Upper respiratory infections affect millions of Americans every year. Although rarely life-threatening, symptoms of the common cold often cause feelings of poor health and lost productivity in the workplace. Fortunately, there are many products available over-the-counter that can be used to treat symptoms of the common cold, including zinc lozenges.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Upper respiratory tract infections are typically caused by airborne viruses. The common cold is not caused by extreme temperatures, as often believed. Risk factors for contracting an upper respiratory infection include a weakened immune system, poor health, and close contact with infected individuals. In addition to loss of general health and work productivity, upper respiratory infections can make the respiratory tract more susceptible to bacterial infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Treatment Options
Although treatment for upper respiratory infections typically involves symptom management, prescription anti-virals are available for severe cases. Products available over-the-counter do not inhibit or combat the virus itself. Most cough and cold products keep symptoms manageable while your immune system combats the virus. Maintaining good health and getting plenty of rest allows our body to effectively eliminate the virus.
Zinc Lozenges
Zinc lozenges are available for purchase over-the-counter. Unlike other cough and cold products, zinc lozenges do not treat any actual symptoms. The purpose of these lozenges is to provide ionized zinc, which stimulates and promotes your immune system. In addition, some studies have shown that zinc may inhibit viral replication. Although zinc lozenges are unlikely to eradicate the virus, they may slow the migration of the virus into other parts of the upper respiratory tract and shorten the duration of illness. One popular brand of zinc lozenges is Cold EEZE, with each lozenge containing 13.3 mg of zinc gluconium. The recommended dose is one lozenge dissolved in the mouth every two to four hours until cold symptoms subside. Adults can use a maximum of six lozenges per day, while children ages 12 to 17 can take up to four lozenges per day. Patients are advised to always follow the specific instructions for use provided by the package labeling, since other zinc lozenge products may contain different ingredients and directions.
Effectiveness
A 2010 review titled "Zinc Lozenges as Cure for the Common Cold-A Review and Hypothesis," published in Med Hypotheses by the George Eby Research Institute claims that zinc lozenges could shorten the duration of the common cold by six to seven days. However, these results were confined to products that contained zinc gluconate, which has higher amounts of ionized zinc. According to the review, zinc lozenges could be beneficial if they contained formulations such as zinc gluconate. Patients with concerns regarding upper respiratory infections and options for treatment should contact their physicians.
References
- "Med Hypotheses"; Zinc Lozenges as Cure for the Common Cold-A Review and Hypothesis; George Eby Research Institute; Mar. 2010
- MayoClinic: Common Cold
- Cold EEZE: Product Information
Member Comments