Zinc Gluconate

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 1, 2024.

Pronunciation

(zink GLOO koe nate)

Index Terms

Zincum Gluconicum 2x

Dosage Forms

Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling. [DSC] = Discontinued product

Capsule, Oral [preservative free]:

Zn-50: 50 mg [dye free, sugar free, yeast free]

Gum, Oral:

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [bubble-gum flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (20 ea [DSC]) [cinnamon flavor]

Lozenge, Mouth/Throat:

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (6 ea [DSC])

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [cherry flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [citrus flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [honey-lemon flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [menthol flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea [DSC]) [tropical fruit flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (2 ea, 10 ea, 18 ea, 24 ea) [gluten free; cherry flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea, 24 ea) [gluten free; honey-lemon flavor]

Cold-Eeze: 13.3 mg (18 ea) [gluten free; tropical orange flavor]

Generic: 10 mg (100 ea)

Lozenge, Mouth/Throat [preservative free]:

Cold-Eeze Sugar Free: 13.3 mg (18 ea) [gluten free, no artificial color(s), sugar free]

Cold-Eeze Sugar Free: 13.3 mg (18 ea, 24 ea) [gluten free, no artificial color(s), sugar free; cherry flavor]

Tablet, Oral:

Generic: 15 mg, 30 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg

Tablet, Oral [preservative free]:

Generic: 50 mg [DSC]

Brand Names: U.S.

Cold-Eeze Sugar Free [OTC]
Cold-Eeze [OTC]
Zn-50 [OTC]

Pharmacologic Category

Trace Element

Pharmacology

Zinc is an essential mineral that is found in almost every cell. It stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes (IOM 2001). Zinc deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of infection. When used to treat the common cold, zinc may interfere with rhinovirus cleavage or adhesion, and may protect plasma membranes from microbial toxins and complement (Nahas 2011).

Absorption

Small intestine (IOM 2001)

Distribution

Stored primarily in skeletal muscle and bone (IOM 2001)

Excretion

Feces and urine (IOM 2001)

Protein Binding

Albumin and alpha 1-macroglobulin (Foote 1984).

Use: Labeled Indications

Common cold: To reduce the duration and severity of symptoms associated with the common cold.

Dietary supplement: For use as a dietary supplement.

Contraindications

There are no contraindications listed in the manufacturer's labeling.

Dosing: Adult

Common cold: Note: For best results, begin therapy 24 to 48 hours prior to symptom onset: Oral: Dissolve one 13.3 mg lozenge in mouth every 2 to 4 hours as needed. Maximum: 6 lozenges daily.

Dietary supplement: Oral: One capsule/tablet daily or as directed by health care provider.

Dosing: Geriatric

Refer to adult dosing.

Dosing: Pediatric

Common cold: Note: Consult product-specific labeling for manufacturer-recommended ages. For best results, begin therapy 24 to 48 hours prior to symptom onset: Cold-Eeze Lozenge: Children ≥12 years and Adolescents: Oral topical: Dissolve one lozenge in mouth every 2 to 4 hours as needed. Age-dependent maximum daily dose: 12 to 17 years: 4 lozenges/day; ≥18 years: 6 lozenges/day.

Zinc deficiency, treatment: Limited data available: Note: Dosage expressed in terms of elemental zinc (Kliegman 2016)

Acquired: Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Oral: 0.5 to 1 mg/kg/day

Acrodermatitis enteropathica:Infants, Children, and Adolescents: Oral: 3 mg/kg/day

Administration

Oral: Administer with food to avoid stomach upset.

Lozenge: Dissolve in mouth; do not chew. Avoid eating or drinking for 15 minutes after administration.

Dietary Considerations

Dietary sources of zinc are red meat, some seafood, and whole grains. When dietary phytate is increased (as with some vegetarian diets), dietary absorption of zinc is decreased (IOM 2001).

Lozenge: Avoid citrus fruits/juices and products containing citric acid within 30 minutes prior to or after use.

Dietary adequate intake (AI) (IOM 2001): Dose expressed as elemental zinc

1 to 6 months: 2 mg daily

Dietary recommended daily allowance (RDA) (IOM 2001): Dose expressed as elemental zinc

7 to 12 months: 3 mg daily

1 to 3 years: 3 mg daily

4 to 8 years: 5 mg daily

9 to 13 years: 8 mg daily

14 to 18 years: Females: 9 mg daily; Males: 11 mg daily; Pregnancy: 12 mg daily; Lactation: 13 mg daily

>18 years: Females: 8 mg daily; Males: 11 mg daily; Pregnancy: 11 mg daily: Lactation: 12 mg daily

Storage

Store at controlled room temperature.

