I have a husband that travels throughout the US a few times a month and three kids in school, one of whom is medically fragile. We had about 22 combined sick days last school year, we started taking zicam late summer and we have only had one sick day in the 2 1/2 months since school started. Reading the directions is really important. If you like to pound OJ when your sick, you need to time the zicam carefully around vitamin C consumption. Also, when the instructions say 'every three hours', that includes the middle of the night.
We start the zicam as soon as we even suspect illness, ie flushed, pale or tired for no reason, glassy eyes, sniffles, slight temp.
We get reimbursed for these through our flexible spending account, just as we would co-pays going to the doctor. It is much more convenient and pleasant for everyone to shop in advance and have it on hand, rather than scrambling in the middle on the night to go shopping. Or worse, being up all night with a sick kid so that you can spend the next day in the pediatricians waiting room and the pharmacy.
The only downside we have run into is the taste. We started out with the rectangular chewy version, after the 4th dose we started carefully considering how much worse the flu would be than taking another one of these. We now own every flavor of every version, mentally I know its all pretty much the same stuff, but it distracts the palate from the intense, lingering metallic after taste. The meltaways are the least offensive and most convenient if your on the move (no rattle, no gummy wrappers).
Good luck and stay well!
