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Original poster

Vicks first defence - loss of sense of smell

26 replies

Mattietoes · 31/12/2023 13:03

Hello!

I posted the other day about having lost my sense of smell with a cold. It has been quite a few days now and, though my nose is no longer blocked, I have very very little sense of smell. I can easily breathe through my nose, but smell is essentially zero. It's such a strange and horrible sensation not to have any congestion but to be smelling nothing at all.

In the early days of my cold I used quite a lot of Vicks First Defence spray, and have now freaked myself out reading about how this contains zinc, which has been linked to permanent loss of smell when applied nasally. Apparently a similar nasal spray was discontinued in the US after reports of people suffering permanent smell loss, and there is a fair bit online about the link between nasal zinc and smell loss. Just wondering if anyone else has had this experience with Vicks?? I've used it many times in the past with no ill effect. When I used it this time I did experience some burning in my nose (which I've had before), but the total smell loss wasn't immediate - happened over 36ish hours. DH keeps saying that if Vicks really caused permanent smell loss they wouldn't be selling it... which I suppose is a fair point!

I know an obvious explanation is that I have/had covid, but I did do a test and it was negative.

Very grateful for any thoughts/insights!

OP posts:
ToThineOwnSelf · 31/12/2023 13:11

Currently have the same thing and doctor told me that even though you’re not congested anymore the senses can take a while to come back. Smell and taste loss happens with cold and flu as well as Covid!

Original poster
Mattietoes · 31/12/2023 13:17

Thanks so much for replying, I really appreciate it! It's a horrible feeling isn't it - really spooky! That's reassuring to hear from the doctor. My experience now is very similar to how I felt when I did have covid a couple of years ago, and my smell came back fairly quickly then, so fingers crossed it's similar this time. Just paranoid I've messed myself up with the bloody nasal spray (which didn't even stop me getting a cold)!!

OP posts:
NameChangerGameChanger2 · 31/12/2023 13:18

Covid!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Gymmum82 · 31/12/2023 13:20

Ever since I had a bad virus in the summer (not Covid) any sniffle and I lose my sense of smell. I lost it back then for weeks. I’ve used first defence and never found it affects my sense of smell.
Yours will most likely return. Mine comes back usually within a week or 2

Original poster
Mattietoes · 31/12/2023 13:21

Ah this is all very reassuring, thank you!

OP posts:
dontgobaconmyheart · 31/12/2023 13:41

It's pretty unlikely.

I has covid nearly 3 weeks ago - tested negative several times before testing positive, and still 3.5 weeks on can't really smell anything or taste much. I assume it will return at some point, and frankly there are positives- I can no longer smell wet dog after our daily walks in endless heavy rain.

Nagado · 31/12/2023 14:06

I’ve just had mine come back after two weeks. Blocked nose etc had all gone but I had no sense of smell or taste. And it’s still not quite 100%. I think it’s all to do with this bug that is going round, rather than any cold or flu stuff.

mrswhiplington · 31/12/2023 14:33

I lost my sense of smell and taste for two weeks when I had Covid. Thought it would never come back. Every morning I was sniffing bottles of perfume just to check. It came back very gradually.

Original poster
Mattietoes · 31/12/2023 15:25

Thanks all. I am maintaining hope that I haven't killed all my nasal cells with Vicks Grin I have a significant birthday today and my day has been decidedly more sofa-based than I had planned, but hopefully the no smell aspect won't be permanent!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mattietoes · 02/01/2024 10:14

Turns out many of you were right - I've just tested positive for covid! Annoying but suggests I haven't burned my nasal nerves off with Vicks, which is reassuring Grin

Really hoping smell will go back to normal quickly, finding it such a pain!! I can smell strong smells right up close, but no environmental smells, and not getting as much flavour from food. Doesn't seem to have been much change in the last few days, just stayed at the same level. I also have a strange feeling that smells are getting 'stuck' at the back of my nose?! DH fried an egg earlier and I feel like I have the smell of oil stuck in my nose!

Any tips for regaining smell gratefully accepted, though I know there's probably not much to do except wait it out.

OP posts:
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 02/01/2024 10:18

I've used the Vicks first defence and it didn't cause loss of smell. Covid hasn't caused loss of smell with me either . And the Vicks first defence didn't stop me getting Covid either !

HesDeadBenYouCanStopNow · 02/01/2024 10:58

After Covid last year I had no sense of smell for months and then it came and went for a few months more. It's mostly back now but was very strange

Thornyrose7 · 12/01/2024 05:17

I can see your thread is a couple of weeks old, but did your sense of smell come back?
The exact same thing has happened to me.
I am really worried and I am convinced it is the Vicks First Defence. I have never lost my sense of smell in my life. After a day and a half of using this product it has gone completely.
I am freaking out.

youegg · 12/01/2024 07:03

When I had covid I lost all sense of taste and smell for 3 weeks. Nothing. Nada. Vinegar, coffee, curry nowt.

The only thing that cut through it was whisky! So drank a lot of that.

Came back gradually but it was awful. The worst part of covid for me

I read that you should try to imagine the smell and taste of things which helps to move things along so your brain and olfactory nerves kick in. Seemed to help me.

