Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 3 of 6 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Hair Self-Care Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Viviscal

Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Hair Self-Care is a dietary supplement by Viviscal with 6 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for acetaminophen (tylenol) overdose support, liver health, urinary tract acidification.Based on those ingredients, 87 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are L-Cysteine, L-Lysine. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Hair Self-Care by Viviscal

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

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 6 of its 6 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Viviscal Hair Self-Care contains 6 active ingredients: L-methionine, L-lysine, L-cysteine, methylsulfonylmethane, hydrolyzed keratin, and hydrolyzed fish collagen. These are amino acids and protein-derived compounds intended to support hair structure and growth.

The capsule also contains inactive ingredients — hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide — which are standard fillers and binders.

Does it work?

Not established
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
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Advanced hair health support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Androgenic alopecia, Wound healing, Hair growth, Hair quality, Scalp health.
  • The closest evidence on file: Methionine is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Wound healing (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: L-cysteine is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Androgenic alopecia.

The evidence for these ingredients is limited. L-lysine is possibly effective for cold sores, but the other active ingredients lack established evidence in the data we hold.

L-methionine, L-cysteine, and the protein derivatives (keratin and collagen) have insufficient reliable evidence to rate them for hair health or growth. None of these ingredients have a strong evidence base for the stated purpose of hair self-care.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Methionine Lysine L-cysteine

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 2 of the 3 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 3 of 3.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 3 of 3.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

L-methionine and L-cysteine are rated likely safe in pregnancy; L-lysine's pregnancy safety isn't established in our data, so talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant or planning to be. For breastfeeding, L-methionine is likely safe, but L-lysine and L-cysteine don't have enough data on file.

Common side effects from L-lysine include stomach pain, diarrhea, and indigestion at higher doses. L-methionine can cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache, and irritability, especially at high doses.

L-cysteine's adverse effects aren't documented in our data. All three are generally well tolerated at typical doses, but long-term safety of supplement amounts hasn't been fully studied.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Methionine Lysine L-cysteine

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 2 of the 3 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Lysine, L-cysteine.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 87 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.

Check your medications before starting, especially if you take antidiabetes drugs — L-cysteine may increase the risk of low blood sugar. Also flag any GI motility medications (5-HT4 agonists) with your pharmacist, as L-lysine may reduce their effect.

We have no interaction data for three of the six active ingredients.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Viviscal Hair Self-Care is a multi-ingredient supplement aimed at hair health, but its active ingredients lack solid evidence for that purpose. If you take antidiabetes drugs or GI motility medications, check your specific drugs with the tool on this page before starting.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about whether this product fits your needs and is safe alongside your current medications.

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

Assessment coverage: 3 of 6 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 25, 2024.

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 Hair Self-Care, straight from the product label.

Brand Viviscal
Barcode (UPC) 022600997542
Net contents 30 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2024
DSLD ID 317562
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free
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 Hair Self-Care by Viviscal, 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:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
30
UPC/BARCODE
022600997542
IngredientAmount% DV
Total Carbohydrates1 Gram(s)1%
L-Methionine15 mg--
L-Lysine15 mg--
L-Cysteine15 mg--
Methylsulfonylmethane200 mg--
Keratin, Hydrolyzed50 mg--
Fish Collagen, Hydrolyzed200 mg--

Other ingredients: Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Silicon Dioxide

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.
Formulation

Advanced hair health

Soy free Dairy free Shellfish free Gluten free

Made in the USA with U.S. and imported ingredients Building blocks of healthy hair Gorgeous hair from the inside out Developed to support healthy hair, this nutritionist formulated supplement fortifies hair's natural beauty from the inside out and helps to deliver nutritional building blocks essential for gorgeous, healthy hair.

Formula

Nutrients to support healthy hair Collagen Keratin Amino acid blend

Made with Collagen Contains amino acids which support keratin formation Keratin A key protein found in healthy hair Amino acids (L-Lysine, L-Cysteine, L-Methionine) Help fortify hair's natural beauty

General Statements

#1 selling brand Nutritionist designed formula

Questions, Comments? M-F 9am-5pm ET Call 1-866-951-1748

Empty & replace cap Plastic bottle Bottle not recyclable unless label removed Plastic label how2recycle.info

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: Adults take 1 capsule per day.

Precautions

If you are pregnant, nursing, are on medications or have a medical condition, consult your physician before use.

Do not exceed suggested dosage. Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Contains: Fish (Wild Alaskan Pollock)

Storage

Storage information: Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

See for yourself

Hair Self-Care by Viviscal label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Hair Self-Care by Viviscal

These are the 6 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container30 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.

L-Methionine

No known
interactions
15 mg per serving

Methionine is an essential amino acid that your body needs for protein building and many basic chemical reactions. Most people get enough from a norma...

L-Methionine monograph & interactions

L-Lysine

Interacts with
1 drug
15 mg per serving

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 t...

L-Lysine monograph & interactions

L-Cysteine

Interacts with
86 drugs
15 mg per serving

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 su...

L-Cysteine monograph & interactions

Methylsulfonylmethane

200 mg per serving

Keratin, Hydrolyzed

50 mg per serving

Fish Collagen, Hydrolyzed

200 mg per serving Form: Collagen Type I

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

Interaction report

Hair Self-Care by Viviscal Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Hair Self-Care?

