Zinc lozenges can cut the duration of the common cold by nearly one-half
Many Americans are interested in saving money on prescription drugs, which become more expensive every year.
Many Americans are interested in saving money on prescription drugs, which become more expensive every year. Smart shoppers may want to turn to a Canadian internet pharmacy, which often offers significant discounts on the medications that patients need for a variety of illnesses, from cancer to the common cold.
Recently, scientists from the University of Helsinki in Finland reported that zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of a cold by as much as 40 percent. These drugs are dissolved slowly in the mouth and have been used for this ailment since the early 1980s.
Lead author Harri Hemila and colleagues analyzed 13 studies in which different dosages of zinc were administered to study subjects. They found that giving daily doses of more than 75 milligrams resulted in an average reduction of 42 percent in the duration of the common cold.
"Since a large proportion of trial participants have remained without adverse effects, zinc lozenges might be useful for them as a treatment option for the common cold," Hemila explained.
This study is currently published in the Open Respiratory Medicine Journal.
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