What happens if I overdose Zinc?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include nausea, severe vomiting, dehydration, and restlessness.
Overdose of Zinc in details
Single intravenous doses of 1 to 2 mg Zinc/kg body weight have been given to adult leukemic patients without toxic manifestations. However, acute toxicity was reported in an adult when 10 mg Zinc was infused over a period of one hour on each of four consecutive days. Profuse sweating, decreased level of consciousness, blurred vision, tachycardia (140/min), and marked hypothermia (94.2° F) on the fourth day were accompanied by a serum Zinc concentration of 207 mcg/dl. Symptoms abated within three hours.
Hyperamylasemia may be a sign of impending Zinc overdosage; patients receiving an inadvertent overdose (25 mg Zinc/liter of TPN solution, equivalent to 50 to 70 mg Zinc/day) developed hyperamylasemia (557 to 1850 Klein units; normal: 130 to 310).
Death resulted from an overdosage in which 1683 mg Zinc was delivered intravenously over the course of 60 hours to a 72 year old patient.
Symptoms of Zinc toxicity included hypotension (80/40 mm Hg), pulmonary edema, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and oliguria, with a serum Zinc level of 4184 mcg/dl.
Calcium supplements may confer a protective effect against Zinc toxicity.
What should I avoid while taking Zinc?
Avoid taking this medication with foods that are high in calcium or phosphorus, which can make it harder for your body to absorb Zinc. Foods high in calcium or phosphorus include milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, dried beans or peas, lentils, nuts, peanut butter, beer, cola soft drinks, and hot cocoa.
Zinc warnings
Direct intramuscular or intravenous injection of Zinc 1 mg/mL (Zinc Injection, USP) is contraindicated as the acidic pH of the solution (2) may cause considerable tissue irritation.
Severe kidney disease may make it necessary to reduce or omit chromium and zinc doses because these elements are primarily eliminated in the urine.
WARNING: This product contains aluminum that may be toxic. Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration if kidney function is impaired. Premature neonates are particularly at risk because their kidneys are immature, and they require large amounts of calcium and phosphate solutions, which contain aluminum.
Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zinc?
- If you have an allergy to zinc or any part of zinc.
- If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
This medicine may interact with other drugs or health problems.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take zinc with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
Zinc precautions
General
Do not use unless the solution is clear and the seal is intact.
Zinc 1 mg/mL (Zinc Injection, USP) should only be used in conjunction with a pharmacy directed admixture program using aseptic technique in a laminar flow environment; it should be used promptly and in a single operation without any repeated penetrations. Solution contains no preservatives; discard unused portion immediately after admixture procedure is completed.
Zinc should not be given undiluted by direct injection into a peripheral vein because of the likelihood of infusion phlebitis and the potential for increased excretory loss of zinc from a bolus injection. Administration of zinc in the absence of copper may cause a decrease in serum copper levels.
Laboratory Tests
Periodic determinations of serum copper as well as zinc are suggested as a guideline for subsequent zinc administration.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Impairment of Fertility
Long-term animal studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of Zinc 1 mg/mL (Zinc Injection, USP) have not been performed, nor have studies been done to assess mutagenesis or impairment of fertility.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Zinc 1 mg/mL (Zinc Injection, USP) is administered to a nursing woman. Pediatric Use
Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Zinc. It is also not known whether Zinc can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Zinc should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.
Geriatric Use
An evaluation of current literature revealed no clinical experience identifying differences in response between elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
What happens if I miss a dose of Zinc?
Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
References
- DailyMed. "ZINC SULFATE: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DrugBank. "Zinc sulfate". http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB09322 (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DrugBank. "Zinc". http://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB01593 (accessed September 17, 2018).
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Information checked by Dr. Sachin Kumar, MD Pharmacology
