthy, Theresa Mills, Rhonda Pecorara, Terry Schreiner, Beverly A Scott, Jeannette Simms, Shirleasea Wallace, Ruth Won, Cheryl M Zimmerman, v. Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C, Bontanical Laboratories Inc, Applied Laboratories Inc, Albertsons Inc, American Drug Stores Inc, Costco Wholesale Corporation, C V S Corporation, Eckerd Corporation, Fred Meyer Stores Inc, Kroger Co, Sams Club, Target Corporation, Walgreens Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
• Patricia L Cantu, Frank Cantu v.Matrixx Initiatives Inc, Zicam L L C & Botanical Laboratories Inc.
• Terry Moore & Perry Goorman v.Matrixx Initiatives Inc and Zicam L L C

Lawfirms Interested In Intranasal Zinc and Anosmia

• Smith, Vanture & Rivera, LLP
• O'Steen & Harrison, PLC
• Lawyers and Settlements - Justice for Everyone
• Hughes and Coleman
• Recalls: Your American Rights
• Possible Zicam Class Action
• Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. - New York, New Jersey
• Massachussetts Lawyers Network
• Alexander, Hawes & Audet, LLP - California & New York
• The Radacowsky Law Firm/Peterson Reed & Warlaumont - Salt Lake, City Utah & Phoenix Arizona
• Zimmerman Reed P.L.L.P. - Scottsdale Arizona and Minneapolis Minnesota
• Zicam-Online Law Service
• Williams Dailey O'Leary Craine & Love , P.C - Portland, Oregon
• Richard Calahan - Swamport, Massachusetts
• The Cahaba Law Group LLC - Chelsea, Alabama
• Bush, Lewis & Roebuck, PC/Weller, Green, Toups & Terrell - Beaumont, Texas
• Claris Law, Inc.
• Contact a Zicam Attorney In Your State
• James Szaller, Brown & Szaller A Cleveland, Columbus, Ohio
• Jones Martin Parris & Tessener Law Offices, PLLC - North Carolina (Zicam)
• Jones Martin Parris & Tessener Law Offices, PLLC - North Carolina (Cold Eeze)
• Personal-Injury.com
• Handler, Henning & Rosenberg, LLP
• ADrugRecall.com: zicam
• Charles L. Powell, PLLC - White River Jct., VT
• CounselSeek
• Law Firm of Parker & Watchman, New Jersey and New York
• Van O'Steen, Phoenix, Arizona
• Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., Montgomery, AL
• "Kahn Gauthier Law Group, LLC, Metairie, LA
• The Steinberg Law Firm, Houston, Texas
• Personal Injury Attorney
• Zicam side Efects
• Parker & Waichman. Colorado: Zicam Zinc Nasal Gel Side Effects Lawyer
• Parker & Waichman. Colorado: Cold-Eeze Side Effects Lawyer
• Parker & Waichman. Arizona: Zicam Zinc Nasal Gel Side Effects Lawyer
• AZicamAttorneyForYou
• Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Schleifer, Weinstein & Winkler, P.C. Serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reading, Pennsylvania, and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
• COLD-EEZE Nasal Spray Lawsuit Overview
• Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Schleifer, Weinstein & Winkler, P.C. Defective Drugs - Zicam
• Dallas Medical Products Liability Attorney: Zicam and Cold Eeze
• Essex County, Massachusetts: Zicam Law Firms
• ClassActionAmerica: Zicam and Cold-Eeze Claim to Cure Cold Quickly: But Take Away Sense of Smell (Anosmia) and Taste Even Quicker
• Dallas: Medical Products Liability Attorney
• Handler, Henning & Rosenberg in Harrisburg and Lancaster: Zicam

Lawfirms that Have Been Interested in Securities Law Violations Resulting from Intranasal Zinc Anosmia Issues

• Kirby McInerney & Squire: Matrixx Initiatives
• Milberg Weiss: Matrixx Initiatives
• Beasley Allen: Matrixx Initiatives
• Online Legal Services Ltd.: Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.
• ZicamSideEffects Lawyers.com

