Healthcare Professionals

All Products Myths vs. Reality Podcasts

Common Cold Facts vs. Myths

A national survey of U.S. adults found that the majority of Americans are misinformed about what causes the common cold, and how and when they should treat it. Much of this confusion comes from myths Americans grew up with that have stuck with them throughout their adult lives. Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of consumers believe there is not much they can do about a cold except mask the symptoms and wait it out. In fact, one-third of cold sufferers admit they wait until they feel miserable before taking medications that can help.

According to a second survey of U.S. pharmacists, this consumer belief is in direct contrast to what the majority of U.S. pharmacists believe – 93 percent of pharmacists report that early treatment of a cold can prevent a trip to the doctor’s office, and 84 percent of pharmacists believe consumers often make poor choices about how to best treat their colds.

Why are the Cold-Care Myths survey results so important?

As pharmacists continue to play a more prominent role in consumer care, it is important to understand the role of the pharmacist in helping combat these myths. Specifically, the surveys show that pharmacists believe there are simple ways for consumers to treat colds at the first sign of symptoms to help them get over their cold faster. In fact, over half (52 percent) of pharmacists typically recommend using zinc in the early stages of a cold, with only 12 percent of consumers proactively doing so. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers for consumers with cold symptoms, so it’s important to educate consumers about early treatment of their colds.

What are the Cold-Care Myths surveys and who was surveyed?

The pharmacist and consumer Cold-Care Myths surveys were designed to gain insights into widely held cold myths (e.g., chicken soup). We conducted these surveys to better understand the misinformation that is out there regarding colds, and to determine how consumers and pharmacists can work together to educate the general public on treating the common cold earlier and more effectively this season. The pharmacist survey was based on responses from a sample of 500 licensed pharmacists from independent, chain and large retail (supermarket) pharmacies. The sample was drawn from a full list of over 60,000 pharmacies in the U.S. The consumer survey was based on a nationally representative sample of 500 U.S. adults. Respondents were carefully sampled and recruited to represent the full U.S. adult population in terms of gender, age, and region according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

  • The top five myths about colds that pharmacists say are most difficult to debunk are:
    • Antibiotics can kill the germs that cause colds.
    • Changes in the weather can cause colds.
    • Getting wet and chilled can cause colds.
    • Sitting in a draft can cause colds.
    • Avoiding changes in temperatures will help prevent colds.
  • Pharmacists say early intervention with zinc can help, and most recommend it.
    • 61 percent of pharmacists believe that zinc-based cold remedies are effective at reducing the duration of a cold if taken at the onset of cold symptoms.
    • 52 percent of pharmacists typically recommend using zinc in the early stages of a cold.
  • How do the active zinc ingredients in Zicam work?
    Zicam Cold Remedy products use zinc gluconate and zinc acetate as their active ingredients to reduce the duration of the common cold when used at the first sign of cold symptoms (within 24-48 hours). All Zicam products are both effective and safe when taken as directed. Zicam Cold Remedy products do not produce side effects commonly associated with other cold relief and allergy products, such as drowsiness and excitability, and they are homeopathic and non-habit-forming. Over the past 10 years, consumers have purchased more than 35 million units of Zicam cold remedy – more than one billion doses – helping to alleviate countless numbers of colds.
  • Wasn’t Zicam issued a warning letter by the FDA and recalled?
    On June 16, 2009, the FDA issued a consumer warning letter about two Zicam products: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel™ and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs™ noting that they could cause loss of sense of smell, known as anosmia. There is no valid, scientific evidence showing a link between Zicam and anosmia.
  • Product Sampling: Use it. Recommend it.
Zinc Usage:
  • Proposed Mechanism of Zinc: The exact mechanism of zinc therapy to shorten the duration of a cold has not been definitively established. It is most likely due to the affinity of zinc for intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) receptors. Rhinoviruses attach to the nasal epithelium via ICAM-1 receptors; therefore ionic zinc is thought to inhibit viral replication by attaching to the receptors competitively on both the virus molecules and the cells in the nasal epithelium (Source: Novick SG, Godfrey JC, Godfrey NJ, Wilder HR. How does zinc modify the common cold? Clinical observations and implications regarding mechanisms of action. Med Hypotheses. 1996;46(3):295-302.)
  • Literature and Support: A recent trial conducted comparing Zinc to placebo was published in 2008. They studied the efficacy of zinc acetate lozenges and found that, compared with the placebo group, the zinc group had a shorter overall duration of cold (4.0 vs. 7.1 days) and shorter durations of cough and rhinorrhea. One important distinction was that zinc therapy was initiated within the first 24 hours of onset of symptoms. (Source: Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, et al. Duration and severity of symptoms and levels of plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, and adhesion molecules in patients with common cold treated with zinc acetate. J Infect Dis. 2008;197(6):795-802.
  • Current Zinc Formulations: Several OTC zinc formulations are currently available, but the leading brand is Zicam. Several cold remedy and symptom relief products are marketed under this brand name. Manufactured by Matrixx Initiatives, Zicam Cold Remedy oral products are based on the active ingredients zinc gluconate and zinc acetate. Presently, only oral formulations are available in market. Zinc gluconate results in a high level of ionic zinc release in the body and was noted to shorten cold duration when initiated within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms. There was also evidence of some symptomatic relief. (Source: Mossad SB. Effect of zincum gluconium nasal gel on the duration and symptom severity of the common cold in otherwise healthy adults. QJM. 2003;96(1):35-43.)
  • Potential Adverse Events and Interactions: Oral zinc products are considered safe when taken in recommended doses with mild adverse events, such as abdominal issues, loss of appetite, and headache, occurring. Excessive ingestions of zinc (150-450mg/day) have been associated with low copper status, altered iron function, reduced immune function, and alterations in high-density lipoproteins. Moderately high doses of zinc (60-80 mg/day) taken daily over extended periods can cause issues with copper status and possibly urinary physiology. (Source: National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Zinc. Last updated May 2009.)