Taking good care of yourself when you're sick can make an important difference in your recovery. While there is no cure for the common cold, getting plenty of rest and taking certain remedies, including well-timed supplementation with zinc lozenges, may ease cold symptoms and even help you get better faster. However, you should not take zinc or other dietary supplements without your doctor's approval.
Benefits of Zinc for a Cold
A review of 15 randomized controlled trials published by the journal "Evidence-Based Medicine" in February 2011 examined the effects of zinc supplementation in treating the common cold. The meta study concluded that in otherwise healthy people, zinc lozenges and syrup are beneficial in reducing both the duration and severity of the common cold when taken within 24 hours of symptom onset. Evidence also indicates that in children, routine zinc supplementation for at least five months reduces the incidence of the common cold, the related prescription of antibiotics and school absenteeism.
Treatment Recommendations
Although research, such as that published in the February 2011 journal "Evidence-Based Medicine" indicates zinc supplements help with cold treatment, the optimal zinc dosage, formulation and duration of treatment have not yet been determined. Further studies must be conducted before definitive treatment recommendations can be made. That said, zinc dosages that have demonstrated benefits as a cold remedy in clinical research include 9 to 24 mg elemental zinc from a zinc gluconate or acetate lozenge, dissolved by mouth every two hours when awake and cold symptoms are present, according to MedlinePlus.
Side Effects and Safety Warnings
Side effects of zinc lozenges include a bad taste in your mouth and nausea. Zinc nose sprays for colds are possibly unsafe and should be avoided as they may cause loss of the sense of smell, warns MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus also notes that taking oral zinc supplements in amounts of up to 40 mg/day is likely safe for most people; higher amounts are likely unsafe and may cause serious side effects, which may include fever, stomach pain, anemia and copper deficiency. There is insufficient evidence to determine the safety of zinc supplementation for treating colds in people with underlying chronic disease; zinc is, therefore, not recommended for these individuals.
Other Cold Remedies
Besides taking zinc lozenges at the start of a cold, several other remedies have proven effective in treating cold symptoms. According to Mayo Clinic, for temporary reduction of common cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion, cough and sore throat, drink plenty of fluids, gargle with salt water, use saline nasal sprays or drops, consume chicken soup, use a humidifier and take nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers. Dietary supplements other than zinc, including vitamin C and echinacea, have not proven to be effective treatments for colds, notes Mayo Clinic.
