Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Based on 14 of 18 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Free Aminos Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NutriCology

Capsule Category: Amino Acid/protein
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Free Aminos is a dietary supplement by NutriCology with 18 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for muscle recovery and sports performance, gut health and 'leaky gut', recovery from severe illness or injury.Based on those ingredients, 804 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are L-Arginine, L-5-Hydroxytryptophan, Taurine. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Free Aminos by NutriCology

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 18 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (1.36 Gram(s)) without saying how much of each component you get.

Free Aminos by NutriCology supplies 18 active amino acid ingredients per capsule, including L-glutamine, glycine, L-arginine, L-tyrosine, L-phenylalanine, L-lysine, methionine, histidine, threonine, L-cysteine, serine, 5-HTP, taurine, L-alanine, and others. These are the building blocks your body uses to make proteins and various signaling molecules.

The product also contains inactive ingredients (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and microcrystalline cellulose) as capsule material and bulking agents.

Does it work?

Strong evidence
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded its ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.

Strong

Strong clinical evidence supports its ingredients for:

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Phenylketonuria (PKU) — rated "Effective" (Tyrosine) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Sickle cell disease — rated "Effective" (Glutamine) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: HIV/AIDS-related wasting — rated "Possibly Effective" (Glutamine) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Cholera — rated "Possibly Effective" (Histidine) (Natural Medicines).
  • On file: Cognitive function — rated "Possibly Effective" (Tyrosine) (Natural Medicines).

The evidence for Free Aminos as a whole product is not established in our data. Looking at individual ingredients, L-glutamine is rated effective for sickle cell disease and possibly effective for critical illness recovery and HIV/AIDS-related wasting.

L-tyrosine is effective for phenylketonuria (PKU) and possibly effective for cognitive function and memory. L-phenylalanine is possibly effective for vitiligo.

L-serine and 5-HTP are each possibly effective for schizophrenia and depression, respectively. Taurine is possibly effective for hepatitis and congestive heart failure.

For most other uses covered by individual ingredients in this blend, the evidence is either insufficient or shows the ingredient is possibly ineffective — so talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what you're hoping this product will do.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Glutamine Glycine L-arginine Methionine Lysine Tyrosine Phenylalanine Histidine

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 11 of the 14 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 14 of 14.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 14 of 14.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Most ingredients are generally well tolerated at typical doses, though some carry cautions. L-glutamine, L-arginine, L-tyrosine, and others may cause gastrointestinal side effects (bloating, nausea, diarrhea) in some people.

L-phenylalanine can cause anxiety, insomnia, and headache. L-arginine may lower blood pressure.

5-HTP is associated with drowsiness, nausea, and gastrointestinal upset, and in rare cases with mood changes. Taurine is generally well tolerated short-term but long-term safety is less established.

People with kidney or liver disease should check with their doctor or pharmacist before taking this product. For pregnancy: L-glutamine, L-methionine, L-histidine, taurine, and L-alanine are rated likely safe.

L-phenylalanine is rated unsafe in pregnancy. L-5-HTP, L-serine, L-tyrosine, and glycine lack adequate safety data in pregnancy — avoid supplements unless your doctor advises otherwise.

For breastfeeding: L-methionine, L-histidine, and taurine are rated likely safe. L-phenylalanine is rated likely safe.

L-glutamine, glycine, L-lysine, L-tyrosine, L-threonine, L-cysteine, L-5-HTP, and L-serine lack adequate safety data — use caution and talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Glutamine Glycine L-arginine Methionine Lysine Tyrosine Phenylalanine Histidine

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 10 of the 14 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lysine, Phenylalanine, 5-htp, L-arginine, Glutamine, among others.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; seizure medications; diabetes medications; lithium; Parkinson's medications.
  • For scale: 804 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before taking Free Aminos, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take levodopa (Parkinson's disease), NMDA antagonists (certain neurological medications), anticonvulsants, blood pressure drugs, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, blood thinners, diabetes medications, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), lithium, or serotonergic drugs (like some antidepressants). The product contains ingredients with documented moderate and major interactions in these categories.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with strong clinical evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Free Aminos is a multi-ingredient amino acid blend with some evidence backing specific ingredients for particular uses — mainly sickle cell disease, PKU, schizophrenia, and depression — but the product as a whole has not been studied. The real concern here is the number of interactions, especially with levodopa, blood pressure medications, blood thinners, and diabetes drugs.

