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Dietary supplement

L-Lysine 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Ecological Formulas

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

L-Lysine 500 mg is a dietary supplement by Ecological Formulas with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for cold sores (herpes labialis), genital herpes outbreaks, supporting protein and collagen formation.Based on those ingredients, 1 medication has a known interaction with it, the most serious rated minor. The ingredients most likely to interact are L-Lysine Hydrochloride. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas

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 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: L-lysine hydrochloride at 500 mg per capsule. L-lysine is an amino acid — one of the building blocks your body uses to make protein.

The capsule itself also holds gelatin, silicon dioxide, and magnesium stearate as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Moderate 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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: support for herpes labialis and cold sores.
  • We looked for evidence on: Herpes labialis (cold sores), genital herpes, herpes simplex virus infections.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Lysine is rated "Possibly Effective" for Herpes labialis (cold sores) (Natural Medicines).

L-lysine is possibly effective for cold sores (herpes labialis), which is where most of the evidence sits. For other uses listed — supporting child growth, preventing pressure ulcers, and healing diabetic foot ulcers — we don't have enough reliable evidence to know whether it works.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Lysine

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 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

L-lysine from food is fine, but when you take it as a supplement, the long-term safety picture isn't well studied. At typical doses it's generally well tolerated, though some people report stomach upset, diarrhea, or belly pain, especially at higher amounts.

There's also one case report of kidney trouble linked to high-dose lysine, though this is rare. Because supplement safety in pregnancy isn't well studied, talk with your doctor before starting if you're pregnant.

The same goes for breastfeeding — we don't have enough information to say it's safe, so check with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Lysine

Meds to double-check

Minor interactions only
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Minor only

Only Minor-severity interactions are documented for these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Lysine.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Minor.
  • For scale: 1 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.

If you take a 5-HT4 agonist (a medication that helps certain digestive problems), check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding L-lysine — it may reduce how well your drug works. No other medication interactions are documented for the ingredients we could check.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Only minor medication interactions are documented, and safety information is well characterized.

L-lysine may help with cold sores, though the evidence is modest. If you're taking a 5-HT4 agonist for digestive issues, mention this supplement to your doctor or pharmacist before you start — they'll want to keep an eye on how well your medication works.

If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, talk it over with your healthcare provider before taking it.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Dec 14, 2023.

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 L-Lysine 500 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand Ecological Formulas
Barcode (UPC) 696859132254
Net contents 250 Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Dec 14, 2023
DSLD ID 299777
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Sugar 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 L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas, 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
250
UPC/BARCODE
696859132254
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Lysine Hydrochloride500 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate

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.
FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Only the purest form of the amino acid, L-Lysine is present in this formula.

Crystalline Amino Acid

Formulation

Free of soy, yeast, wheat, sugar, starch, coloring agents, and artificial flavoring.

Gluten free, Casein free

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions Take one capsule daily between meals, or as directed by a physician. L-Lysine may be taken in conjunction with vitamins and minerals. Do not refrigerate. Do not take with dairy products.

Precautions

Do not take with dairy products.

Storage

Do not refrigerate.

See for yourself

L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container250 Amounts shown are per serving.

L-Lysine Hydrochloride

Interacts with
1 drug
500 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 Hydrochloride monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against L-Lysine 500 mg?

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
1Drugs
1 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in L-Lysine 500 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

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 L-Lysine 500 mg, from the product label.

Ecological Formulas

See all Ecological Formulas products
Name
Ecological Formulas
Street Address
1061-B Shary Circle
City
Concord
State
CA
ZipCode
94518
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas: Common Questions

Does L-Lysine 500 mg by Ecological Formulas interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, L-Lysine 500 mg has a known interaction with 1 medication. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
L-Lysine 500 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism 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.
Will L-lysine help my cold sores?
Possibly. L-lysine is rated possibly effective for cold sores based on available research, so it may help, but don't count on it as a sure thing. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether it's worth trying for your situation.
What side effects should I watch for?
Most people tolerate it well, but some get stomach pain, diarrhea, or indigestion, especially at higher doses. One rare case report linked very high-dose lysine to kidney problems, so stick to typical doses and tell your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.
Is it safe to take while pregnant?
Lysine from food is fine, but supplement safety in pregnancy isn't well studied. Talk with your doctor before you start — they can help you weigh the pros and cons for your situation.
Can I take it while breastfeeding?
We don't have enough reliable information on supplement lysine during breastfeeding to say either way. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you use it.
What is L-lysine, and why is it in supplements?
L-lysine is an amino acid your body needs to build protein. It's studied mostly for cold sores, though some people take it for other reasons like wound healing or growth — though the evidence for those uses isn't solid yet.

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

Not sure if L-Lysine 500 mg is safe with your meds?

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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.

L-Lysine 500 mg label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind L-Lysine 500 mg’s Ingredients

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

Sources

Sources & How We Checked

L-Lysine 500 mg'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 7 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.

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 →

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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