Is Zicam Effective at Treating Colds?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOral ProductsNasal ProductsWho Can UseHow to Use

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Table of Contents

Oral Products

Nasal Products

Who Can Use

How to Use

Zicam Cold Remedy is ahomeopathicremedy. Some people think it can make the symptoms of the common cold get better faster.

The original zinc Zicam nasal sprays were recalled because they had serious side effects. The active ingredients in the new nasal Zicam products are plant-based.

This article will go over the oral and nasal Zicam Cold Remedy products. You will learn how Zicam is used and what the possible side effects of Zicam are.

Laura Porter / Verywell

Are Homeopathic Remedies Safe?

Zicam Cold Remedy Oral Products

Two forms of zinc are the active ingredient in these products. The labels will sayzincum aceticumandzincum gluconicum. These are the homeopathic names for zincacetateand zincgluconate.

Does Zicam Work Once You Have a Cold?If you take it when a cold is starting, zinc may help you recover faster. A 2017 review of studies suggested zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges made colds 33% shorter, on average.Lozenges and other forms of oral Zicam target viruses in the mouth and throat. They should be taken as soon as cold symptoms start.

Does Zicam Work Once You Have a Cold?

If you take it when a cold is starting, zinc may help you recover faster. A 2017 review of studies suggested zinc acetate and zinc gluconate lozenges made colds 33% shorter, on average.Lozenges and other forms of oral Zicam target viruses in the mouth and throat. They should be taken as soon as cold symptoms start.

Why Do We Get Colds?

Homeopathic Zicam Nasal Products

The ingredients in current formulations of Zicam nasal products are plant-based and are found in many homeopathic remedies forallergiesandcold symptoms.

Homeopathy is based on the theory that “like cures like.” The idea is that using highly diluted amounts of a substance that causes a symptom can “cure” a person of that symptom.

Nasal Zicam products follow this line of thought. The active ingredients in Zicam are highly diluted extracts of three plants from Mexican, Central American, and South American traditional medicine:

While common in homeopathy, there has not been much research on using these plant extracts for cold symptoms.

The inactive ingredients also list a few essential oils:

Is Zicam “Clinically Proven?“While Zicam still labels its nasal products as being “clinically proven,” thewebsiteonly offers links to clinical studies done on zinc-based products.

Is Zicam “Clinically Proven?”

While Zicam still labels its nasal products as being “clinically proven,” thewebsiteonly offers links to clinical studies done on zinc-based products.

Does Zinc Help Your Immune System?

Zicam Recall

Nasal Zicam products use zinc as the active ingredient. However, studies have shown that using zinc in the nasal passages can cause serious, even permanent, side effects—includinglosing your sense of smell.

In June 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned against using Zicam nasal spray or gel swabs.The manufacturer recalled those Zicam products.

Is Zicam Safe to Use Now?In 2015, new zinc-free nasal Zicam formulations came out and are still available. Although it is generally safe to use the new Zicam formulation, keep in mind that the homeopathic medication is not FDA regulated. As with any medication, side effects can occur.

Is Zicam Safe to Use Now?

In 2015, new zinc-free nasal Zicam formulations came out and are still available. Although it is generally safe to use the new Zicam formulation, keep in mind that the homeopathic medication is not FDA regulated. As with any medication, side effects can occur.

Who Can Use Zicam Cold Remedy?

The manufacturer states that Zicam is for adults and children 12 and over. The manufacturer doesn’t state what risks Zicam may pose to children. You should only give kids Zicam if their pediatrician says that it’s OK.

Zicam could be harmful for some people, but since there is not a lot of research we don’t know how safe or effective the cold remedy products are.

For example, Zicam products should not be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding because there have not been enough studies to prove that it’s safe to do so.

Natural Remedies for Cold

How to Use Zicam

Oral and nasal formulations have different instructions for use.

Oral Zicam Cold Remedy

When taking oral Zicam Cold Remedy products there are a few things to know:

Nasal Zicam Cold Remedy

Zicam Cold Remedy comes as a nasal spray or a nasal swab. To use nasal preparations of Zicam:

Both nasal products can be used every four hours until your symptoms get better.

Summary

Oral Zicam products claim to help with cold symptoms and shorten the length of a cold, but there’s limited evidence about how safe and effective they are.

The current nasal Zicam products do not use zinc because of the potential for serious side effects—instead, the nasal formulas are plant-based.

When to Get Help for Your Cold

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hemila H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open.2017;8(5):205427041769429. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Mount Sinai.Zinc.Hsieh H, Vignesh KS, Deepe GS, Choubey D, Shertzer HG, Genter MB.Mechanistic studies of the toxicity of zinc gluconate in the olfactory neuronal cell line Odora.Toxicol In Vitro. 2016;35:24-30. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2016.05.003Kuehn BM.Zicam update.JAMA. 2010;303(16):1587. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.457Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Homeopathic Products.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Hemila H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open.2017;8(5):205427041769429. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Mount Sinai.Zinc.Hsieh H, Vignesh KS, Deepe GS, Choubey D, Shertzer HG, Genter MB.Mechanistic studies of the toxicity of zinc gluconate in the olfactory neuronal cell line Odora.Toxicol In Vitro. 2016;35:24-30. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2016.05.003Kuehn BM.Zicam update.JAMA. 2010;303(16):1587. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.457Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Homeopathic Products.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Hemila H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open.2017;8(5):205427041769429. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291Mount Sinai.Zinc.Hsieh H, Vignesh KS, Deepe GS, Choubey D, Shertzer HG, Genter MB.Mechanistic studies of the toxicity of zinc gluconate in the olfactory neuronal cell line Odora.Toxicol In Vitro. 2016;35:24-30. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2016.05.003Kuehn BM.Zicam update.JAMA. 2010;303(16):1587. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.457Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Homeopathic Products.

Hemila H.Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage.JRSM Open.2017;8(5):205427041769429. doi:10.1177/2054270417694291

Mount Sinai.Zinc.

Hsieh H, Vignesh KS, Deepe GS, Choubey D, Shertzer HG, Genter MB.Mechanistic studies of the toxicity of zinc gluconate in the olfactory neuronal cell line Odora.Toxicol In Vitro. 2016;35:24-30. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2016.05.003

Kuehn BM.Zicam update.JAMA. 2010;303(16):1587. doi:10.1001/jama.2010.457

Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Homeopathic Products.

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