Zinc Lozenges for Influenza and Sore Throat
You should not purchase zinc lozenges for treating influenza or sore throat, as there is no evidence supporting their use for influenza, and the evidence for common cold treatment is inconsistent and of low quality.
Why Zinc Lozenges Are Not Recommended for Your Situation
Lack of Evidence for Influenza
- Zinc lozenges have never been studied or shown to be effective for treating influenza—all research has focused exclusively on the common cold, which is caused by different viruses (rhinoviruses, coronaviruses) than influenza 1, 2, 3.
- The provided guidelines for influenza treatment focus on antiviral medications like oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which you are already taking, and do not mention zinc as an adjunctive therapy 4.
- Influenza is a specific viral infection caused by influenza A or B viruses, while the common cold is caused by entirely different pathogens—treatments for one do not apply to the other 4, 1.
Limited and Inconsistent Evidence for Common Cold
- Even for the common cold (not influenza), the evidence for zinc lozenges is weak and contradictory—of eight double-blind placebo-controlled trials, only four showed benefit while four showed no effect 2.
- A 2024 Cochrane review found that zinc supplementation may reduce cold duration by approximately 2.4 days, but this evidence is of low certainty due to high variability between studies and incomplete reporting 1.
- The effect on symptom severity is uncertain, with very low to low-certainty evidence showing little or no difference 1.
Significant Adverse Effects
Common Side Effects
- Zinc lozenges cause a significantly increased risk of non-serious adverse events, with moderate-certainty evidence showing a 34% increased risk compared to placebo 1.
- Unpleasant taste occurs in approximately 80% of users (compared to 30% with placebo), which is the most common complaint 3.
- Nausea occurs in 20% of zinc users compared to 4% with placebo 3.
- Mouth irritation and bad taste reactions are nearly universal, with 90% of users experiencing some adverse effect 3.
Formulation Issues
- The efficacy of zinc lozenges depends heavily on formulation—lozenges containing citric acid or tartaric acid may be completely ineffective due to chelation of zinc ions, rendering the zinc unavailable 2.
- Most commercially available zinc lozenges contain these chelating agents as flavoring, which would negate any potential benefit 2.
What You Should Do Instead
Continue Your Current Treatment
- Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is the appropriate evidence-based treatment for influenza and should be continued as prescribed 4.
- Oseltamivir reduces illness duration by approximately 1-1.5 days when started within 48 hours of symptom onset and significantly reduces complications 4, 5.
Symptomatic Management for Sore Throat
- Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief and fever reduction 6.
- Consider throat lozenges or sprays containing local anesthetics (benzocaine, menthol) for temporary sore throat relief 6.
- Maintain adequate hydration and rest 6.
- Saline gargles may provide symptomatic relief for sore throat 6.
Critical Pitfall to Avoid
Do not substitute zinc lozenges for your prescribed oseltamivir or delay seeking medical attention if symptoms worsen—zinc has no proven role in influenza treatment, while oseltamivir has demonstrated mortality benefit in high-risk patients and reduction in complications 4, 5.