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Dietary supplement

L-Lysine 500 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Vitabase

L-Lysine 500 mg label
See full label image
Tablet Or Pill Category: Amino Acid/protein
Most serious interaction: Minor
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking L-Lysine 500 mg against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Minor

L-Lysine 500 mg is a dietary supplement by Vitabase 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. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 13, 2026

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, an amino acid at 500 mg per tablet. Lysine is a building block your body uses in protein and is found naturally in foods like chicken, cheese, and beans.

The inactive ingredients are magnesium stearate, cellulose, vegetable stearin, dicalcium phosphate, and silica — these are tablet binders and fillers.

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

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

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports Lysine 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 ingredient's overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Herpes labialis (cold sores) — rated "Possibly Effective" (Natural Medicines).

L-lysine is possibly effective for herpes labialis, also known as cold sores. The evidence for other uses — child growth, pressure ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers — is not strong enough to rate at this time.

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 is generally well tolerated at typical doses. High amounts may cause stomach upset (abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion), and long-term safety with supplementation isn't well studied.

There is one case report of oral lysine linked to a kidney condition, though this is rare. Supplement safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding hasn't been well studied.

Lysine from food is fine, but if you're pregnant or nursing and considering a supplement, talk with your doctor 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 (used for certain digestive conditions), lysine may reduce how well it works — Minor severity. Check your exact medications with your doctor or pharmacist before starting this product.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Only minor medication interactions are documented, and safety information is well characterized.

L-Lysine 500 mg may help with cold sores if the evidence supports it for you. It's generally well tolerated, though high doses can cause digestive upset.

Before you start, check with your doctor or pharmacist about your other medications — especially if you take drugs for digestive motility. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your provider first.

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 Mar 23, 2012.

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 Vitabase
Net contents 100 Tablet(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 23, 2012
DSLD ID 7150
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Tablet Or Pill
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 Vitabase, 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 Tablet(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Tablet(s)
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Lysine500 mg--

Other ingredients: Magnesium Stearate, Cellulose, Vegetable Stearin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silica

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

Contains No Added sugar, salt, dairy, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, adults take one (1) tablet, one (1) to three (3) times daily with meals, or as directed by a health care professional.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place and away from direct light.

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children.

General Statements

QUALITY AND POTENCY GUARANTEED. MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Our L-Lysine is a pure crystalline, free form amino acid.

Vitabase uses only high quality ingredients.

Seals/Symbols

Vb

FDA Statement of Identity

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase label

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

L-Lysine 500 mg label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase

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

Serving size1 Tablet(s) Dosage formTablet Or Pill Amounts shown are per serving.

L-Lysine

Interacts with
1 drug
500 mg per serving Form: L-Lysine Hydrochloride

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

Other (inactive) ingredients: Magnesium Stearate, Cellulose, Vegetable Stearin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silica. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase 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

L-Lysine 1

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in L-Lysine 500 mg interact with 1 drug. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in L-Lysine 500 mg interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. L-Lysine

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-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
L-Lysine full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for L-Lysine 500 mg, from the product label.

Vitabase

See all Vitabase products
Name
Vitabase.com
City
Monroe
State
GA
ZipCode
30656
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase: Common Questions

Does L-Lysine 500 mg by Vitabase 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.
Does L-Lysine really help with cold sores?
L-lysine is possibly effective for cold sores based on the evidence we have. That means some research supports its use, but it's not proven to work in everyone. It's worth a try if cold sores are something you deal with regularly.
What side effects might I get?
Most people tolerate it well. At higher doses, you may experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, or indigestion. Stick to the recommended dose to keep side effects low, and stop if your stomach gets upset.
Is it safe to take if I'm pregnant?
Supplement safety in pregnancy hasn't been well studied. Lysine from food is fine, but because supplement data is limited, talk with your doctor before taking the pill form to make sure it's right for you.
Can I take it while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable information on supplement use while breastfeeding, so caution is advised. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.
Is this just an amino acid from food?
Yes — lysine is an amino acid your body needs and gets from protein-rich foods like chicken, cheese, and beans. This supplement is a concentrated form, so the amount is much higher than you'd get from a meal.

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.

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 →
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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