People should have final say on whether to use Zicam

I know it's been a few weeks since your editorial ran, but I wanted to share my comments about Zicam. I don't normally write letters, but this is important to me.

I was disappointed to see Zicam nasal gel removed from the shelves. It has been a godsend to me because it provided an alternative to taking pills that cause much worse side effects for me than possibly losing my sense of smell (such as migraines, reflux, stomach irritation, etc.) You can't imagine how thrilled I was to discover a cold remedy that I could apply right at the source (my nose) that actually works.

I hope the FDA will acknowledge there is a legitimate need for a medication like this and allow it to be made available again -- either with an extra warning on the label or perhaps made available as a prescription. Just don't take it away completely. If people are made aware of the possible risks, they should then be allowed to make an educated choice about what to use.

For the record, I've used Zicam gel several times, and it has not affected my sense of smell. It helped me get over colds much quicker and did not cause side effects.

Nancy Cunningham

Ellis