Zinc Chloride

Zinc Chloride

Active ingredient: 10.6 mg in 2 mL Zinc Chloride

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Zinc Chloride. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Zinc Chloride.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why is this Zinc Chloride being used?
2. What should I know before Zinc Chloride is used?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Zinc Chloride given?
5. What should I know while Zinc Chloride is being used?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why is Zinc Chloride being used?

Zinc Chloride Injection contains the active ingredient zinc chloride. Zinc Chloride is an essential trace mineral, and it is administered intravenously to maintain adequate levels of zinc in the body, ensuring proper body functioning.

Zinc Chloride is used to prevent or treat a deficiency of zinc in the blood.

2. What should I know before Zinc Chloride is used?

Warnings

You should not be given Zinc Chloride if:

• you are allergic to zinc, or zinc chloride, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have any other medical conditions:
  – kidney disease
  – low levels of cooper in the blood
• you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives, or dyes.
• take any medicines for any other condition.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Avoid skin contact with Zinc Chloride solution

Care should be taken so that no Zinc Chloride solution is accidentally spilt onto the skin or into the eye, as it is caustic. In this case the Zinc Chloride Injection solution should be thoroughly washed away.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Zinc Chloride and affect how it works.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given this medicine.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Zinc Chloride.

4. How is Zinc Chloride given?

How much is given

• The suggested dosage is 2.5 to 4 mg zinc per day. Your doctor will decide the exact dosage Zinc Chloride you will receive.

When Zinc Chloride is given

• Your doctor will decide when and for how long you will receive Zinc Chloride.

How Zinc Chloride is given

• Zinc Chloride injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse.
• Zinc Chloride should be mixed with another solution before it is given to you. Your doctor or nurse will make sure it is prepared correctly.
• Zinc Chloride is usually given by infusion (drip) into a vein.

If Zinc Chloride is missed

Zinc Chloride should be given by your doctor or nurse. If you miss the appointment for your dose, speak with your doctor or nurse.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If too much Zinc Chloride is given

As Zinc Chloride is given to you in a hospital under the supervision of a doctor or nurse, it is unlikely that you will receive an overdose.

Symptoms of an overdose are the same as side effects but may be more severe. The symptoms of a side effect are listed under section 6. Are there any side effects?

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (by calling 13 11 26), or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while Zinc Chloride is being used?

Things you should do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you have been given Zinc Chloride.

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you have been given this medicine.

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you have been given this medicine. It may affect other medicines used during surgery.

If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you have been given this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.

If you feel light-headed or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from beds or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues to get worse talk to your doctor.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Zinc Chloride affects you.

The effects of Zinc Chloride on a person’s ability to drive and use machines were not studied.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

The effects of alcohol with Zinc Chloride use were not studied. Your doctor will decide what you need to do.

Looking after your medicine

• Zinc Chloride will be stored in the surgery, pharmacy or ward of a hospital. The injection is stored below 25°C in a cool dry place.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

No known undesirable effects have been reported with the use of Zinc Chloride according to recommendation. The below common and serious side effects were reported during post-market monitoring. If you get any adverse effects, talk to your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.

Common side effects

Common side effects	What to do
Tiredness Headache Shortness of breath during exercise Dizziness Pale skin Skin irritation	Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects	What to do
Dizziness or light headedness Vomiting and diarrhoea Breathlessness which may be worse on lying down Yellowing of the skin and or eyes Passing less urine than normal	Call your doctor straight away or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Some side effects such as anaemia, low blood pressure or low levels of copper in the blood can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Zinc Chloride contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	10.6 mg of zinc chloride
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	Water for injections Hydrochloric acid
Potential allergens	Not applicable

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Zinc Chloride looks like

Zinc Chloride Injection is a clear, colourless to faint straw coloured solution in a clear glass vial sealed with a grey rubber stopper and aluminium seal with a white plastic flip off cap. It is supplied in a 2 mL vial.

(AUST R 22876)

Who distributes Zinc Chloride

Zinc Chloride is made and supplied in Australia by:

Phebra Pty Ltd
19 Orion Road
Lane Cove West, NSW 2066
Australia
Ph 1800 720 020

This leaflet was updated in August 2023.

Phebra and the Phi symbol are trademarks of Phebra Pty Ltd, 19 Orion Road, Lane Cove West, NSW 2066, Australia.