Taking zinc lozenges every few hours might help people get over a cold faster, with more people feeling better in a week compared to those who don't take them.

Taking zinc lozenges soon after cold symptoms start can help adults get over their colds faster, cutting down how long you feel sick by about 1 to 4 days.

Taking zinc lozenges every couple of hours when you have a cold might help you get better faster, cutting the time you feel sick from about a week to just over four days.

Taking zinc gluconate lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better about 7 days faster than if you didn't take them, according to a study.

Taking zinc lozenges with less than 75 mg per day doesn't seem to shorten how long a cold lasts, based on studies comparing them to fake pills. It might only work if you take enough.

Taking zinc acetate lozenges soon after cold symptoms start can help otherwise healthy adults recover from a cold about three times faster than if they didn't take them.