Over-the-counter medication · Mineral Supplement
zinc sulfate
Also sold as Zinc, Orazinc. This medicine can help with eye discomfort and redness.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,699
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 5
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 16
- Recall records
What the data shows
zinc sulfate (Zinc) is an over-the-counter Mineral Supplement, among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,699 FDA reports), with 5 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
zinc sulfate (Zinc) is an over-the-counter Mineral Supplement. This medicine can help with eye discomfort and redness.
Zinc sulfate is a mineral supplement. It can help with minor eye irritation.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.02/unit
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine can help with eye discomfort and redness.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
No specific warnings noted. Always follow your prescriber's instructions.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from zinc sulfate's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Zinc sulfate works as a mild astringent. This means it can help to relieve minor eye irritation.
How to Take It
Put 1 or 2 drops in the affected eye. Do this up to four times each day. Follow the directions on the package or from your doctor.
This is a plain-language summary of zinc sulfate's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if zinc sulfate can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
This is a plain-language summary of zinc sulfate's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of zinc sulfate's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from heat and light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,699 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for zinc sulfate, by number of reports
- Diarrhea
Diarrhea
215 reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
172 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
166 reports
- Death
Death
153 reports
- Pain
Pain
146 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
136 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
136 reports
- Fever
Fever
127 reports
- Headache
Headache
99 reports
- Weakness
Weakness
98 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for zinc sulfate each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where zinc sulfate sits
zinc sulfate has more FDA adverse-event reports than 17% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is zinc sulfate; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,699 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
2,699
Reports Mentioning Death
383
14.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,216
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIARRHOEA | 215 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 172 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 166 |
| 4 | DEATH | 153 |
| 6 | PAIN | 146 |
| 7 | DYSPNOEA | 136 |
| 8 | VOMITING | 136 |
| 9 | PYREXIA | 127 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 99 |
| 11 | ASTHENIA | 98 |
| 12 | ANAEMIA | 95 |
| 13 | PNEUMONIA | 93 |
| 14 | BACK PAIN | 90 |
| 15 | FALL | 89 |
| 17 | DIZZINESS | 86 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Avoid coadministration of XOFLUZA with dairy products, calcium-fortified beverages, polyvalent cation-containing laxatives, antacids, or oral supplements (e.g., calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc). Avoid coadministration of XOFLUZA with dairy products, calcium-fortified beverages, polyvalent cation-containing laxatives, antacids, or oral supplements (e.g., calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc).
Mechanism: Zinc can bind to this medicine in your stomach and prevent it from being absorbed into your body. This makes the medicine less effective at treating the flu.
What to do: Do not take this medicine at the same time as supplements containing zinc. Avoid these products during your treatment.
Oral administration of BAXDELA with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, with sucralfate, with metal cations such as iron, or with multivitamins containing iron or zinc, or with formulations containing divalent and trivalent cations such as didanosine buffered tablets for oral suspension or the pediatric powder for oral solution, may substantially interfere with the absorption of BAXDELA, resulting in systemic concentrations considerably lower than desired.
Mechanism: Zinc binds to the antibiotic in your stomach, which stops the body from absorbing it properly. This can make the antibiotic much less effective at fighting your infection.
What to do: Do not take these two medications at the same time. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you create a schedule to space them out safely.
Monitor prothrombin time, INR and watch for bleeding (7.2) Antidiabetic agents Carefully monitor blood glucose (5.13, 7.3) 7.1 Chelation Agents: Antacids, Sucralfate, Metal Cations, Multivitamins While the chelation by divalent cations is less marked than with other fluoroquinolones, concurrent administration of levofloxacin tablets with antacids containing magnesium, or aluminum, as well as sucralfate, metal cations such as iron, and multivitamin preparations with zinc may interfere with the gastrointestinal absorption of levofloxacin, resulting in systemic levels considerably lower than...
