Is Zinc Safe with Tenofovir?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Take zinc supplements at least 2 hours apart from Tenofovir. Inform your HIV specialist if you are taking high-dose zinc for immune support.
Why this interaction occurs
Zinc, as a divalent cation, has the theoretical potential to chelate with Tenofovir and reduce its oral bioavailability. Clinical significance appears low but separation is a prudent precaution.
Evidence
Evidence level: limited.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 39,320 reports mentioning Tenofovir. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Tenofovir + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Zinc interactions → · All Tenofovir interactions →
Already checked this one — check your whole list
Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.