If you take any prescription medication, use the checker on this page to see if your drugs are affected, then talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist before starting. It's not necessarily off-limits, but it needs a careful look at your personal medication list first.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 14 of 18 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 22, 2022.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Free Aminos, straight from the product label.

Brand NutriCology
Barcode (UPC) 713947505407
Net contents 100 Vegicap(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 22, 2022
DSLD ID 258574
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), No Allergies
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Free Aminos by NutriCology, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
50
UPC/BARCODE
713947505407
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Glutamine0 NP--
Glycine0 NP--
Proprietary Blend1.363 Gram(s)--
L-Leucine0 NP--
L-Arginine0 NP--
L-Isoleucine0 NP--
L-Methionine0 NP--
L-Lysine Hydrochloride0 NP--
L-Tyrosine0 NP--
L-Phenylalanine0 NP--
L-Valine0 NP--
L-Histidine Hydrochloride0 NP--
L-Threonine0 NP--
L-Cysteine Hydrochloride0 NP--
L-Serine0 NP--
L-5-Hydroxytryptophan20 mg--
Taurine0 NP--
L-Alanine0 NP--
L-Cystine0 NP--

Other ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

A formulation of 17 naturally occurring amino acids in their free forms, including 9 essential amino acids, as well as L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use As a dietary supplement, 1 or 2 capsules one to three times daily between meals, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Storage

Keep in a cool, dry place, tightly capped.

Brand IP Statement(s)

NutriCology Innovative Nutrition

Formulation

Allergen-Free, Digestion-Free

Allergen-Free, Digestion-Free Hypoallergenic

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

Free Aminos by NutriCology label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Free Aminos by NutriCology

These are the 18 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container50 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Blend

1.363 Gram(s) per serving

L-5-Hydroxytryptophan

Interacts with
398 drugs
20 mg per serving

5-HTP is a compound your body uses to make serotonin, and people take it as a supplement hoping to improve mood, sleep, and headaches. Some early rese...

L-5-Hydroxytryptophan monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Free Aminos by NutriCology Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Free Aminos?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
804Drugs
8 Major 789 Moderate 7 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Taurine 173

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Free Aminos with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

L-Arginine9 drug types · 403 drugs

Ace Inhibitors (Aceis)

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine and ACE inhibitors may increase the risk for hypotension and hyperkalemia.
Combining L-arginine with some antihypertensive drugs, especially ACE inhibitors, seems to have additive vasodilating and blood pressure-lowering effects. Furthermore, ACE inhibitors can increase potassium levels. Use of L-arginine has been associated with hyperkalemia in some patients. Theoretically, concomitant use of ACE inhibitors with L-arginine may increases the risk of hyperkalemia.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (Arbs)

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine and ARBs may increase the risk of hypotension and hyperkalemia.
L-arginine increases nitric oxide, which causes vasodilation. Combining L-arginine with ARBs seems to increase L-arginine-induced vasodilation. Furthermore, ARBs can increase potassium levels. Use of L-arginine has been associated with hyperkalemia in some patients. Theoretically, concomitant use of ARBs with L-arginine may increases the risk of hyperkalemia.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine with anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs might have additive effects and increase the risk of bleeding.
Preliminary research suggests that L-arginine infusions reduce platelet aggregation in humans. The clinical significance of this effect is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine might have additive effects with antidiabetes drugs.
Preliminary clinical research shows that L-arginine decreases blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine and antihypertensive drugs may increase the risk of hypotension.
L-arginine increases nitric oxide, which causes vasodilation. Clinical evidence shows that L-arginine can reduce blood pressure in some individuals with hypertension. Furthermore, combining L-arginine with some antihypertensive drugs seems to have additive vasodilating and blood pressure-lowering effects.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Isoproterenol (Isuprel)

Theoretically, concurrent use of isoproterenol and L-arginine might result in additive effects and hypotension.
Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that L-arginine enhances isoproterenol-induced vasodilation in patients with essential hypertension or a family history of essential hypertension.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

