25 signatures reached
To: Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Presley and Rashida Tlaib
Have the Gov. of the US ensure the availability of zinc acetate and gluconate lozenges
1. Demand that Congress pass legislation to make zinc acetate and/or gluconate lozenges:
- widely available to institutions housing and caring for the elderly
- widely available at health institutions to begin treatment for front-line
medical staff who come down with symptoms
- available to military troops who are at risk in barracks to use for
onset of upper respiratory infections
2. Have the government take over facilities to make the lozenges, or subsidize the production for makers of the lozenges so that they are widely available
3. Demand that the CDC issue a position paper on the use of zinc lozenges in COVID-19 and test their use in treatment (in double-blinded studies) in vulnerable populations. This could certainly be done in volunteers.
Why is this important?
Background: Coronaviruses are common upper respiratory viruses causing up to 35% of colds in communities studied for upper respiratory infections (1,2). Zinc gluconate and zinc acetate lozenges have been shown to diminish the duration of colds by up to 50% and to mitigate symptoms by varying degrees (6-12). The lozenges do this by dissolving and releasing Zinc ions into the fluids of the nasopharynx, where cold viruses first duplicate. Zinc ions have been shown to inhibit viral replication and attachment to cells (keeping the viruses from being able to enter cells to replicate), (3-7). They have specific activity against coronaviruses (3).
As a physician I have been prescribing zinc gluconate lozenges for colds for about 35 years. Their efficacy has been brought home to me by the enthusiasm shown by my asthmatic and COPD patients for them.
Knowing that coronavirus are cold viruses I have been recommending to patients, family and friends to get zinc gluconate and acetate lozenges for the coronavirus COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease - 2019). I have recommended beginning use if they have cold (or worse) symptoms lasting for at least an hour. When I urged my in-laws to get zinc lozenges for upper respiratory symptoms they were having they could not find any in any stores. I can’t find any in my area. I asked a pharmacist I know about availability and was told by him that they are on “back order”, meaning they are not currently available by his supplier.
The Prescription: Suck one zinc acetate (preferably) or zinc gluconate (more easily available) every two hours while awake for up to 4 days. Stop treatment 2 lozenges after you feel back to normal or after 4 days, whichever comes first.
About me: I am an adult medicine primary care physician. I work easily 68 – 80 hours a week between patient care and administrative work for the patients I see. I have put together this information in the past week, mostly while awaiting the birth of my first grandson.
Right now a survey of on-line prices for zinc lozenges shows prices vary widely, with some prices for them up 500% - 800% over the past week, and delivery not available for 3-4 weeks!
CORONAVIRUSES, COLD VIRUSES AND ZINC - REFERENCES
1. Monto A. Medical Reviews. Coronaviruses. The Yale J Biol Med 47:234-251 (1974)
2. Isaacs D, Flowers D, Clark JR, et al. Epidemiology of coronavirus respiratory infections. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 1983, 58, 500-503
3. te Velthius A, van den Sjoerd H, Sims A, et al. Zn2+ Inhibits Coronavirus and Arterivirus RNA Polymerase Activity In Vitro and Zinc Ionophores Block the Replication of These Viruses in Cell Culture. PLoS Pathog 6(11):e1001176.
4. Korant BD, Butterworth BE. Inhibition by zinc of rhinovirus protein cleavage: interaction of zinc with capsid polypeptides. J Virol 1976;18:298–306.
5. Korant BD, Kaurer JC, Butterworth BE. Zinc ions inhibit replication of rhinoviruses. Nature 1974;248:588–90.
6. Prasad A, Beck F, Bao B et al. Duration and Severity of Symptoms and Levels of Plasma Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor, and Adhesion Molecules in Patients with Common Cold Treated with Zinc Acetate. Journal of Infectious Diseases 2008; 197:795– 802
7. Prasad A, Fitzgerald J, Bao B. Duration of Symptoms and Plasma Cytokine Levels in Patients with the Common Cold Treated with Zinc Acetate: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Ann Int Med. 2000;133:245-252
8. Eby G, Davis D & Halcomb W. Reduction in Duration of Common Colds by Zinc Gluconate Lozenges in a Double-Blind Study. AntiMic Agents Chemo, Jan 1984;25(1):20-24
9. Petrus E, Lawson K, Bucci L, et al. RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-MASKED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ZINC ACETATE LOZENGES ON COMMON COLD SYMPTOMS IN ALLERGY-TESTED SUBJECTS. Current Therapeutic Research, Sept 1998;59(9):595-607
10. Hemila H. Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosage. Jnl Royal Soc of Med Open, 2017;8(5): 1-7
11. Eby G. Zinc lozenges as cure for the common cold – A review and hypothesis. Med Hypoth, Mar 2010;74(3):482-492
12. Hemila H. Zinc Lozenges May Shorten the Duration of Colds: A Systematic Review. The Open Res Med Jnl, 2011;5:51-58
13. Fendrick AM, Monto AS, Nightengale B, et al. The economic burden of noninfluenza-related viral respiratory tract infection in the United States. Arch Intern Med 2003;163:487–94.