Lysine for Herpes Simplex (HSV) User Reviews

• Anonymous
• November 11, 2011

"I've had herpes for 15 years and used to suffer with painful outbreaks. When searching the web, I found out about Lysine. I don't take it daily because I rarely have outbreaks, but I probably will. Currently, I've been taking 4 500 mg tablets daily when I feel that an outbreak is coming on. Either the outbreak doesn't come at all or it is less severe and goes away after a day or two. I also take Vitamin C with the Lysine and it's been very successful. I think I may take a Lysine vitamin daily to avoid the outbreaks altogether."

• Pau...
• December 20, 2014

"I've had herpes for about 3 years now. Have been having more OBs the last few years, up to 2 OBs per month. Tried lots, eating really well, exercising regularly, stress relief, etc. Nothing was helping much. Now I take 500 mg of lysine first thing in the morning and 500 mg before bed. Not had an OB for 60 days! That is amazing for me. No groin pain either. This stuff rocks! Get on it! I also drink turmeric tea regularly, which I think helps with the groin pain (by reducing inflammation and being good for your immune system). 95% of the credit goes to lysine though!"

• Wyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 10, 2017

"I've had cold sores since I was a child. It's embarrassing and ghastly to look at. I'm now 32, and I've figured out the best remedies to prevent or speed up healing time. The #1 best medication is L-lysine. I take 1000 mg capsules (Nature's Bounty) at the first sign of an itch, tingle, or irritation. I take no chances! Since taking L-lysine, I haven't had one form yet. Dry lips on windy days, runny nose, and stress are my triggers. #2 is ice. Freezing it prevents the blisters from forming. The virus thrives in warm, moist areas. Use #3 rubbing alcohol with ice to dry out sore. For those naturopaths, #4 turmeric is great in stopping blisters from spreading. It's a natural anti-inflammatory, and the virus is unable to thrive. Best of luck!!!"

• Hap...
• July 18, 2016

"One day I got a severe headache. It lasted for 3 full days. I was tired, could barely move, pain all over. I developed a rash, almost like chafing on my inner thighs next to my lady parts. I knew it was herpes, so I went and got tested, and sure enough, it was positive for simplex 2. Being 25 and only having two partners really narrowed down where I got it from. I am still with the person who gave it to me. Anywho. I was prescribed generic Valtrex (acyclovir), it cleared up the rash in about a week. But it had harsh side effects: leg pain, stomach pain, etc. I researched lysine and began taking it after my 10 days of acyclovir. It has been 3 months and no further outbreak. I had my cycle and felt that viral tingle, I increased the lysine and no outbreak."

• Mrs...
• July 12, 2015

"After suffering with cold sores from my teens, I took a three-bottle course of one tablet a day, and I never got cold sores again until the last six months. I am now in my seventies and have had a couple, mainly in my nostril. I put it down to stress now, but will try another course."

• Sus...
• April 12, 2016

"I have HSV1 on genitals from oral sex. I was in denial. I had 3 red spots in labia majora, turned to ulcer state, terrible burn during urination, crazy tingly itchy, and red swollen vulva. Suffered a week. I read about lysine, took 3, 1000 mg per day. After 3 days, marked reduction, almost gone."

• Poc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2018

"At the 1st sign of a cold sore (itchy bump), I take 2000 mg a day until it’s gone (2 days max), then 1 a day for a week. I’ve had cold sores for as long as I can remember, since my toddler years, and as an adult, 3-4 times a year I would get a cold sore that went up into my nasal cavity and covered my upper lip, creating a sore that would crack and bleed. Over time, they would eventually go away, but it was an awfully painful experience to endure. I had a scar that was very visible since it covered my top lip, and I was very self-conscious about it. 25 years ago, after trying all the prescriptions that the doctor prescribed, a Walmart pharmacist recommended l-lysine. I have used it ever since, and not only did it stop the sores, it also removed the scar!!! I will forever be a devoted fan of l-lysine!!!!"

