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.

Reduces duration of common cold and helps relieve nasal congestion. Zicam® Cold Remedy was not formulated to be effective for flu or allergies.

There is no guarantee that zinc will help you feel better faster. In some studies, zinc did nothing to shorten how long people with colds felt bad. In other studies, zinc may have shortened symptoms by a few days. But the side effects from taking zinc can be uncomfortable or serious in some cases.

to avoid minor stomach upset, do not take on an empty stomach. do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use. Do not eat or drink citrus fruits or juices for 30 minutes before or after use. Otherwise drink plenty of fluids.

repeat every 2–3 hours, not to exceed 7 tablets in 24 hours. Take until symptoms are gone. to avoid minor stomach upset, do not take on an empty stomach. do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use.

What is Zicam Sinus Relief? Oxymetazoline is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose). Zicam Sinus Relief (for the nose) is for temporary relief of nasal congestion (stuffy nose) caused by allergies or the common cold.

In the journals Researchers pooled data from 28 randomized controlled trials that explored whether zinc lozenges, gels, capsules, or sprays could relieve cold symptoms or speed up treatment. One study showed that zinc shortened the duration of symptoms by an average of two days compared with a placebo.

A 2017 meta analysis published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases of three previous studies found that people who took 80 to 92 mg per day of zinc (in the form of lozenges) got better faster. By the fifth day, 70 percent of those taking zinc had recovered, compared with just 27 percent of those given a placebo.

repeat every 2–3 hours, not to exceed 7 tablets in 24 hours. Take until symptoms are gone. to avoid minor stomach upset, do not take on an empty stomach. do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use.

Serious side effects

• Blurred vision.
• fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat.
• headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness.
• high blood pressure.
• increase in runny or stuffy nose.
• nervousness.
• trembling.
• trouble in sleeping.

do not eat or drink for 15 minutes after use. Do not eat or drink citrus fruits or juices for 30 minutes before or after use. Otherwise drink plenty of fluids.

In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada advised consumers to avoid intranasal versions of Zicam Cold Remedy because of a risk of damage to the sense of smell, leading the manufacturer to withdraw these versions from the U.S. market.