If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use zinc without first talking to your health care provider.

Amiloride (Midamor) -- Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that may increase the levels of zinc in your blood. Do not take zinc supplements if you take amiloride.

Blood pressure medications, ACE Inhibitors -- A class of medications called ACE inhibitors, used to treat high blood pressure, may decrease the levels of zinc in your blood. ACE inhibitors include:

• Captopril (Capoten)
• Benazepril (Lotensin)
• Enalapril (Vasotec)
• Lisinopril (Zestril)
• Fosinopril (Monopril)
• Ramipril (Altace)
• Perindopril (Aceon)
• Quinapril (Accupril)
• Moexipril (Univasc)
• Trandolapril (Mavik)

Antibiotics -- Zinc may decrease your body's absorption of two kinds of antibiotics, quinolones and tetracyclines. These include:

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• Ofloxacin (Floxin)
• Moxifloxacin (Avelox)
• Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• Gatifloxacin (Tequin)
• Tetracycline
• Minocycline (Minocin)
• Demeclocycline (Declomycin)

However, doxycycline (Vibramycin) does not seem to interact with zinc.

Cisplatin (Platinol-AQ) -- This drug, used for chemotherapy to treat some types of cancers, may cause more zinc to be excreted in your urine. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, do not take zinc or any other supplement without talking to your oncologist.

Deferoxamine (Desferal) -- This medication, used to remove excess iron from the blood, also increases the amount of zinc that is lost in urine.

Immunosuppressant medications -- Since zinc may make the immune system stronger, it should not be taken with corticosteroids (such a prednisone), cyclosporine, or other medications intended to suppress the immune system.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- Zinc interacts with NSAIDs and could reduce the absorption and effectiveness of these medications. Examples of NSAIDs, which help to reduce pain and inflammation, include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naprosyn (Aleve), piroxicam (Feldene), and indomethacin (Indocin).

Penicillamine -- This medication, used to treat Wilson's disease (where excess copper builds up in the brain, liver, kidney, and eyes) and rheumatoid arthritis, decreases the levels of zinc in your blood.

Thiazide diuretics (water pills) -- This class of medications lowers the amount of zinc in your blood by increasing the amount of zinc that is passed in your urine. If you take thiazide diuretics, your doctor will monitor levels of zinc and other important minerals in your blood:

• Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
• Hydrochlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
• Indapamide (Lozol)
• Metolozone (Zaroxolyn)
• Polythiazide (Renese)
• Quinethazone (Hydromox)
• Trichlormethiazide (Metahydrin, Naqua, Diurese)