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Mercy internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony

Mercy Medical Center Internist Dr. Janet O'Mahony Discusses Questions About Zinc-Based Cold Treatment

Federal regulators are warning the public about a commonly used cold remedy. The FDA says the nasal gel Zicam could permanently damage a person's ability to smell. Zicam features a number of over-the-counter products; at issue are the ones that contain zinc.

"The theory is that zinc is toxic to virus particles and so if you have a virus in your nose or throat and you have the zinc, that will help fight the virus," said Dr. Janet O'Mahony, internist at Mercy Medical Center.

But this active ingredient in Zicam could have another effect, which has raised concerns at the FDA. Zinc could also harm nerves in the nose necessary for smelling.

Since 1999, about 130 people who used Zicam have complained about losing their sense of smell, reports that have prompted the FDA to order consumers to stop using Zicam cold remedy nasal gel and other related products like the adult and kid sized nasal swabs.

"When you lose your sense of smell, you lose your taste and that can be kind of disabling," Dr. O'Mahony said.

Despite multiple lawsuits, the company that makes Zicam defends its products, saying, "No plaintiff has ever won a court case because there is no causal link between the use of Zicam cold remedy nasal gel and impairment of smell."

Still, the FDA wants manufacturer Matrixx Initiatives to stop marketing the products until can prove the zinc-based products are safe and effective.

Dr. O'Mahony says instead of turning to over-the-counter products, cold sufferers should let the virus run its course.

"A lot of the agents we use to treat the common cold cause more harm than the cold itself, so maybe you just need to wait it out," she said.

For more information and to view Dr. O'Mahony's interview with WJZ-TV13 Healthwatch Reporter Kellye Lynn, visit this link: http://wjz.com/health/zicam.2.1047152.html