Reduces drug absorption
Separate by 4+ hours. Critical for HIV management.
Reduces drug absorption
Separate by 4+ hours. Monitor closely.
Reduces drug absorption
Separate by 4+ hours.
Reduces drug absorption
Do not take together. Separate by 4+ hours.
Reduces drug effectiveness
Separate administration.
May reduce drug effectiveness
Separate by 4+ hours.
Reduces drug absorption
Do not coadminister.
Reduces drug absorption
Take zinc 3+ hours after cephalexin.
Reduces zinc absorption
Take at separate times.
Reduces zinc absorption
Don't take zinc with coffee.
Increases manganese absorption
Monitor if taking both.
Reduces drug absorption
Separate by 2+ hours.
Mutual absorption reduction
Take at separate times if concerned, but effect is likely minor.
△ KEY RULE: Zinc chelates many drugs in the gut. Separate zinc from medications by at least 2-4 hours.
Avelor found that Kirkland (Costco) Multivitamin contained 423.8% of labeled zinc, dangerously high. This is a critical Avelor red flag.
Not Prohibited. Not on the 2026 WADA list.
Avelor found that Kirkland (Costco) Multivitamin contained 423.8% of labeled zinc, dangerously high. This is a critical Avelor red flag.
Reference identifiers on this page are being re-verified against PubMed. Some may not yet link to the paper named beside them.
**, Science M et al. "Zinc for the treatment of the common cold: a systematic review and meta-analysis." *CMAJ*, 2012. Key finding: Zinc lozenges/syrup started within 24 hours of cold symptom onset significantly reduced cold duration by 1-2 days.
Zinc for the treatment of the common cold: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. (2012). PMID: 28515951
Independently graded against 178,763 indexed supplements and 757 reviewed supplement and medication pairs, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated: April 5, 2026
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.
Safety
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Take at different times
Take this antibiotic at a DIFFERENT time from mineral supplements. Minerals taken within 2 hours (before) or 6 hours (after) of fluoroquinolone antibiotics significantly reduce antibiotic absorption. Discuss timing with your prescriber or pharmacist.
Reduced antibiotic absorption → treatment failure risk.
Zinc chelation in the gut prevents fluoroquinolone absorption.
Penicillamine (Wilson's disease)
Take at different times
Take penicillamine at least 1 hour apart from zinc, on an empty stomach.
Concurrent administration of zinc and penicillamine may result in decreased gastrointestinal absorption and diminished therapeutic effects of penicillamine.
Zinc, a polyvalent cation, can chelate with penicillamine in the gastrointestinal tract, forming a nonabsorbable complex that reduces the absorption of both agents.
Tetracycline antibiotics
Copper (chronic high-dose zinc)
Timing Separation Rules
Educational information only. This is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your prescriber before starting, stopping, or combining any supplement with prescription medication.