Original poster
Mattietoes · 12/01/2024 08:51

youegg · 12/01/2024 07:03

When I had covid I lost all sense of taste and smell for 3 weeks. Nothing. Nada. Vinegar, coffee, curry nowt.

The only thing that cut through it was whisky! So drank a lot of that.

Came back gradually but it was awful. The worst part of covid for me

I read that you should try to imagine the smell and taste of things which helps to move things along so your brain and olfactory nerves kick in. Seemed to help me.

God that sounds awful, you poor thing! I am also finding it by far the worst part, I'm so anxious about it all the time. I am lucky in that my smell is not completely gone, just dulled, but it's very persistent. Two weeks now and I think I've seen small improvements, but only very small!

Did your smell/taste come back quickly or gradually? Good tip with smell training - I'm doing that with essential oils. Still very anxious that it will never come back fully but keep telling myself that's very very unlikely!

OP posts:
youegg · 12/01/2024 09:02

@Mattietoes it came back gradually over about 5 days. When the whole lot goes it's easy to notice when it's coming back!
First thing I noticed was I could slightly smell my shower gel in the morning.

Lost quite a bit of weight. When you can't taste anything everything is about texture and some meal textures are vile. Curry for example was a tasteless sloppy mess. Stew and mash was disgusting. I craved crunch so a handful of crisps was a meal.

youegg · 12/01/2024 09:03

Oh and I stared getting quite depressed and very anxious it wouldn't come back. The smells training definitely helped... and time.

Original poster
Mattietoes · 12/01/2024 09:15

Thornyrose7 · 12/01/2024 05:17

I can see your thread is a couple of weeks old, but did your sense of smell come back?
The exact same thing has happened to me.
I am really worried and I am convinced it is the Vicks First Defence. I have never lost my sense of smell in my life. After a day and a half of using this product it has gone completely.
I am freaking out.

Sorry only just seen this. As you'll see, I tested positive for covid a few days after posting this thread, and - though obviously I can't be sure - I think my smell loss is much more likely to be due to covid than Vicks. I would strongly recommend that you do a covid test, even if you don't feel particularly unwell, as loss of smell is still a telltale symptom. I was convinced I didn't have covid and only did a test on the off chance, but it was clearly positive. It's EVERYWHERE at the moment and if you've lost your smell I would be very very surprised if you didn't have it.

When you used Vicks did you feel it burn your sinuses? Did your smell disappear entirely and was it instant? I do still have a small amount of anxiety about whether the Vicks has done something to me, but I've mentioned it to a pharmacist and a GP, both of whom dismissed it. So I do think it's unlikely.

My smell has been dulled for 2 weeks now and, though it's not yet back to normal, I do think it is starting to come back very very gradually.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mattietoes · 12/01/2024 09:34

Also, I really freaked myself reading online reviews where other people had said that Vicks caused them to lose their smell (there are a handful). However, I did notice that as far as I could tell all of those reviews had been left post-2020, though first defence has been on the market since the market since the 2000s. So I suspect those cases were actually covid too.

OP posts:
Thornyrose7 · 12/01/2024 21:33

Thanks for your reply. I don’t have COVID. It’s a head cold. Ive had Covid a few times and I’ve never lost my sense of smell. I wonder whether I breathed the spray in too deeply. It’s hard to know. I have freaked myself out reading about the cases in the USA. Zinc based nasal spray is banned there as it can damage the olfactory nerves. I had no idea.I am really worried and I am convinced it is the product as it was so noticeable the next day. I guess time will tell but I would never use Vicks First Defence again and I want to warn people.

Original poster
Mattietoes · 12/01/2024 22:13

Thornyrose7 · 12/01/2024 21:33

Thanks for your reply. I don’t have COVID. It’s a head cold. Ive had Covid a few times and I’ve never lost my sense of smell. I wonder whether I breathed the spray in too deeply. It’s hard to know. I have freaked myself out reading about the cases in the USA. Zinc based nasal spray is banned there as it can damage the olfactory nerves. I had no idea.I am really worried and I am convinced it is the product as it was so noticeable the next day. I guess time will tell but I would never use Vicks First Defence again and I want to warn people.

This is the fourth time I've had covid and the only time it's affected my sense of smell! So past experience isn't necessarily all that informative... Have you done a test?

The stuff online is scary and I certainly won't be using Vicks again, just to be safe. However, the zinc in Vicks is a different compound to what was used in the US product that was banned. Also, first defence has been on the market for 15 years - and for most of those years, the US product was banned. If they were equally harmful, I can't believe Vicks would still be on the market.

You're right that unfortunately only time will tell, which I know is pretty unbearable when anxiety is high. Do come back and update with how things progress...

OP posts:
Original poster
Mattietoes · 12/01/2024 22:15

Also worth saying that in most cases in the US where people lost their sense of smell, it was immediate - they used the spray and smell went instantaneously. It didn't take until the next day to crop up.

OP posts:
Thornyrose7 · 12/01/2024 22:29

Thanks for the info. I do hope that I am wrong and it is viral related. I will let you know how it goes. I hope you also get back to normal soon. Our sense of smell is so important. Best wishes.

petermaddog · 12/01/2024 22:48

havent been able to smell ortaste for4years

Thornyrose7 · 13/01/2024 08:57

So sorry to hear that. Is that after using Vicks First Defence or something else?