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Does zinc make you feel good?

There is no guarantee that zinc will help you feel better faster. In some studies, zinc did nothing to shorten how long people with colds felt bad. In other studies, zinc may have shortened symptoms by a few days. But the side effects from taking zinc can be uncomfortable or serious in some cases.

mayoclinic.org - Zinc for colds: The final word? - Mayo Clinic

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Will taking zinc for colds make my colds go away faster? Answer From Pritish K. Tosh, M.D.

There is no guarantee that zinc will help you feel better faster.

In some studies, zinc did nothing to shorten how long people with colds felt bad. In other studies, zinc may have shortened symptoms by a few days. But the side effects from taking zinc can be uncomfortable or serious in some cases. No one enjoys the tiredness, scratchy or sore throat, drippy nose, headache, and cough of a cold. Viruses are the most common causes of colds, in particular viruses called rhinoviruses. There are more than 100 strains of rhinoviruses, and they are very good at growing in the nose and throat. The idea behind using zinc to stop cold symptoms is based on lab experiments. Scientists found that zinc blocked the rhinovirus from getting into cells. To test the idea, a study in 1984 used zinc as a tablet that dissolves in the mouth, called a lozenge. It compared people taking zinc with those taking a lozenge without zinc. The study found that zinc shortened the time people felt sick from their colds. It also reported a lot of side effects. Compared with people who didn't take zinc, those who did commonly complained of upset stomach, problems with taste and mouth irritation. Other side effects of taking zinc can be serious. Some people who used zinc nasal sprays had permanent loss of smell. Taken all together, research shows mixed results for zinc and colds. For that reason, zinc can't be recommended to shorten your cold symptoms. Researchers can't say why zinc works in some studies and not others. There are still questions about which type of zinc works best. Research also doesn't show what amount of zinc is the best. And researchers don't know how people can avoid the side effects of taking zinc. As a result, it's not clear what the best dose or treatment plan would be. The limit of zinc for adults is less than 40 mg a day unless their health care providers say otherwise. The safest option is to talk to your provider before using zinc when you have a cold.

With Pritish K. Tosh, M.D.

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Can you take zinc with diabetes medication?

No interactions were found between metformin and Zinc.

drugs.com - Metformin and Zinc Interactions Checker - Drugs.com

Major metFORMIN food Applies to: metformin

MetFORMIN should be taken with meals, and excessive alcohol intake (either short-term binge drinking or frequent consumption) should be avoided during treatment. Taking metFORMIN with alcohol may increase the risk of a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis, which is a buildup of lactic acid in the blood that can occasionally occur during treatment with metformin-containing products. Lactic acidosis is more likely to occur if you have kidney or liver disease, acute or unstable congestive heart failure, or dehydration. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop potential signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis such as fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, increasing drowsiness, abdominal pain or discomfort, slow or irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulty, chills, and other unusual symptoms. Alcohol may also affect blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur, depending on how much and how often you drink. You should avoid using alcohol if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you have high triglycerides, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis. Moderate alcohol consumption generally does not affect blood glucose levels if your diabetes is under control. However, you should limit your alcohol intake due to the risk of lactic acidosis with metformin. Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or following exercise, as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about metformin.

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