When people hear about products being recalled and the FDA warning the public to stop using them because of a link to serious side effects, most would assume those side effects are more severe than the loss of the sense of smell. Anosmia, as it’s known in medical circles, is a condition that’s been diagnosed more than 130 times in consumers who had used certain Zicam products, and as a result it’s no longer available in retail outlets around the country.

We’ve been posting about the details of the issues involving Zicam lately, but some are wondering why anosmia is something to be concerned with, when other products have been known to cause cancer and death. However, basic research will tell anyone that the loss of the sense of smell, particularly if it’s permanent, can be a dangerous condition for several reasons.

When someone cannot smell, the most obvious danger it creates is that those people may not be able to sense dangers that include smoke from a fire or poisonous substances or gas leaks. However, there are other problems associated with anosmia, and they are directly correlated with the longer duration of this condition.

Those who cannot smell will often fall into a depression, as they understand that they are physically limited and are also concerned about their lack of ability to detect the dangers described above. Medical experts have also noted that those with anosmia will slowly lose weight as a result of a loss of appetite, and this can create many other medical problems that are high-risk in nature.

Ultimately, anosmia is a serious enough side effect that the FDA ordered the makers of Zicam to stop marketing the product and for Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., the manufacturer, to voluntarily pull the products from the shelves. If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of using Zicam, contact the defective drugs lawyers at Phillips & Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation.