Drug Interaction Report

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: The presence of certain foods (e.g., bread, bran, hard boiled eggs, coffee, and milk) may significantly delay the absorption of zinc acetate. Fibres, phytates, and other substances in food prevent zinc from entering intestinal cells by binding with it. Protein does not appear to interfere with its absorption.

MANAGEMENT: Zinc acetate should preferably be taken on an empty stomach, at least one hour before or two to three hours after meals. It may be taken with small amounts of protein such as meat.