Drug Interactions

Baloxavir Marboxil: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Baloxavir Marboxil. Avoid combination

Bictegravir: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Bictegravir. Management: Administer bictegravir under fasting conditions at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after polyvalent cation containing products. Coadministration of bictegravir with or 2 hours after most polyvalent cation products is not recommended. Consider therapy modification

Bisphosphonate Derivatives: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Bisphosphonate Derivatives. Management: Avoid administration of oral medications containing polyvalent cations within: 2 hours before or after tiludronate/clodronate/etidronate; 60 minutes after oral ibandronate; or 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate. Consider therapy modification

Ceftibuten: Zinc Salts may decrease the serum concentration of Ceftibuten. Management: Consider administering oral zinc salts at least 3 hours after ceftibuten. Consider therapy modification

Cephalexin: Zinc Salts may decrease the absorption of Cephalexin. Management: Consider administering oral zinc salts at least 3 hours after cephalexin. Consider therapy modification

Deferiprone: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Deferiprone. Management: Separate administration of deferiprone and oral medications or supplements that contain polyvalent cations by at least 4 hours. Consider therapy modification

Dolutegravir: Zinc Salts may decrease the serum concentration of Dolutegravir. Management: Administer dolutegravir at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after oral zinc salts. Administer the dolutegravir/rilpivirine combination product at least 4 hours before or 6 hours after oral zinc salts. Consider therapy modification

Eltrombopag: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Eltrombopag. Management: Administer eltrombopag at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after oral administration of any polyvalent cation containing product. Consider therapy modification

Elvitegravir: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Elvitegravir. Management: Administer elvitegravir 2 hours before or 6 hours after the administration of polyvalent cation containing products. Consider therapy modification

PenicillAMINE: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of PenicillAMINE. Management: Separate the administration of penicillamine and oral polyvalent cation containing products by at least 1 hour. Consider therapy modification

Quinolones: Zinc Salts may decrease the serum concentration of Quinolones. Management: Give oral quinolones at several hours before (4 h for moxi- and sparfloxacin, 2 h for others) or after (8 h for moxi-, 6 h for cipro/dela-, 4 h for lome-, 3 h for gemi-, and 2 h for enox-, levo-, nor-, pe- or ofloxacin or nalidixic acid) oral zinc salts. Consider therapy modification

Raltegravir: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Raltegravir. Management: Administer raltegravir 2 hours before or 6 hours after administration of the polyvalent cations. Dose separation may not adequately minimize the significance of this interaction. Consider therapy modification

Tetracyclines: Zinc Salts may decrease the absorption of Tetracyclines. Only a concern when both products are administered orally. Management: Consider doxycycline as a noninteracting tetracycline derivative. Separate dose administration of oral tetracycline derivative and oral zinc salts by at least 2 hours to minimize interaction. Consider therapy modification

Trientine: Polyvalent Cation Containing Products may decrease the serum concentration of Trientine. Management: Avoid concomitant administration of trientine and oral products that contain polyvalent cations. If oral iron supplements are required, separate the administration by 2 hours. If other oral polyvalent cations are needed, separate administration by 1 hour. Consider therapy modification

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse drug reactions and incidences are derived from product labeling unless otherwise specified.

Frequency not defined; may vary with different salts. Adverse reactions reported with excess dietary zinc (IOM 2001).

Central nervous system: Headache

Endocrine & metabolic: Copper deficiency, decreased HDL cholesterol, decreased LDL cholesterol

Gastrointestinal: Abdominal cramps, decreased appetite, diarrhea, epigastric pain, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting

Hematologic & oncologic: Immunodeficiency

Warnings/Precautions

Disease related concerns:

• Malabsorption syndromes: Absorption of zinc may be decreased and urinary excretion increased in patients with Crohn’s disease, short bowel syndrome and sprue (IOM 2001).

Other warnings/precautions:

• Self-medication (OTC use): When used for self medication (OTC) to treat the common cold, notify health care provider if symptoms continue for greater than 7 days. Increase fluid intake during therapy.

Pregnancy Risk Factor C Pregnancy Considerations

Zinc crosses the placenta and can be measured in the cord blood and placenta. Fetal concentrations are regulated by the placenta (de Moraes 2011). The RDA is increased during pregnancy (IOM 2001).

Patient Education

What is this drug used for?

• It is used to help the immune system.

• It is used to ease cold and flu signs.

• It is used to help growth and good health.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Talk to your doctor if you have questions.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a limited summary of general information about the medicine's uses from the patient education leaflet and is not intended to be comprehensive. This limited summary does NOT include all information available about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. For a more detailed summary of information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine, please speak with your healthcare provider and review the entire patient education leaflet.