<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001006195</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MATRIXX INITIATIVES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTXX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001326537</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Porter Orlin LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>666 FIFTH AVENUE,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3403</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221177</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CF ADVISORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PORTER ORLIN LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>666 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 3403</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001120329</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PORTER A ALEX</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PORTER ORLIN LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>666 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 3403</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221176</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ORLIN PAUL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PORTER ORLIN LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>666 FIFTH AVENUE, SUITE 3403</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Group Owning 10%</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1088424</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1262000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The entities and individuals identified in the footnotes of this Form 4, together with the entities and individuals identified on the Form 4 filed by, among others, The Collectors' Fund, L.P. (&quot;Collectors&quot;) and Amici Healthcare, L.P. (&quot;Amici Healthcare&quot;) on January 10, 2011 and the Form 3 filed by Amici Associates, L.P. (&quot;Amici Associates&quot;), Amici Qualified Associates, L.P. (&quot;Amici Qualified Associates&quot;) and Amici Fund International, Ltd. (&quot;Amici International&quot; and, together with Amici Associates, Amici Qualified Associates, Collectors and Amici Healthcare, the &quot;Funds&quot;) on the date hereof, may be deemed members of a group holding equity securities of the Issuer.  The filing of this Form 4 and any statements included herein shall not be deemed to be an admission that such entities and individuals are members of such group.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The amount of securities shown in this row is, in the aggregate, owned directly by Amici Associates, Amici Qualified Associates, Collectors and Amici Healthcare (collectively, the &quot;Partnerships&quot;).  As the general partner of each of the Partnerships, CF Advisors, LLC (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by each of the Partnerships. The General Partner disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported or referred to herein for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;), or otherwise, except as to securities representing the General Partner's pro rata interest in, and interest in the profits of, the Partnerships.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The amount of securities shown in this row is, in the aggregate, owned directly by the Funds and a discretionary account (the &quot;Managed Account&quot;) managed by Porter Orlin LLC (the &quot;Investment Manager&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As the registered investment adviser to the Funds and the Managed Account, the Investment Manager may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by the Funds and the Managed Account. The Investment Manager disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported or referred to herein for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or otherwise, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each of A. Alex Porter and Paul E. Orlin (collectively, the &quot;Managing Members&quot;), as a managing member of the General Partner and the Investment Manager with the power to exercise investment discretion, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Issuer's securities held by the Funds and the Managed Account. Each of the Managing Members disclaims any beneficial ownership of any of the Issuer's securities reported or referred to herein for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or otherwise, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ A. Alex Porter, as authorized signer for each of Porter Orlin LLC and CF Advisors, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul E. Orlin, as authorized signer for each of Porter Orlin LLC and CF Advisors, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ A. Alex Porter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul E. Orlin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
