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Dietary supplement

L-Lysine Basics Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by MRM

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

L-Lysine Basics is a dietary supplement by MRM 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.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of L-Lysine Basics by MRM

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.

L-Lysine Basics contains one active ingredient: L-lysine, an amino acid your body needs to build protein. The capsule also contains rice flour as an inactive ingredient.

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: essential amino acid supports healthy immune function.
  • We looked for evidence on: Herpes labialis (cold sores), genital herpes, protein synthesis, collagen formation.
  • 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). For other uses listed — child growth, pressure ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers — the evidence isn't established well enough to rate it.

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 normal doses. High amounts may cause stomach upset, and long-term safety at high levels isn't well studied.

The most common side effects from taking it by mouth are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion. There's one reported case of kidney damage linked to oral lysine use, though it's rare.

Lysine from food is fine during pregnancy, but supplement safety during pregnancy isn't well studied — talk with your doctor before taking this as a supplement if you're pregnant. There also isn't enough reliable information on supplement use while breastfeeding, so caution is advised and it's worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist.

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.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take a 5-HT4 agonist — lysine may reduce how well it works. No other medication interactions are documented in our data for L-lysine.

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 Basics may help with cold sores. If you take a 5-HT4 agonist, check with your doctor or pharmacist first — this supplement may interfere with it.

Otherwise, it's generally well tolerated at typical doses, though high amounts can upset your stomach.

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 Aug 26, 2014.

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 Basics, straight from the product label.

Brand MRM
Barcode (UPC) 60949285005
Net contents 60 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Aug 26, 2014
DSLD ID 36938
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Vegan, Vegetarian, 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 L-Lysine Basics by MRM, 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 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Vegetarian Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
60949285005
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Lysine500 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Capsule

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

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Usage: Take 1 capsule up to 3 times a day or as directed by your qualified healthcare provider.

Formulation

Contains NO milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, gluten or yeast.

~Excellent L-Lysine Source for Vegans/Vegetarians

General Statements

MADE IN THE USA

L-Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means that it cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained through the diet or by supplementation. Some vegans/vegetarians or athletic individuals have an increased need for essential amino acids. L-Lysine is a necessary building block for the production of hormones, enzymes, collagen and immune system proteins, while also playing a role in calcium bioavailability

~Supports Healthy Immune Function ~Essential Amino Acid

~500mg Per Capsule ~Essential Amino Acid

See for yourself

L-Lysine Basics by MRM label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Lysine Basics by MRM

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

Serving size1 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 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: Rice Flour, Capsule. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

L-Lysine Basics by MRM Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against L-Lysine Basics?

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 Basics 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
The maker

Brand information

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

MRM

See all MRM products
Name
MRM
Street Address
2665 Vista Pacific Dr.
City
Oceanside
State
CA
ZipCode
92056
Phone Number
1-800-948-6296
Web Address
www.mrm-usa.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Lysine Basics by MRM: Common Questions

Does L-Lysine Basics by MRM interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, L-Lysine Basics 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 Basics 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 actually work for cold sores?
L-lysine is possibly effective for cold sores based on the evidence we have. That means some research supports it, but it's not proven beyond doubt. It may help, so it's worth trying if you're prone to them — just keep realistic expectations.
What are the side effects of L-lysine?
Most people tolerate it well. The most common side effects are stomach upset, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion — especially at higher doses. Long-term safety at high amounts isn't well studied, so stick to typical doses.
Is it safe to take L-lysine while pregnant?
Lysine from food is fine during pregnancy. But supplement safety during pregnancy hasn't been well studied, so talk with your doctor before taking this supplement if you're pregnant.
Can I take L-lysine while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable information on supplement use while breastfeeding. Caution is advised — talk with your doctor or pharmacist to decide if it's right for you.
What is L-lysine and what does it do?
L-lysine is an amino acid your body uses to build and repair protein. Your body can make some of it, and you also get it from foods like meat, eggs, and dairy. As a supplement, it's mainly studied and used for cold sores.

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

Not sure if L-Lysine Basics 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 Basics label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind L-Lysine Basics’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 Basics'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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