First, Barack Obama began verbally going after Rush Limbaugh shortly after entering the White House.
Second, the FDA is a government agency.
Bear with me here as I work through this.
We've all heard about the recall of Zicam Cold Rememdy, that homeopathic medication that helps prevent or ease cold symptoms.
Zicam is advertised and promoted by conservative radio talk show king Rush Limbaugh.
Is there a connection?
A box of Zicam gel swabs sits permanently on my desk. Why? Because the stuff works! Today on Glenn Beck a woman caller said she could no longer find the product in stores. It has been removed which, in turn, removes the decision from the consumer about using the product.
Nanny state government at work once again?
My first question when hearing the recall news was, "Did consumers follow the directions?"
Along with the required warnings, directions for use read: "Apply medication just inside first nostril. ... Do not insert swab more than 1/4" past nasal opening."
Just a thought ... wonder how many people swabbed the entire inside of their noses? They may have thought if a little was good, perhaps more would be better? Or just didn't read the directions at all and swabbed away? I used to work in the medical field and learned one sure thing: Many people do not read directions.
According to Reuters:
Second, the FDA is a government agency.
Bear with me here as I work through this.
We've all heard about the recall of Zicam Cold Rememdy, that homeopathic medication that helps prevent or ease cold symptoms.
Zicam is advertised and promoted by conservative radio talk show king Rush Limbaugh.
Is there a connection?
A box of Zicam gel swabs sits permanently on my desk. Why? Because the stuff works! Today on Glenn Beck a woman caller said she could no longer find the product in stores. It has been removed which, in turn, removes the decision from the consumer about using the product.
Nanny state government at work once again?
My first question when hearing the recall news was, "Did consumers follow the directions?"
Along with the required warnings, directions for use read: "Apply medication just inside first nostril. ... Do not insert swab more than 1/4" past nasal opening."
Just a thought ... wonder how many people swabbed the entire inside of their noses? They may have thought if a little was good, perhaps more would be better? Or just didn't read the directions at all and swabbed away? I used to work in the medical field and learned one sure thing: Many people do not read directions.
According to Reuters:
On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned the company to stop selling nasal versions of its Zicam cold remedy and urged consumers not to use them after more than 130 people reportedly lost their sense of smell.Glad I'm stocked up on Zicam gel swabs because I will continue to use them. Meanwhile, a company is going to suffer a huge financial hit and the question remains in my mind ... did it have anything to do with the fact this company was highly promoted by Rush Limbaugh?
Shares of the company have tumbled since the warning, falling as much as 70 percent. On Thursday its shares continued to fall, trading down .3 percent at $6.11 in early afternoon on the Nasdaq.
Matrixx must seek FDA-approval if it wants to continue selling Zicam zinc products administered via the nose. Hemelt said the company was not likely to do so, saying the process would take years and be "highly expensive."
While the company would try to convert users of Zicam's nasal products to oral versions, it would likely see an estimated $5 million in lost sales, Hemelt said. The other $5 million in losses was likely to come from new advertising efforts to reach out to consumers, he added.
FDA's warning applies to Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs Kids Size, but does not affect Zicam oral zinc tablets or lozenges.
