New Report Says Over-the-Counter Nasal Gels are Ineffective and May Cause Loss of Smell
Popular over-the-counter nasal gels may cause loss of smell or anosmia. Over-the-counter nasal gels, such as Zicam, are generally used to treat common cold symptoms. Patients use this product by wiping the gel inside the nasal passages. Doctors state it is likely the nasals gels cause loss of smell because they contain zinc gluconate. They also express doubt that the products are actually effective at treating common cold symptoms, stating “Multiple trials have found that intranasal zinc is ineffective in preventing or reducing the duration of the common cold.”
Some doctors said that products containing zinc gluconate do nothing to treat the common cold, and any relief experienced after usage is psychological. As Dr. Terence Davidson of the Nasal Dysfunction Clinic at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine says, “When the gel is inserted into the nose, it gives you a little bit of a burn, so it has a nice psychological feel to it. That’s why it’s ended up becoming popular.”
At this time, the authors of a new report have suggested increased Federal Food and Drug Administration oversight of zinc-containing nasal gels due to their ineffectiveness and suspected link to loss of smell.