Lysine + Raltegravir
Raltegravir brand name: Isentress.
We found no known interaction between Lysine and Raltegravir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.
Lysine and Raltegravir
We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.
No Known Interaction Found
We did not find a documented interaction between Raltegravir and Lysine in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.
If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.
Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.
Lysine safety at a glance
Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Why No Interaction Is Listed for Raltegravir
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Raltegravir is filed under 4 classifications — including integrase inhibitors, glucuronidated drugs, oral drugs. Lysine has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being 5-ht4 agonists (minor) — and none of Raltegravir’s classifications are among them.
Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.
Lysine Does Interact With Other Medications
Lysine has 1 minor known drug interaction in our database — Raltegravir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Lysine
We haven’t checked that one against Lysine yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Lysine. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Raltegravir
This page covers Lysine only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Raltegravir page lists 33 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Breadfruit (moderate), Brussels Sprout (moderate), Cabbage (moderate) and Calcium (moderate).
By severity: 1 major · 22 moderate · 10 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Raltegravir page
“For someone taking raltegravir (Isentress) to keep HIV suppressed, a steady drug level is what blocks rebound and resistance, and this list deserves genuine vigilance. The lone major-rated entry is activated charcoal, which can soak up the medicine in the gut and cut what reaches your blood.”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Lysine as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 3,540 real supplement products containing Lysine, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Lysine. Even though Lysine itself has no known interaction with Raltegravir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Lysine and Raltegravir Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#70 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#2,030 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
Where does our data come from?
- Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
- Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Lysine reference on this page ↓
- Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Lysine and Raltegravir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
- What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
About Lysine
What is Lysine?
- Cold sores (herpes labialis)
- Genital herpes outbreaks
- Supporting protein and collagen formation
- Calcium absorption support
- General nutritional supplement
Lysine is an essential amino acid your body cannot make on its own, so it must come from food or supplements. People most often take extra lysine to try to prevent or shorten cold sores, but the evidence is mixed and far from conclusive. For most healthy people who eat enough protein, supplements are likely unnecessary, but they are generally considered low-risk at typical doses.
Amino acid (L-lysine) · Tablets, capsules, powder, topical creams (often combined with other ingredients)
An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Lysine is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Lysine record says about it on its own.
Lysine: dosing
There is no single official supplement dose of lysine for any health condition, and a truly standardized dose has not been established for uses like cold sores. Products vary widely in how much they contain.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and not exceed the recommended amount.
From our Lysine monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.
About Raltegravir
What Is Raltegravir Used For?
Brand name: Isentress
Raltegravir — available as Isentress and as the generic raltegravir tablet — is used to treat HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. It is always used together with other antiretroviral (anti-HIV) medicines, never on its own.
Isentress is approved for adults and for children weighing at least 2 kg. Raltegravir tablets are approved for adults and for children weighing at least 25 kg who can swallow a tablet whole.
Most-Reported Side Effects for Raltegravir
From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (16,418 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.
Other Drugs & Lysine
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Lysine — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
1 interaction
No interaction 2,828 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Lysine against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Aspirin ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Docusate ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Metformin ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Levothyroxine, Liothyronine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Naproxen ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Letrozole ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,828 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Lysine list.
Lysine References
The 7 references that drive our Lysine monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.
- Thein DJ, Hurt WC. Lysine as a prophylactic agent in the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1984;58:659-66. PubMed
- McCune MA, Perry HO, Muller SA, O'Fallon WM. Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride. Cutis 1984;34:366-73.
- DiGiovanna JJ, Blank H. Failure of lysine in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis. Arch Dermatol 1984;120:48-51. DOI
- Milman N, Scheibel J, Jessen O. Lysine prophylaxis in recurrent herpes simplex labialis: a double-blind, controlled crossover study. Acta Derm Venereol 1980;60:85-7.
- Griffith RS, Walsh DE, Myrmel KH, et al. Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis. Dermatologica 1987;175:183-90. DOI
- Lo JC, Chertow GM, Rennke H, Seifter JL. Fanconi's syndrome and tubulointerstitial nephritis in association with L-lysine ingestion. Am J Kidney Dis 1996;28:614-7. PubMed
- Smriga M, Torii K. L-Lysine acts like a partial serotonin receptor 4 antagonist and inhibits serotonin-mediated intestinal pathologies and anxiety in rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Dec 23;100(26):15370-5.
Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Taking Lysine and Raltegravir Together: Common Questions
Is it safe to take Lysine with Raltegravir?
Do Lysine and Raltegravir have any of the same side effects?
How was the Lysine and Raltegravir combination checked?
Does Lysine interact with any other medications?
Does Raltegravir interact with any supplements?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.