Anyone ever use Zicam before for colds?

[stinkerbelle]

So my MIL always said this was the best thing to use when you feel a cold coming on...but you have to start using it right away. I was never able to get it in time. But yesterday, I could feel a cold starting (blech - I've been so healthy too!) so I picked some up.

Nothing like sticking something up your nose, putting gel up there, and NOT being able to sniff it up (trust me - I did it by accident and that HURT! I'm used to nasal "sprays" that you have to inhale...this one you don't)

I don't even know if I'm doing this right...it says you can blow your nose 30 seconds after, but wouldn't that blow all the medication/whatever out? (I bought the nasal "pump"...not the swabs)

Anyone? Thanks!

 

[Christine]

Yes, I regularly use it and most of the time it stops my cold "dead". There will be times that it doesn't work and that is usually if you have something other than a typical cold (rhinovirus). For instance, last weekend my husband thought he was coming down with a cold. He had a fever also. He started using it and it did nothing. He ended up getting REALLY sick and required an antibiotic.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that if it is truly a cold it will work but if it is bacterial it probably won't.

 

[Disney_1derland]

we use it too. It works by the good stuff absorbing in the mucous membranes inside your nasal passage, that only takes about 30 seconds, then all you're left with is the gel, so then it can come out. Like the above poster mentioned...it works great on colds, if it doesn't work you likely have something more serious in the works. Dh was on it last week, got rid of the cold symptoms but left the fever, turns out he had a stomach virus in the works in addition to the cold.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I haven't had a cold since 1996. Everytime I feel one come on I use either Zicam, zinc, or a combination of both. I hate getting sick. I'm an asthmatic, so colds almost always lead to lung problems and sinus infections. I do everything I can go avoid them and I have come to a point in which I swear by zinc and zicam. I keep some on hand at all times. If somebody in the house gets sick, I start sucking zinc and I never catch their cold. If I find myself with a scratchy throat, I suck zinc every two hours and I never get sick. I really believe it works, and I'm not the type to buy into hyped up over the counter or non traditional remedies.

Anyway, I hope you feel better and that the zicam works for you! Go out and get you some zinc, too. My pharmasist actually believes the zinc is more effective than the zicam.

 

[BethR]

Yep, I use it and I think that it works very well! But I was lured by all of the hype of AirBorne that was promoted by Oprah. I tried the Airborne for the cold that I currently have, and yes, I still have the cold.

Next time, it's back to Zicam.

BTW, you don't even have to put the Zicam pump in your nose. If it bothers you, you can just pump the gel onto a Q-Tip and then just swap the inside edge of your nostrils. No sniffing is needed.

I used to use Cold-ezze before Zicam came out and feel that it works just as well, but I HATED the taste of the Cold-Ezze.

 

[3gr8kids]

Zicam works for my family, too. (my doctor recommended it for colds last winter and we have been using it ever since). I've found that even if your late taking it, it seems to lessen the severity and cuts the duration of a cold.

 

[RitaZ.]

Zicam also comes in a spray bottle, but it leaves a strong taste in your mouth. In my experience, it really works, but you have to start as soon as you have symptoms.

 

[stinkerbelle]

we use it too. It works by the good stuff absorbing in the mucous membranes inside your nasal passage, that only takes about 30 seconds, then all you're left with is the gel, so then it can come out.

Thanks for that explanation!

And thank you all...yeah, I'm hoping this will shorten this cold...yesterday I JUST started with the sore throat and sneezing...so I hope I caught it in time.

Thanks again!

Oh - and what's Zinc?

 

[Christine]

Just a bit more info...

According to Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist, zinc lozenges have been shown to decrease by three or four days the length of time a person suffers from cold symptoms. But a zinc-based nasal gel called Zicam works even better: in a scientific study, it shortened the duration of colds by up to seven days.

Zicam contains ionic zinc, which scientists think may prevent the cold virus from attaching to body cells. Subjects participating in the medical research took Zicam within 48 hours of the onset of cold symptoms and suffered for only 2.3 days. A control group that received a placebo had cold symptoms for nine days.

The study was published in the October 2000 issue of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Journal.

