What kind of interaction is it?

Timing-sensitive: the two substances can be taken on the same day but should be separated by a minimum time window.

Is this interaction backed by published research?

Yes. NutriStack lists 2 citation rows for the Cefuroxime + Zinc pair, each linking to PubMed by PMID where available. Full sourcing methodology at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/interactions.

Supplement × Prescription·timing-sensitive·Insufficient evidence

Cefuroxime + Zinc

Q: Can I take Cefuroxime and Zinc together?

Yes, if you separate them in time. Cefuroxime and Zinc have a documented timing-sensitive interaction. Oral zinc, a divalent cation, can chelate cephalosporins and reduce their gastrointestinal absorption. Although best characterized for quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, the same cation-chelation principle can theoretically lower cefuroxime axetil absorption when taken together.

Q: How does this affect a NutriStack Stack Score?

-5 to your Stack Score per scored timing-sensitive row.

Timing Sensitive Insufficient evidence

Oral zinc, a divalent cation, can chelate cephalosporins and reduce their gastrointestinal absorption. Although best characterized for quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, the same cation-chelation principle can theoretically lower cefuroxime axetil absorption when taken together.

Supplement × Prescription

Open the interaction checker → Read the methodology

From the database

What the row says.

Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, and the recommendation.

Substances

Cefuroxime and Zinc

Pair type

Timing Sensitive

Evidence

Insufficient

Source citations

Scope

Supplement × Prescription

Last verified

June 4, 2026

Timing SensitiveInsufficient evidence

What is happening. Oral zinc, a divalent cation, can chelate cephalosporins and reduce their gastrointestinal absorption. Although best characterized for quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, the same cation-chelation principle can theoretically lower cefuroxime axetil absorption when taken together.

Mechanism. Divalent zinc (Zn2+) cation chelation of the antibiotic in the gut lumen, forming poorly absorbed complexes and reducing oral bioavailability.

Recommendation. Separate zinc supplements from cefuroxime axetil by at least 2 hours. Take the antibiotic with food as prescribed and stagger zinc rather than discontinuing it.

Timing

Timing & separation.

Space the doses apart by at least this window to avoid the conflict.

Minimum separation

120

Stack Score

How it moves the number.

Effect on the composite score

If both Cefuroxime and Zinc are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).

The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are at /methodology/stack-score.

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Every claim on this page is cited. PMIDs link straight to PubMed.

Reference material

1Campbell NR, Hasinoff BB. Iron supplements: a common cause of drug interactions. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1991.Needs sourceNo link
2Lomaestro BM, Bailie GR. Absorption interactions with fluoroquinolones. Drug Saf. 1995.Needs sourceNo link

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Open the interaction checker → Browse the research index