Zicam vs Airborne

Zicam vs Airborne – detailed comparison:

Zicam Cold Remedy

It is a homeopathic medication that claims to shorten the duration and severity of the common cold.

Inactive ingredients – dibasic sodium phosphate, benzalkonium chloride, eugenol, eucalyptol, hypromellose, glycine, monobasic sodium phosphate, menthol, polysorbate 80, purified water, phenethyl alcohol, sodium chloride, saccharin sodium, and succinic acid.

Note – in 2006, a class action lawsuit was settled out of court against the manufacturers of this homeopathic medication. It claimed that the product caused people to lose their sense of smell.

Uses

It is typically used to shorten the duration and severity of the common cold.

Dosage

It can be given as a nasal swab or a nasal spray. Both formulations should be used every 4 hours until cold symptoms are gone.

Note – rinse right away with water if the medicine gets in the eyes and seek medical help immediately.

Side Effects and Precautions

Side effects may include:

• trouble sleeping;
• blurred vision;
• weakness;
• pounding heartbeat;
• trembling;
• lightheadedness;
• nervousness;
• stuffy nose;
• drowsiness;
• high blood pressure;
• dizziness;
• headaches.

Alcohol

There are no drug interactions reported yet by patients who take this homeopathic medication and alcohol together.

Drug Interactions

It may negatively with other medications, especially:

• Aspirin Low Strength (aspirin);
• albuterol;
• cyclobenzaprine;
• aloe vera;
• lisinopril;
• vascepa;
• Ambien (zolpidem);
• montelukast;
• aspirin;
• omeprazole;
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine);
• simvastatin;
• Singulair (montelukast);
• meclizine;
• Tylenol (acetaminophen);
• prednisone;
• metoprolol.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

You should speak with your doctor before taking this homeopathic medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Airborne

It is a combination of many different minerals and vitamins which are normally found in foods and other natural sources.

The minerals and vitamins that are found in this product include vitamins A, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, riboflavin, manganese, magnesium, selenium, potassium, and sodium. In addition, it contains a proprietary blend of herbs and amino acids.

This product contains various herbs, such as – Lonicera, echinacea, schizonepeta, forsythia, Chinese Vitex, ginger, and isatis.

Additionally, each tablet contains 230 mg of sodium. Therefore, if you are on a low sodium diet, this amount could be important.

Uses

This dietary supplement is used to prevent the common cold and improve immune function.

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Dosage

Directions recommend taking a dose every 3 to 4 hours as required, with up to 3 doses a day.

Side Effects and Precautions

Side effects may include:

• hard stools (constipation);
• loose stools (diarrhea);
• upset stomach or throwing up.

Alcohol

There is no interaction between this dietary supplement and alcohol.

Drug Interactions

It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:

• heart or blood pressure medications;
• tretinoin or isotretinoin;
• a sulfa drug;
• a diuretic;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as – naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil),  indomethacin, celecoxib, or meloxicam;
• an antibiotic;
• an antacid.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

You should speak with your doctor before taking this dietary supplement if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Bottom Line – Zicam vs Airborne

Zicam Cold Remedy is a homeopathic remedy that reduces the duration and severity of cold symptoms. It contains zinc as its active ingredient.

Airborne is a dietary supplement that is said to contain “a combination of essential immune supporting minerals and vitamins plus a proprietary blend of natural herbs.”

As an interesting fact, Airborne was developed by a second-grade teacher with no medical, scientific, or alternative medical training. The problem with this product is that it contains a high amount of vitamin A.

For instance, each daily dose provides 100% of the daily value for straight vitamin A, the type most doctors now steer people away from. Too much vitamin A can potentially cause adverse health risks, including liver damage and brittle bones.

In addition, the product contains 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C per serving and a recommendation to take up to three servings a day.

The Institute of Medicine states in the Dietary Reference Intakes that vitamin C consumption should not exceed 2,000 milligrams per day. Also, this is the synthetic form of vitamin C, called ascorbic acid, which is completely different from the vitamin C that is found in fruits and vegetables.

On the other hand, some evidence suggests taking zinc at the onset of a cold can have a modest effect, like shortening the duration of a cold from 7 days to 6, however, other studies don’t show this effect.

In conclusion, you don’t really need any of these cold remedies to help you get over the common cold.

While it is uncomfortable and may seem like it drags on forever, the common cold usually clears up within 10 days without any type of treatment.

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10 Cold Home Remedies

#1 Cayenne Pepper

It is known to open nasal passageways, decrease the effects of heart disease, boost metabolism, soothe psoriasis symptoms, congestion, maintain blood sugars, increase blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and quicken blood clotting.

#2 Getting Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is vital to preventing and a faster healing of the illness.

According to recent studies, even two nights of interrupted sleep can leave the body worn down and unable to resist illness.

#3 Water

To keep mucous membranes moist and to help relieve dry eyes and other common flu symptoms, drink as much water (or healthy fluids) as you can. Also, water helps thin mucus so that it is easier to expel.

#4 Echinacea

This medicinal plant is known to have potent antibacterial, antiviral, and blood cleansing attributes.

According to research, it can reduce your chances of catching a cold by 60% as well as it shortens the length of a cold by 1 to 4 days.

#5 Lemons

These fruits contain a lot of vitamin C that boosts the body’s immune system, and may help to fight the flu or cold virus in the body.

#6 Ginger

It naturally combats vomiting and nausea, making it a good flu treatment.

#7 Garlic

It contains antiseptic attributes which could help protect the immune system against common cold.

#8 Stress Reduction

Yoga, mindfulness meditation, or Tai Chi are simple and effective methods to prevent damage caused by stress and to enhance your immune system.

#9 Cinnamon

It is known to help ease the pain of a sore throat, and it is praised by many healthcare providers because of its potent healing properties.

#10 Onions

Onions are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents, and also expectorants. In addition, they help to restore the respiratory passages to a normal state by alleviating the swelling caused by the common cold.

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References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15496046
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12509647
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0007647