Television, Newspaper, Media, Internet, Legal, SEC, FDA Resources

• June 16, 2009 - Matrixx Initiatives suspends sales of Zicam nasal zinc treatments!
• June 16, 2009 -FDA NEW RELEASE - FDA Advises Consumers Not To Use Certain Zicam Cold Remedies
• June 16, 2009 -Zicam Zinc Nasal Sprays May Damage Sense of Smell, FDA Says
• FDA Questions Safety Of Zicam Products FDA action may spell doom to the nasal application of zinc.
• Petition to remove Zicam from shelves
• FTC inquiry into Matrixx advertising and promotional activities for Zicam products
• Zicam Claims Continue to Mount Despite Settlement March 8, 2006
• 2008-2009 financial report
• SEC ANNUAL REPORT Fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
• Cold Remedy Blamed For Loss Of Taste, Smell
• Suits say nasal gel stops more than colds
• Paying Through the Nose: Maker of Cold Spray Settles Lawsuits for $12 Million but Denies Claim That Zinc Product Ruined Users' Sense of Smell
• Matrixx to settle litigation; take 4th-qtr charge NEW YORK, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Matrixx Initiatives Inc. (MTXX.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Thursday said it agreed to settle a consolidated product liability lawsuit in Arizona, alleging that its Zicam Cold Remedy caused people taking it to lose their senses of smell and taste. Matrixx said in a regulatory filing that it agreed to pay $11.9 million to fund settlement awards and $100,000 to cover administration of the settlement program, adding that it now expects to incur a $4.3 million charge in the fourth quarter of 2005 to cover what is not covered by insurance. Under the settlement agreement, which covers about 90 percent of the 400 individuals involved, all but 22 will dismiss their claims, Matrixx said.
• MTXX SEC Filings - All
• Chicago: Woman: Zicam Caused Loss Of Smell
• San Dieago: Popular Cold Spray May Destroy Sense Of Smell
• FOX 17: Zicam Could Cause Loss Of Smell
• Company (Quigley) No Longer Making Zinc Nasal Spray After 7NEWS Investigation
• Phillyburbs: Local firm (Quigley) sued over nasal spray
• New York Post: Cold Eeze Squeeze
• FDA Reviewing Complaints Whether Nasal Spray Causes Loss Of Smell
• Study Supports Claim Some Nose Sprays Can Cause Loss Of Smell - Doctors Warn About Use Of Intranasal Sprays Containing Zinc Gluconate
• SEC Filing: "On September 13, 2004, The Quigley Corporation (the "Company") notified its customers of its decision to discontinue the Cold-EEZE(R) Cold Remedy Nasal Spray product..."
• 5-Oct-2004 Form 8-K for MATRIXX INITIATIVES INC
• FDA Reviewing Complaints Whether Nasal Spray Causes Loss Of Smell
• Study Supports Claim Some Nose Sprays Can Cause Loss Of Smell
• 2004 STUDY Supports Claim Some Nose Sprays Can Cause Loss Of Smell
• DJ IN THE MONEY: FDA Looks Into Complaints About Zicam
• Matrixx Initiatives' response.
• Denver Channel 7 TV
• ABC TV "Good Morning America"
• Second Dow Jones article
• Second Matrixx Initiatives response
• NY Post - A Thing to Sneeze At (Denial doesn't work well)
• Quigley's Cold-Eeze® zinc gluconate nasal spray claimed to kill chef's sense of smell
• FDA Investigates Nasal Zinc Products - Consumers Who Have Zicam, Cold-Eeze Complaints Can Call FDA Hot Line
• Dow Jones: Matrixx Has Contacted FDA About Zicam Cold Remedy
• KPIX Channel 5: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose - Complaints about Popular Cold medicine (Zicam)
• Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.'s SEC Approved Anosmia Research Plan
• San Diego Channel 10: Woman Can't Smell After Using Cold Remedy
• West Hartford CT Channel 8 News: Chef Paige Davidson sues Quigley Corp, maker of Cold-Eeze Zinc Gluconate Nasal Spray for loss of smell
• Jeff's Weekly Medicine Review: Zicam
• Denver 7: Zicam Admits No Studies Done On Loss Of Smell
• Los Angeles Times: Over-the-counter zinc nasal sprays reviewed for destroying sense of smell
• Pharmacists' Letter Re: Nasal Zinc - Probably Unsafe
• Los Angeles times: Over-the-counter zinc nasal sprays reviewed for destroying sense of smell
• Houston Chronicle: Nasal sprays' effect on smell under review
• Law firms Interested In Intranasal Zinc and Anosmia
• Pittsburgh, PA: Post-Gazette: Zinc for Colds Loosing Its Luster
• KABC-TV Los Angeles: Over The Counter Cold Spray Controversy
• Detroit News: Zicam, Cold-Eeze safety comes under scrutiny
• Taste and Smell Clinic - Washington DC: Zicam and Smell Loss
• Phoenix, AZ News 5 KPHO: Zicam
• Arizona Republic: Zicam makers are not taking criticism lightly
• Chicago CBS TV: Popular Cold Remedy Has Unexpected Side Effects
• KPHO TV Phoenix: Select link titled "Zicam Makers Say Lawsuit is Bogus"
• KTVK 3 Phoenix: "Dangerous cold remedies?"
• WDTV Detroit: Patients Claim Popular Nasal Spray Causes Loss Of Smell
• Internet Broadcasting System affiliated TV stations "Patients Claim Nasal Spray Causes Loss of Smell"
• KHOU 11 TV Houston: Over-the-counter cold remedy blamed for loss of sense of smell
• Matrix Initiatives - Zicam ripoff used product & lost my sense of smell & some of my taste Phoenix, Arizona
• Boulder Daily Camera: Man claims remedy killed 2 of his senses
• Cold-Eeze users allege harm to nose - Nine sue Quigley of Doylestown. They say they lost sense of smell.
• Matrix Initiatives - Zicam ripoff used product & lost my sense of smell & some of my taste. Phoenix, Arizona
• A letter from Matrixx concerning complaints

Other Zinc Resources

• Doctors Eye Apologies for Medical Mistakes (Just say "I'm sorry", to lower malpractice financial risk)
• www.george-eby-research.com
• Handbook for Curing the Common cold - 1994
• Zinc Solution Chemistry
• a MSDS - zinc gluconate
• a MSDS - zinc sulfate
• "Zicam" on Google
• "Zicam" on Google-News
• "Zicam" on Google-Groups
• National Library of Medicine.
• PubMed: "Zinc" and "Alzheimer's Disease" (261 articles 1978 - 2004)
• Treatment for hay fever using intranasal zinc sulfate, cocaine and electricity - circa: 1931

Discussion Boards for Intra-Nasal Zinc Induced Anosmia Victims

• Denver - Channel 7TV News - Discussion Board