 

[4nana]

Another believer here!!
I started using Zicam about 2 yrs ago to help prevent colds and swear by the stuff! I am very susceptible to bronchitis/sinus infections. Whenever I get a cold/cough, it usually ends up in a 2 wk battle of bronchitis. I am around my grands a lot and during school yr seems they pick up more bugs than usual and spread to family. Also, just put me around smoke and there is hell to pay! Soon as I feel the first hint of a cold, I used Zicam 3 or 4x a day and have had excellent results...2 yrs since any bronchitis or sinus troubles! I did catch a cold - but it only lasted 4 days. I also start Echinacea if I feel I'm catching something. Works for me!

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Oh - and what's Zinc?

Zinc is the active ingrediant in cold-eeze throat drops. Somebody mentioned that they taste awful. I do believe they changed their formula over the years. I used to HATE the taste of them, but they aren't so bad anymore. Maybe I just got used to them, or maybe they really did improve them, but I kinda like them. The cherry is actually kinda nice!

 

[stinkerbelle]

Thanks all!

one more thing - the directions say to use every 4 hours.
I'm the type of person that pops 4 advil at once...

is this safe to use more often? like every 2-3 hours?

 

[snappy]

Not sure about how often you can safely use it. I too do the Q tip method, squeeze a little of the gel on the Q tip. This is much easier.

I have had remarkable luck with Zicam. There are several Zicam formulas, one for colds, one for allergy, and a new one (new to me) that is for extreme congestion. I haven't used that one yet, I have it just in case.

I also saw different types like sprays. I had good luck buying Zicam in a double pack at Sam's for a while that was as cheap as one bottle at most drug stores. I have been unable to find it lately at Sam's.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just saying I use the Zicam gel also, Stink, works great. Hope the cold is gone in no time.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I agree it seems to work for my family also. I use the swabs for my DD because the gel is just too much.

 

[Sonya]

I've used the spray and it is a little maddening that you can't sniff for a while. I didn't think it cut down too much on the symptoms until after the cold was over, then I realised how much shorter it was and how I didn't feel like a total piece of crap. I will use it again!

 

[Christine]

Stinkerbelle,
I would use it as the package directs. There have been some reports of people using Zicam and losing their sense of smell temporarily. I think the zinc can be hard on the nasal passages. I've used it many times and never noticed the lack of smell issue. But I only use it as directed, or maybe even less than directed. Never more.

 

[BethR]

Stinkerbelle,
There have been some reports of people using Zicam and losing their sense of smell temporarily.

I was going to mention this as well, but I did not want anyone to worry. My pharmacist daughter mentioned this to me before and will not use the nasal gel, but will use the rapid melts. I have noticed that my sense of smell seems diminished for several weeks after using the nasal gel so that is why I wanted to try the Airborne. After not having good results with the Airborne (I can't breathe 5 days into my cold), I will be buying the Zicam rapid melts from now on. Or I will go back to the Cold-Ezze.

 

[Christine]

I was going to mention this as well, but I did not want anyone to worry. My pharmacist daughter mentioned this to me before and will not use the nasal gel, but will use the rapid melts. I have noticed that my sense of smell seems diminished for several weeks after using the nasal gel so that is why I wanted to try the Airborne. After not having good results with the Airborne (I can't breathe 5 days into my cold), I will be buying the Zicam rapid melts from now on. Or I will go back to the Cold-Ezze.

I just have a small concern about this.

When I read that reports of how Zicam works it made me think that, depending on where your "cold site" was, specific methods of Zicam application would or would not work for you.

The science behind it is much like the FluMist vaccine. The zinc is sprayed into the nose where the cold virus is replicating. The zinc molecules attach themselves into the mucous membranes, thereby, blocking further replication of the cold virus because the virus cannot attach to your mucous membranes. The FluMist vaccine works similarly and supposedly better than the flu shot. Soooo...if you have a cold that is replicating in your nasal passages, it just seems to me that using the zinc drops for Zicam melts would not work. Unless of course, you are having a cold that is starting in the throat and then the nasal gel would not be of benefit to you. I always try to stick with the nasal gel because I've heard that most cold virus replicate in the nasal passages. I was just never convinced that applying it to your throat or swallowing the zinc would ever work well.

 

[BethR]

I have read the same things about the nasal passages, Christine. But for years before I used Zicam, I had great results with Cold-Ezze. I only switched to Zicam when it came out because I did not have to suck on those foul tasting losenges. I am willing to give the rapid melts a try to see if they are as effective as the Cold-Ezze was for me.