Zinc gluconate nasal swabs are an over-the-counter treatment indicated to reduce the duration of cold symptoms; however, the efficacy of this treatment remains controversial. Severe side effects associated with the daily use of these zinc swabs prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to warn consumers to stop using these intranasal zinc swabs as of June 2009.
Loss of Smell
The most severe side effect associated with the daily use of zinc swabs is the loss of your sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. If you develop anosmia, you may have difficulty detecting scents, such as smoke or a gas leak, the FDA warns. The loss of your sense of smell following treatment with zinc nasal swabs may be permanent.
Altered Taste
Changes in your sense of smell may also affect your ability to taste -- a side effect of zinc nasal swabs called ageusia. Altered taste sensations may have a significant effect on your life, especially if you are employed in an industry that requires a discriminatory sense of taste, such as the food industry. Like anosmia, ageusia may also be chronic or permanent.
Burning or Stinging
Daily treatment with intranasal zinc swabs may cause nasal irritation. You may experience a temporary burning or stinging sensation within the treated nostril, according to Matrixx, a manufacturer of zinc nasal swabs. Nasal irritation may be uncomfortable and may induce sneezing or runny nose. Nasal burning or stinging is typically transient and subsides within a few minutes following nasal swabbing.
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