Theoretically concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics with L-arginine may increases the risk of hyperkalemia.
Potassium-sparing diuretics can increase potassium levels. Use of L-arginine has been associated with hyperkalemia in some patients.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Sildenafil (Viagra)

Theoretically, concurrent use of sildenafil and L-arginine might increase the risk for hypotension.
In vivo, concurrent use of L-arginine and sildenafil has resulted in increased vasodilation. Theoretically, concurrent use might have additive vasodilatory and hypotensive effects. However, in studies evaluating the combined use of L-arginine and sildenafil for erectile dysfunction, hypotension was not reported.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Testosterone

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-arginine and testosterone might have additive effects.
In clinical research, L-arginine increases the level of testosterone in male patients with erectile dysfunction. The clinical significance of this finding is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

L-5-Hydroxytryptophan3 drug types · 398 drugs

Carbidopa (Lodosyn)

Combining 5-HTP and carbidopa can increase the risk of serotonergic side effects.
Carbidopa is sometimes used with 5-HTP to minimize peripheral 5-HTP metabolism and boost the amount that reaches the brain. However, this combination might also increase the risk of some side effects including hypomania, restlessness, rapid speech, anxiety, insomnia, and aggressiveness. Combining carbidopa and 5-HTP might also increase the risk of scleroderma-like skin changes due to elevated serotonin levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concomitant use of 5-HTP with medications that cause sedation might have additive effects.
In clinical trials, 5-HTP has been associated with drowsiness and somnolence.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Serotonergic Drugs

Combining serotonergic drugs with 5-HTP might cause additive serotonergic effects.
5-HTP can increase serotonin levels and cause serotonergic effects. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with 5-HTP might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects, including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders. However, serotonin syndrome with 5-HTP has not yet been reported in humans. Monitor patients for signs of serotonin syndrome and other serotonergic side effects if using 5-HTP with serotonergic drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Taurine2 drug types · 173 drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taurine might increase the risk of hypotension when taken with antihypertensive drugs.
Some clinical evidence suggests that taurine can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, taurine might reduce excretion and increase plasma levels of lithium.
Taurine is thought to have diuretic properties, which might reduce the excretion of lithium.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D

L-Cysteine Hydrochloride1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking L-cysteine supplements with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Animal research suggests that L-cysteine can have hypoglycemic effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

L-Glutamine1 drug type · 50 drugs

Anticonvulsants

Theoretically, glutamine might antagonize the effects of anticonvulsant medications.
Glutamine is metabolized to the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. Glutamate might have antagonistic effects with anticonvulsant drugs. However, this interaction has not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

L-Tyrosine2 drug types · 21 drugs

Levodopa

Theoretically, tyrosine might decrease the effectiveness of levodopa.
Tyrosine and levodopa compete for absorption in the proximal duodenum by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport system. Advise patients to separate doses of tyrosine and levodopa by at least 2 hours.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, tyrosine might have additive effects with thyroid hormone medications.
Tyrosine is a precursor to thyroxine and might increase levels of thyroid hormones.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D

L-Phenylalanine3 drug types · 16 drugs

Levodopa

Phenylalanine, especially in high doses, can reduce the effectiveness of levodopa.
Phenylalanine competes with levodopa for carrier-mediated transport into the brain. The resulting reduction in levels of levodopa in the brain can exacerbate tremor, rigidity, and the "on-off" phenomenon in patients with Parkinson disease.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Baclofen

Concomitant intake of phenylalanine may reduce the intestinal absorption of baclofen.
Phenylalanine and baclofen share the same intestinal carrier for absorption; phenylalanine competitively inhibits the absorption of baclofen, reducing its plasma levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, concomitant use of L-phenylalanine and non-selective MAOIs might increase the risk of hypertensive crisis.
L-phenylalanine is metabolized to tyrosine. Some evidence suggests that L-phenylalanine, given with the non-selective MAOI pargyline, might prevent the elimination of tyramine, increasing the risk of hypertensive crisis. However, this was not reported in a small number of patients when using L-phenylalanine with the partially selective MAO-B inhibitor, selegiline.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

L-Threonine1 drug type · 3 drugs

Nmda Antagonists

Theoretically, threonine might decrease the effects of NMDA antagonists.
Threonine increases central nervous system (CNS) glycine levels. Glycine seems to bind a site on NMDA receptors and enhance the activity of the receptors.

