Lysine for Cold Sores

Cold sores are not only unsightly, but they can be quite painful and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are many at home remedies that can be used to shorten the lifespan of a cold sore and diminish their size. If you suffer from recurring cold sores, using lysine for cold sores can be an effective treatment.

Lysine is an herbal supplement that contains valuable amino acids that have the power to fight off cold sores. A weak immune system is one of the major causes of cold sores, Lysine can help boost your immune system to not only prevent cold sores from occurring, but help reduce the amount of time that they stick around. The use of Lysine can help speed up the healing time and reduce the chance of infection.

Recommended Dosage

When using Lysine for cold sores, it is important not to overdose on the supplement, it is also important to first consult your doctor. You should consume at least 1250 milligrams of Lysine on a daily basis. You should not exceed doses more than 2500 to 3000 milligrams a day.

Lysine Side Effects

There are a few side effects concerning the use of Lysine for cold sores.

The side effects include:

• Diarrhea – one of the most common side effects of taking Lysine.
• Stomach pain – this is also another side effect related to taking Lysine.
• Kidney disease – Lysine has been linked with kidney disease in one report, if you have kidney related problems, please consult your doctor before taking Lysine.
• Pregnancy – it is not known whether or not the use of Lysine for cold sores during pregnancy causes any harm to the fetus or the mother.

Interaction with other Medications

Lysine can have interactions with other drugs that you may be taking. Calcium supplements are one medication that Lysine interacts with. Seek the advice of your doctor when combining Lysine with any other prescription medication.