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

"I recommend not using the 1,000 daily for an extended period of time. I had to stop taking it after I started suffering from unexplainable, frequent urination, where my doctor did every test in the book, from UTI to possible overactive bladder, despite me being only 24 years old. After everything came out inconclusive and negative, my doctor basically shrugged and sent me home. I was going to the bathroom 13 times, even 15 times, in a 24-hour period. It was driving me insane, and it was certainly not normal. I had been taking this supplement, 1,000 mg capsule daily for the last three months, every night. I stopped use, and in the 48 hours after stopping, my urine production has gone down greatly."

• May...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2017

"I've gotten cold sores since I was young. It's a common thing among a lot of people, but it happens to me normally once a year around winter. My lips end up drying out, and when they get chapped, that's when a cold sore ends up forming. I am not completely sure why, but whatever makes it lay dormant gets aggravated. I actually went to a local drug store to get a cold sore treatment when I found Lysine. Unfortunately, I didn't catch it in time, but it took the pain and itching away almost immediately. It's shortened the amount of time it would normally take a cold sore to heal when the blisters have already formed. It's better than the other products I have used and a lot more efficient."

• Ble...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2016

"I get cold sores when my immune level decreases. Some of them are large enough to give a zip code to. I have had them take up half my lip and creep to my chin. If I take 2400 mg (two 1200 mg pills) at the start, and one every day, it either stops it or shortens it. I've tried many other OTC meds, but L-Lysine seems to work the best. Much more affordable than Abreva."

• PLE...
• January 19, 2020

"DO NOT USE. This stuff completely depletes your body's own immunity to the virus, your body can't fight it alone once you've taken the recommended dose for even a couple of weeks. To make it worse, you have to keep upping the dose as the virus outsmarts it. If you stop even for one day or forget a tablet, the lysine can't gain control, becoming a never-ending battle that you will wish you never started. I now have extremely painful outbreaks every couple of days. The skin is red, raw, bleeding, and broken. It has ruined my job, my relationship, and my whole quality of life. Extremely high doses of antivirals do not even take the edge off because my body now has zero immunity. I also now have severe shooting pains down there and pain in the backs of my legs, making it difficult to walk. I would not wish this nightmare on my worst enemy. Please, I urge you, do not start taking these tablets, just let your body build up its own defenses because it will."

• H8D...
• December 14, 2016

"Got herpes keratitis (cold sore in eye) twice. The ophthalmologist I was seeing would just prescribe me the same medications for the genital herpes. Even though the meds helped clear it from my eye, it wouldn't completely get rid of it. I'll still feel a bit of pain in my eye. So, I started using lysine. The 1st week using it, my pain went away. But wasn't sure if it was the lysine since I was using other OTC vitamins also (for my dry eye). But stopped using it last week and started feeling the pain again in my eye. Last night, I took 2/500 mg of lysine before sleeping and woke up with lesser pain. Was very surprised. Still experimenting with the dosage, so will be taking 2/500 mg, 3 times a day for maybe 3 days and slowly drop the dosage to only 2 times a day."

• Joy...
• March 18, 2017

"I had been taking lysine for about 2 weeks for a viral infection when I noticed that my plantar's wart on my foot had completely healed, little moles on my face were gone, and yes, my viral cold infection was gone. I cannot say 100% that it was the lysine, but I use it for all viral infections and have had great results."

• Lou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 31, 2019

"I have taken lysine many times, and while I started taking it daily to prevent cold sores, I started to feel like I had restless leg syndrome, and my feet started to hurt. This went on for weeks until I realized it started when I began taking the lysine. As soon as I stopped taking it, my legs and feet no longer ached. I figured I was getting too much in my body, so that must have been the reason. I haven’t taken it in a long time, and last night I took it again because I felt a blister coming. It prevented the fever blister, but the leg and foot pain returned. My experience is that it works great to prevent and reduce the duration of fever blisters, but it causes a lack of sleep because I keep having to stretch my legs during the night for relief, and my feet hurt."