Likelihood Likely Evidence B

Glycine1 drug type · 1 drug

Clozapine (Clozaril)

Theoretically, glycine might decrease the effectiveness of clozapine.
One small clinical study in patients with schizophrenia shows that adding glycine to clozapine therapy worsens symptoms of schizophrenia when compared with clozapine alone. The mechanism of this interaction is unclear.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B

L-Lysine Hydrochloride1 drug type · 1 drug

5-Ht4 Agonists

Theoretically, lysine may reduce the effects of 5-HT4 agonists.
Animal research suggests that L-lysine is a partial serotonin receptor 4 (5-HT4) antagonist and inhibits diarrhea induced by the 5-HT4 agonist, 5-hydroxytryptophane.

Likelihood Unlikely Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Free Aminos, from the product label.

NutriCology

See all NutriCology products
Name
NutriCology
City
South Salt Lake
State
UT
ZipCode
84115
Phone Number
800.545.9960
Web Address
www.nutricology.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Free Aminos by NutriCology: Common Questions

Does Free Aminos by NutriCology interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Free Aminos has a known interaction with 804 medications, including 8 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Free Aminos contains 18 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Does this product work for muscle recovery or athletic performance?
The individual amino acids in this product play a role in muscle building and repair, but the evidence for athletic performance as a whole is mixed. L-tyrosine is rated possibly ineffective for athletic performance. Most other ingredients lack strong evidence for workout recovery. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this blend fits your fitness goals.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
It depends on the ingredient. L-glutamine, L-methionine, L-histidine, taurine, and L-alanine are rated likely safe in pregnancy. L-phenylalanine is rated unsafe. L-5-HTP, L-serine, glycine, L-tyrosine, L-threonine, and L-cysteine lack adequate safety data — don't take supplements of these unless your doctor advises it. Since this is a multi-ingredient product, check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.
What side effects might I expect?
The most common are gastrointestinal: bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. L-arginine may lower blood pressure. L-phenylalanine can cause anxiety, insomnia, and headache. 5-HTP may cause drowsiness. Most side effects are mild and resolve when you stop or lower the dose, but if you experience persistent or severe effects, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Is this safe for someone with kidney or liver disease?
No — the safety data advises against it without medical supervision. L-glutamine, in particular, should only be used under a doctor's care if you have kidney or liver disease. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking this product if you have either condition.
Can I take this with my blood pressure medication?
L-arginine and taurine in this product may lower blood pressure, and the combination could increase your risk of dangerously low blood pressure. Don't start this product without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first — they need to know what blood pressure drug you take.
What's the difference between this and eating protein foods?
Protein foods contain amino acids, but usually in different amounts and ratios than this supplement. This product delivers specific amino acids in concentrated doses that you'd be unlikely to get from food alone. Use the checker on this page to confirm your medications aren't affected, then ask your doctor or pharmacist if a supplement is right for you rather than meeting your amino acid needs through food.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Free Aminos is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Free Aminos label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Free Aminos’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Glutamine

Interacts with 50 drugs

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and is usually made in your muscles. A prescription form is FDA-approved to help reduce sickle cell disease complications, but for most...

Read the full Glutamine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Glycine

Interacts with 1 drug

Glycine is a non-essential amino acid your body makes on its own and that also appears in protein-rich foods. It is most studied for improving sleep quality, where early research is promisin...

Read the full Glycine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

L-arginine

Interacts with 403 drugs

L-arginine is an amino acid that the body uses to make nitric oxide, a substance that helps blood vessels relax and widen. It is popularly used for blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and...

Read the full L-arginine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Methionine

Methionine is an essential amino acid that your body needs for protein building and many basic chemical reactions. Most people get enough from a normal diet, and supplements are generally no...

Read the full Methionine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Lysine

Interacts with 1 drug

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...

Read the full Lysine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Tyrosine

Interacts with 21 drugs

L-tyrosine is an amino acid your body uses to make brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. Some studies suggest it may help mental performance during short-term stress, sleep loss,...

