Introduction: Does Zicam Really Work?
Today’s content is about Zekem. That’s right. We’re in the middle of cold and flu season, and Zika is everywhere. So today, I’m going to school you guys on Zicam, and I’m going to help you guys decide if Zicam is the right product for you. So make sure you guys stay tuned for more.
About Zikam: What is it?
Alright guys. So Zicam is a name brand product that is a zinc supplement. It has been marketed for homeopathic use to reduce coughs, colds, and the duration of illness (note, this is not FDA approved). Now, this product comes in nasal sprays, lozenges that you suck on, and sublingual tablets. So there are three different types that you can actually get. No one knows how zinc works. Most of all, I’d say the most popular idea of how it works in the body is that it inhibits the binding and replication of rhinoviruses in our nasal passages. So that’s how they think zinc is actually going to help us with our colds.
Cochrane Review: Does Zicam Work?
So now it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Does Zicam Really Work? So in 2013, a Cochrane review was conducted. And a side note, a Cochrane Review is when they collect a group of primary research studies on the same topic. They combine them all, and then the researchers look at the studies, analyze them, look for biases, look for the validity of the results, look at the final results, and then combine them all. . They try to come up with a summary and also guidelines for future practice. So when they did the Cochrane Review in 2013, they looked at over 1,700 participants, looked at 18 studies, and found that if you get a cold within 24 hours of getting a cold, it’s more likely that you’ll have a cold. will reduce the duration. So, in fact, Zicam works.
Sniffing Concerns: Is Zikam Safe?
Alright guys. So hold your horses. There is more to this story. So in 2009, nasal gel products for zickness were on the market, and people were reporting that they were losing their sense of smell. So with some people, it will come back, and with others, it goes away. So Zekem decided to pull it out of the market. A number of different studies have been conducted on this topic. Many people say that the studies were flawed and, in fact, you can’t prove that Zikam gel caused a reduction in odor. There is a lot of debate on this. So Zekem ended up reformulating the product, and then they put it on the market.
Fast forward to 2020, and you can buy Zekem nasal sprays, and you can still buy lozenges and instant dissolves. They say that dissolving quickly and sniffing the lozenges is not a problem. It was strictly with nasal products. But this is still something for you guys to keep in mind. So make sure you guys keep that in the back of your head.
Do I use Zicam? My personal experience
So should I use Zicam? Most definitely, I do. Now, it might sound weird when you guys watch my little effort and think, “What is she talking about? What about the dangers and stuff?” Well, for me personally, I’ve been using it for years, and I find it works really well. So I use Zicam fast melt, like I said before. As soon as I have a cold, I start taking them. You put them on your tongue, they dissolve, and you don’t want to chew them. You can take one every three hours. Adults, with this brand, can take up to six a day, and while you are using it you should not eat or drink anything for 15 minutes after taking it and for 30 minutes after taking it. Lemon should not be used.
So I think this product does a great job of preventing colds for me. But my whole point of this content is to share my pharmacist’s advice, which is to do your due diligence before starting any new over-the-counter medication. You guys want to talk to your pharmacist, talk to your doctor before starting any new product, because everything has side effects, and you always want to make an informed decision. So use my pharmacist’s advice, and do your due diligence.