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
87Drugs
86 Moderate 1 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Hair Self-Care 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-Cysteine1 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-Lysine1 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 Hair Self-Care, from the product label.

Viviscal

See all Viviscal products
Name
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
City
Ewing
State
NJ
ZipCode
08628
Phone Number
1-866-951-1748
Web Address
www.viviscal.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Hair Self-Care by Viviscal: Common Questions

Does Hair Self-Care by Viviscal interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Hair Self-Care has a known interaction with 87 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Hair Self-Care contains 6 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.
Is this safe to take if I'm pregnant?
L-methionine is rated likely safe in pregnancy, but L-lysine and L-cysteine don't have enough safety data on file for pregnancy use. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you during pregnancy.
Can I take this if I'm breastfeeding?
L-methionine is rated likely safe while breastfeeding. Safety data on L-lysine and L-cysteine during breastfeeding is limited, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before using this product.
Does L-lysine in this product really help with cold sores?
L-lysine is possibly effective for cold sores, so there's some evidence it may help. However, Viviscal is marketed for hair health, and we don't have effectiveness data on file for the other ingredients for that purpose.
What side effects might I experience?
L-lysine may cause stomach pain, diarrhea, or indigestion at higher doses. L-methionine can cause dizziness, drowsiness, headache, or irritability. Both are generally well tolerated at normal doses, but high amounts haven't been long-term studied.
I take diabetes medication. Is this safe for me?
L-cysteine in this product may theoretically increase the risk of low blood sugar if you're on antidiabetes drugs — that's a Moderate-severity concern. Check your exact medication with your pharmacist before starting.

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

Not sure if Hair Self-Care 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.

Hair Self-Care label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Hair Self-Care'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 21 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.

Methionine 12 references
  1. La Vecchia C, Negri E, Franceschi S, Decarli A. Case-control study on influence of methionine, nitrite, and salt on gastric carcinogenesis in northern Italy. Nutr Cancer 1997;27:65-8. PubMed
  2. Btaiche IF, Khalidi N. Parenteral nutrition-associated liver complications in children. Pharmacotherapy 2002;22:188-211.. PubMed
  3. Cottington EM, LaMantia C, Stabler SP, et al. Adverse event associated with methionine loading test: a case report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2002;22:1046-50.. PubMed
  4. Anon. Should methionine be added to paracetamol formulations? Drug Ther Perspect 1997;10:11-3. DOI
  5. Smulders, Y. M., Rakic, M., Slaats, E. H., Treskes, M., Sijbrands, E. J., Odekerken, D. A., Stehouwer, C. D., and Silberbusch, J. Fasting and post-methionine homocysteine levels in NIDDM. Determinants and correlations with retinopathy, albuminuria, and c
  6. McAuley, D. F., Hanratty, C. G., McGurk, C., Nugent, A. G., and Johnston, G. D. Effect of methionine supplementation on endothelial function, plasma homocysteine, and lipid peroxidation. J.Toxicol.Clin.Toxicol. 1999;37(4):435-440. PubMed
  7. Hanratty, C. G., McGrath, L. T., McAuley, D. F., Young, I. S., and Johnston, G. D. The effects of oral methionine and homocysteine on endothelial function. Heart 2001;85(3):326-330. PubMed
  8. Ward, M., McNulty, H., McPartlin, J., Strain, J. J., Weir, D. G., and Scott, J. M. Effect of supplemental methionine on plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy men: a preliminary study. Int.J.Vitam.Nutr.Res. 2001;71(1):82-86. PubMed
  9. Yaghmai, R., Kashani, A. H., Geraghty, M. T., Okoh, J., Pomper, M., Tangerman, A., Wagner, C., Stabler, S. P., Allen, R. H., Mudd, S. H., and Braverman, N. Progressive cerebral edema associated with high methionine levels and betaine therapy in a patient
  10. Talukdar R, Murthy HV, Reddy DN. Role of methionine containing antioxidant combination in the management of pain in chronic pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pancreatology 2015;15(2):136-44. PubMed
  11. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2005. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17226 DOI
  12. Khairan P, Sobue T, Eshak ES, et al. Association of B Vitamins and Methionine Intake with the Risk of Gastric Cancer: The Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2022;15(2):101-110. PubMed

See these in context on the Methionine monograph →

Lysine 7 references
  1. 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
  2. McCune MA, Perry HO, Muller SA, O'Fallon WM. Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex infections with L-lysine monohydrochloride. Cutis 1984;34:366-73.
  3. DiGiovanna JJ, Blank H. Failure of lysine in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Treatment and prophylaxis. Arch Dermatol 1984;120:48-51. DOI
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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.

See these in context on the Lysine monograph →

L-cysteine 2 references
  1. Dowlati Y, Maheux M, Meyer JH. The effect of oral L-cysteine on breast milk and plasma cysteine concentrations. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020;16:3163-3172.
  2. Lee S, Han KH, Nakamura Y, et al. Dietary L-cysteine improves the antioxidative potential and lipid metabolism in rats fed a normal diet. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2013;77(7):1430-4.

See these in context on the L-cysteine monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

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.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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