• Ali...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 3, 2017

"I tend to get blisters on or very close to my lips, which is embarrassing and impossible to hide. Lysine hasn't helped to quell my Herpes Simplex-1, albeit, it is surprisingly effective at decreasing the size and aggressiveness of the blisters. I've tried utilizing a daily dosage of ~1000 mg every day annually for three years paired with over-the-counter medications (Abreva, lysine creams) applied as soon as possible after noticing the dreaded tingle. I still managed to get seven to ten outbreaks annually, which was the same as before starting daily use. Therefore, I only take heavy doses (2-3000 mg daily) when I may be lacking sleep, sick, stressed, or going to be in the sun for a while. Usually, about a week before a possible outbreak and continue until it's healed."

• Mr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2020

"Began taking 500-1000 mg twice daily to suppress a recurrent sore/bump on the rear side of my palate. This increased greatly in recurrence due to immunosuppressive drugs for another condition. The lysine seemed to work for about a week, but now is possibly causing frequent stomach/gut pain and cramps. Might stop lysine and see if stomach cramps resolve, then resume dosing at a lower level, maybe 250 mg 2X daily. I skipped a dose or two to see what would happen, and the mouth sore came right back. But I'm not sure the stomach cramps are tolerable, since I already have Crohn's with a lengthy stricture..."

• 2ol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 31, 2022

"I am 78 and have been getting cold sores on my lip all my life, and as a youngster, my mother would put camphor phenol on these sores, and the sores just stayed around. I still get these sores about 3 times a year, especially when the seasons change. As I was getting a physical with my doctor about 6 months ago, I offhandedly asked him about these sores that I get every year, and he said to get L-Lysine in powder or tablets and take a spoonful or tablet three times a day for a couple of days and see what happens and let him or his nurse know. I did, and it had almost gone the next day, and by the next night, it was gone. So now when the seasons are about to change, I take the lysine for about 3 days and stop, and I have not had a cold sore since."

• An ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2022

"55 yo woman, use 1.2 g lysine for cold sore outbreaks-very effective, though not instant, and zero side effects (unlike oral antivirals). For instant suppression, I use topical acyclovir (better than putting more drugs in my whole system) and ice. If needed, I continue the lysine 1-3 times daily for several days; usage being guided by the tingling/itching sensation. If I'm getting a spate of cold sores, I continue the above dose for 1-3 weeks and cut out arginine foods (nuts, especially almonds push my body out of balance when I'm under increased stress)."

• Coo...
• April 5, 2020

"This stuff really does work! I just bought this today and put it on two hours ago, and wow! Amazing. I had a really bad outbreak with blisters all around my lips and chin, and it’s working already! I’ve never had a cold sore or an outbreak ever before, and I was so worried and desperate to get rid of it. I tried everything, and with this stuff, I am happy and looking healthy."

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2022

"I only get cold sores when, guess what, it’s super cold outside. I used different ointments, but it took long to heal. I tried the lysine cream once I felt the tingle, and it worked great. They usually open up, but once you put the cream on it right when you feel the tingle, it controls it. I highly recommend it for cold sores. I don’t have herpes, so I can’t comment on that. The key is to get to it before it spreads. Once it spreads, there’s nothing you can do. P.S. The lysine bandages don't work if you have a beard. It won’t stay in place. That’s my only complaint."

• nnn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2020

"Lysine does work in suppressing the herpes virus, but if you REALLY want to get rid of the outbreaks, take lecithin 2400 mg each day for a month. It works!!!"

• Lon...
• January 8, 2016

"I have used lysine for over 36 years. It has always helped for my cold sores."

• Jac...
• November 22, 2016

"I found lysine to be my miracle for relief of my genital herpes outbreaks."

• Lys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2023

"Cools pain quickly. Works better than Abreva for me."

• Hau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

"Unbelievable! I had a full-blown cold sore, used the lysine on it twice within 8 hours, and it was barely visible."