Mechanism: Zinc binds to the antibiotic in your digestive system, which stops the medicine from entering your blood. This can make the treatment less effective at fighting your infection.
What to do: Avoid taking zinc supplements at the same time as your antibiotic. Ask your healthcare provider for a schedule to take these medicines several hours apart.
Oral administration of moxifloxacin hydrochloride with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium, with sucralfate, with metal cations such as iron, or with multivitamins containing iron or zinc, or with formulations containing divalent and trivalent cations such as didanosine buffered tablets for oral suspension or the pediatric powder for oral solution, may substantially interfere with the absorption of moxifloxacin hydrochloride, resulting in systemic concentrations considerably lower than desired.
Mechanism: Zinc binds to the antibiotic in your digestive tract, preventing the drug from reaching the rest of your body to treat infection.
What to do: Avoid taking zinc supplements at the same time as this antibiotic to ensure you get the full dose.
Absorption of tetracyclines is impaired by antacids containing aluminum, calcium or magnesium and preparations containing iron, zinc, or sodium bicarbonate.
Mechanism: Zinc can bind to the antibiotic in your stomach and prevent it from being soaked up by your body. This makes the antibiotic less effective at fighting infections.
What to do: Do not take these two products at the same time. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how many hours to wait between doses.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
What is zinc sulfate used for?
How often can I use this?
Can I use this with contact lenses?
What should I do if my symptoms don't improve?
Can I use this if I am pregnant?
How should I store this medicine?
Can I use this for other eye problems?
Can I use this with other eye drops?
What should I do if I accidentally swallow this?
Is this safe for children?
Does zinc sulfate interact with other medications?
What drug class is zinc sulfate?
Is zinc sulfate safe during pregnancy?
Has zinc sulfate been recalled?
Active Recalls
Lack of Assurance of Sterility
K.C. Pharmaceuticals, Inc
cGMP deviations
Blossom Pharmaceuticals
cGMP deviations
Blossom Pharmaceuticals
CGMP Deviations
CA BOTANA International, Inc.
CGMP Deviations
CA BOTANA International, Inc.
CGMP Deviations
CA BOTANA International, Inc.
CGMP Deviations
CA BOTANA International, Inc.
CGMP Deviation; manufactured at the same facility where other products and lots were found to be contaminated.
DermaRite Industries, LLC
cGMP deviations
KABANA SKIN CARE
cGMP deviations
KABANA SKIN CARE
Chemical Contamination
Johnson, S C and Son, Inc
CGMP Deviations
SYNCHRONICITY SPA INC, DBA SUNTE
Microbial Contamination of Non-Sterile Products: Presence of Aspergillus Sydowii (Mold)
SYNCHRONICITY SPA INC, DBA SUNTE
Subpotent Drug: Product does not contain SPF that is declared on the label.
HUMANRACE
Subpotent Drug: Product does not contain SPF that is declared on the label.
HUMANRACE
CGMP Deviations: Firm went out of business and could no longer continue stability studies.
Akorn, Inc.
Related Medications in Mineral Supplement
Other drugs grouped near zinc sulfate - same-class peers and common alternatives.
ascorbic acid
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Compare with zinc sulfate →
biotin
Vitamin B7
Dialyvite with Zinc is a prescription vitamin supplement.
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calcitriol
Rocaltrol
Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb and use calcium.
Compare with zinc sulfate →
calcium carbonate
Tums, Caltrate
Calcium carbonate is a medicine that can relieve heartburn and upset stomach.
Compare with zinc sulfate →
cholecalciferol
Vitamin D3
PNV-DHA is a multivitamin with minerals and essential fatty acids.
Compare with zinc sulfate →
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What the FDA Data Shows for zinc sulfate
The FDA label for zinc sulfate (sold under brand names such as Zinc, Orazinc) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Mineral Supplement class. This medicine can help with eye discomfort and redness. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,699 voluntary reports. The database also lists 5 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.02.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 16 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 30, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages