Zinc Supplements (Systemic)
Before Using This Dietary SupplementIf you are taking this dietary supplement without a prescription, carefully
read and follow any precautions on the label. For zinc supplements, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your health care professional if you are allergic
to any substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy - It is especially important that you are receiving
enough vitamins and minerals when you become pregnant and that you continue
to receive the right amount of vitamins and minerals throughout your pregnancy.
The healthy growth and development of the fetus depend on a steady supply
of nutrients from the mother. There is evidence that low blood levels of zinc
may lead to problems in pregnancy or defects in the baby. However, taking
large amounts of a dietary supplement in pregnancy may be harmful to the mother
and/or fetus and should be avoided.
Breast-feeding - It is important that you receive the right amounts
of vitamins and minerals so that your baby will also get the vitamins and
minerals needed to grow properly. However, taking large amounts of a dietary
supplement while breast-feeding may be harmful to the mother and/or baby and
should be avoided.
Children - Problems in children have not been reported with
intake of normal daily recommended amounts.
Older adults - Problems in older adults have not been reported with
intake of normal daily recommended amounts. There is some evidence that the
elderly may be at risk of becoming deficient in zinc due to poor food selection,
decreased absorption of zinc by the body, or medicines that decrease absorption
of zinc or increase loss of zinc from the body.
Medicines or other dietary supplements - Although certain medicines or dietary supplements should not be used together
at all, in other cases they may be used together even if an interaction might
occur. In these cases, your health care professional may want to change the
dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking zinc supplements,
it is especially important that your health care professional know if you
are taking any of the following:
-
Copper supplements or
-
Tetracycline (medicine for infection) - Use with zinc supplements
may cause these copper supplements or tetracycline to be less effective; zinc
supplements should be given at least 2 hours after copper supplements, or
tetracycline
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of zinc supplements. Make sure you tell your health
care professional if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Copper deficiency - Zinc supplements may make this condition
worse
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