Read the full Tyrosine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Phenylalanine

Interacts with 16 drugs

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid the body uses to make brain chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine. Some people take it for mood, vitiligo, or pain, but the evidence is mostly l...

Read the full Phenylalanine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Histidine

Histidine is an essential amino acid your body needs to build proteins and to make compounds like histamine and carnosine. Most people get enough from a normal diet, and good-quality researc...

Read the full Histidine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Threonine

Interacts with 3 drugs

Threonine is an essential amino acid your body needs but cannot make, so you must get it from food or supplements. Most people get plenty from a normal diet, and high-quality evidence for ta...

Read the full Threonine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

L-cysteine

Interacts with 86 drugs

L-cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid your body uses to make proteins and the antioxidant glutathione. Most people get enough from food, and supplements are usually well tolerated, bu...

Read the full L-cysteine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Serine

Serine is an amino acid your body can make on its own and also gets from protein-rich foods, so most people do not need a supplement. L-serine has been studied for certain neurological condi...

Read the full Serine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Taurine

Interacts with 173 drugs

Taurine is an amino acid your body makes naturally and that you also get from animal foods. It is widely used in energy drinks and sports supplements, and short-term use appears generally sa...

Read the full Taurine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

Alpha-alanine

Alpha-alanine (usually called alanine) is a non-essential amino acid your body can make on its own and that you also get from protein foods. Most people do not need a supplement, and strong...

Read the full Alpha-alanine monograph →
Herb & supplement monograph

5-htp

Interacts with 398 drugs

5-HTP is a compound your body uses to make serotonin, and people take it as a supplement hoping to improve mood, sleep, and headaches. Some early research is promising, but the overall evide...

Read the full 5-htp monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Free Aminos's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 195 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Glutamine 11 references
  1. Miller AL. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Altern Med Rev 1999;4:239-48..
  2. Bozzetti F, Biganzoli L, Gavazzi C, et al. Glutamine supplementation in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a double-blind randomized study. Nutrition 1997;13:748-51.. PubMed
  3. Mebane AH. L-Glutamine and mania. Am J Psychiatry 984;141:1302-3.
  4. Meldrum BS. Glutamate as a neurotransmitter in the brain: review of physiology and pathology. J Nutr 2000;130:1007S-15S.. PubMed
  5. Garlick PJ. Assessment of the safety of glutamine and other amino acids. J Nutr 2001;131:2556S-61S.. PubMed
  6. Chapman AG. Glutamate and epilepsy. J Nutr 2000;130:1043S-5S.. PubMed
  7. Ziegler TR. Glutamine supplementation in cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplantation and high dose chemotherapy. J Nutr 2001;131:2578S-84S.. PubMed
  8. Laviano A, Molfino A, Lacaria MT, Canelli A, De Leo S, Preziosa I, Rossi Fanelli F. Glutamine supplementation favors weight loss in nondieting obese female patients. A pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Nov;68(11):1264-6. PubMed
  9. Endari (l-glutamine) [package insert]. Torrance, CA: Emmaus Medical,Inc; 2017.
  10. Niihara Y, Miller ST, Kanter J, et al. A Phase 3 Trial of l-Glutamine in Sickle Cell Disease. N Engl J Med 2018;379(3):226-35. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1715971.
  11. Ogden HB, Child RB, Fallowfield JL, et al. Gastrointestinal Tolerance of Low, Medium and High Dose Acute Oral l-Glutamine Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2020;12(10):2953. PubMed

See these in context on the Glutamine monograph →

Glycine 5 references
  1. Heresco-Levy U, Javitt DC, Ermilov M, et al. Efficacy of high-dose glycine in the treatment of enduring negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:29-36.. PubMed
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L-arginine 66 references
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Methionine 12 references
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Histidine 3 references
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Serine 3 references
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  3. Levine TD, Miller RG, Bradley WG, et al. Phase I clinical trial of safety of L-serine for ALS patients. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2017;18(1-2):107-111. PubMed

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5-htp 32 references
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Taurine 21 references
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Alpha-alanine 2 references
  1. Amino acids — MedlinePlus (NIH) Source
  2. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know — NIH Office of Dietary Supplements Source

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DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

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