injuries to throat and mouth caused by zicam

I took Zicam lozenges for 2 days, about every 3 hours as directed. A few times I went longer than 3 hours such as at night when sleeping. On the second day I noticed not being able to taste my lunch of fish and chips. I could taste the salt though. I couldn't taste the Coke. It just tasted like carbonated water. I'm very worried. I also can't smell. I experimented with strong tasting things and strong perfume...could taste and smell a little bit but very faintly.

Everything I read mentions the nasal sprays and says that the problem experienced by many are not related to the lozenges. Well, it seems it is. How can they keep selling something that has so many people complaining about this loss of anosmia so closely associated with it? I'm on my 4th day of my cold and I'm hoping that part of this is due to the congestion of the cold. But I don't remember every losing my sense of taste or smell this severely even with a bad cold.

I hope others will do their research better than I did. It's funny...I usually do read about side effects and such before taking something. This time I didn't. 

This also happened to me. I had no sense of taste and limited smell for more than a month. I only used the lozenges for 2 days just like you. Needless to say, I was freaking out because of everything I read about the nasal sprays. I couldn't find much on the internet about the lozenges.

Unfortunately, since there are no warnings about this side effect, I'm sure many others will experience it. Zicam is sold right next to other cold remedies, so I guess I was just too trusting. Who would have thought it could cause such problems.

I hope you get your sense of taste and smell back soon. It is a truly awful feeling. Good luck! .

Thank you. I think it is not completely lost. I do taste things now...just not as strongly. (I made a mistake in my writing of the other post and wrote, "loss of anosmia" lol...I think I was going to write loss of sense of taste and smell, then changed it to anosmia but forgot to delete "loss." So, please excuse the double negative.

I'm glad your senses came back. After more than a month, you must have been really worried. I mentioned this to the pharmacist and he thought that this side effect would go away after a couple days. I said to him that I had read it can be permanent. He acted like he never heard of it. Scary when a pharmacist appears to be out of the loop.

I'm really glad your problem resolved eventually. I hope more people read up on this stuff before buying it.

I just got some zycam last night but its the store brand and I only used 4 of the tablets now I can not taste anything. I am afraid to use it anymore. I have this weird taste in my mouth and food or drinks taste weird. They really have no taste at all.

I recommend not taking another tablet EVER or any Zicam product. If you're like me, my taste did return within about a week or so. It could depend on your cold too. Sometimes a lot of congestion can contribute to a partial loss of taste and smell. I wish they'd just take this stuff off the market. I wish you luck. It's better just to suffer along with cold symptoms and forget these drugs.

My 15 daughter took 7 or 8 Zicam slow melts over the course of 2 days and woke up to a pancake breakfast that she could not eat.  Everything tasted like metal, burnt rubber, or chemical-like.  I am so grateful to people who take the time to post their experiences like this and you have confirmed my suspicion it was the Zicam.  She did regain normal tasting that day, but I will not let my family use these again!  I feel so bad for people who have lost their sense of taste permanently from this!

Could anyone reply about burning tongue/mouth after taking Zicam Melt Aways?  I took them for only two days. My mouth has felt like I drank "too hot" coffee for a week and it doesn't seem to have gotten any better. Went to the doctor today....she thinks it is definitely from the Zicam and said to never take it again. Would appreciate knowing how long this lasted for those affected.

 

I also took Zicam Rapidmelts while on vacation around October 11th and noticed my mouth started hurting after. On November 2nd it became so bad it hurt to talk I went to the doctor. My upper mouth had ulcers and small bumps all over my roof. My tongue was swollen, hot, and red color with swollen taste buds which all together looked like a strawberry. My inside cheeks had white marks and my lips hurt and felt burnt. The doctor said it was a severe sinus infection. They didn't seem to care much about the mouth pain, however that was my pain complaint. Eating food burnt my even more. They gave me 10 day supply of steroids and antibiotics which I'm not sure did anything. Eating would make me cry it hurt so bad. After two more days it eased up and I could eat bland food, but my mouth 3 weeks later is still sore. It's been a total of 6 weeks since I took Zicam! I've been making myself crazy trying to figure out what did this and I saw a commercial and it hit me! It had to be the Zicam Rapidmelts and I found this post and others. Now I can't eat spicy food like I did before even pepper, pepperoni, etc. My taste buds are still swollen, my tongue is still hot to the touch. Just sitting here my tongue feels like I have just burnt it. It sometimes tingles and my mouth get so dry it hurts. Anyone else like this still? Please share your story? I'm thinking about telling the FDA, but not sure they can do anything about it since it's not regulated by them. We could leave negative reviews on Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, DrugStore, etc. Just feel helpless that all I can do is wonder if this will go away and use dry mouth toothpaste and mouthwash.

yes me too water taste funny and so does diet soda, not sure on what is going on. it aad cannot even drink water.

I too have developed sore spots in my mouth after using lozenges. The one that was the worst was on the spot where I usualy leave the lozenges. My tongue formed white raised buds that hurt for over a week.

Yes am going through same thing right now. Have a hard crusty lesion in tip of my tongue. Then a minor sore from biting my tongue is turning into a major and painful lesion. I can hardly eat and my speech is impaired due to tongue pain. Took Zicam rapid melts for 4-5 Days per pkg directions. I think it worked for my cold which is now waning. Also have had diminished taste issues, but those could be due to the underlying cold virus. Seems like the zinc is like chemo for your cold and zaps it but leaves you with side effects. I'm sure I'll heal but use this product wisely and in moderation being mindful of you symptoms!

I have been using zicam for 7 days to ward off cold. I had used the nasal spray and it worked great.  THis 1st use of oral spray.  My tongue is patchy white, and my throat feels like it is closing up.  Not to emergency extreme just noticiable.  The only thing diffrent I have done is this oral spray.  It has to be it.  I will never use again.

I too, a m having problems with sense of taste. I started using rapid melts about 3 weeks ago. After about a week, I noticed a change in the way food( especially sweet ) tasted. I Sam very upset, and hope that this will go away. After I brush my teeth, my tongue burns . I began using an oral rinse that has a peroxide base. Stings slightly after use, but hoping that it will help.. Has your problem disappeared? If so, how long did it take?

Are you any better now? I am having similar issues after using rapid melts. It has bee a week sicnr I stopped using it, but still experiencing issues with food tasting awful and feeling like I burned the tip of tongue, i have an irritated roof of mouth,, etc

Are you any better now? Need to know as I too, am having reaction to the zicam . Everything tastes strange. I am very worried that this could be a permanent problem.pls reply