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Dietary supplement

L-Lysine Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hard Rhino

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

L-Lysine is a dietary supplement by Hard Rhino 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 by Hard Rhino

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.

Hard Rhino's L-Lysine Powder contains one active ingredient: L-Lysine Hydrochloride, an amino acid your body uses to build and repair tissues. The product contains no inactive fillers or other ingredients—it's lysine only.

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).

The evidence shows L-Lysine is possibly effective for herpes labialis (cold sores). For other uses—child growth, pressure ulcers, and diabetic foot ulcers—there isn't enough reliable evidence to rate how well 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 is generally well tolerated at typical doses. High amounts may cause stomach upset, and long-term safety of supplement doses is not well studied.

The most common side effects reported are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion. There is one case report of oral lysine linked to kidney inflammation progressing to chronic kidney failure, though this is rare.

Lysine from food is safe in pregnancy, but the safety of supplement doses during pregnancy is not well studied—check with your doctor first. There isn't enough reliable information on supplement use while breastfeeding, so caution is advised and you should talk 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.

If you take a 5-HT4 agonist (a type of medication affecting serotonin receptors in the gut), check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting L-Lysine—it may reduce how well your medication works.

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 is a straightforward single-ingredient supplement possibly helpful for cold sores. If you take a 5-HT4 agonist, confirm with your doctor or pharmacist that lysine won't interfere with it.

Talk it over with your own healthcare provider to make sure it fits your situation.

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 Apr 25, 2017.

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, straight from the product label.

Brand Hard Rhino
Barcode (UPC) 818136462872
Net contents 125 Gram(s); 4.4 Oz(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Apr 25, 2017
DSLD ID 72617
Product type Amino Acid/protein
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses 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 L-Lysine by Hard Rhino, 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:
0.5 Gram(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.5 Gram(s)
Servings per container
250
UPC/BARCODE
818136462872
IngredientAmount% DV
L-Lysine Hydrochloride500 mg--

Other ingredients: None

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

No added fillers

Allergens: This product contains no soy, dairy, dairy byproducts, eggs, shellfish, wheat, gluten, tree nuts, or sesame seeds.

This is a non-GMO ingredient.

General Statements

Only pure ingredients

Pure powder

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take 500 mg (~1/4 tsp) with 8 ounces of water or suitable beverage. Taken 1-3 times daily or as directed by your qualified health professional.

1 Carefully measure out suggested serving size using a microscale. 2 Add to preferred beverage. 3 Mix well. 4 Drink within 10-15 minutes. How to use

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Re-seal zipper immediately after use to preserve freshness.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children. Do not take this or any other supplement if under the age of 18, pregnant or nursing a baby, or if you have any known or suspected medical conditions and/or taking prescription drug(s) or OTC medication(s).

Do not take this or any other supplement if under the age of 18, pregnant or nursing a baby, or if you have any known or suspected medical conditions and/or taking prescription drug(s) or OTC medication(s).

Always consult with a qualified health physician before taking any new dietary supplement.

Do not use or consume if pressure seal is broken.

Do not use or consume if seal is broken.

Seals/Symbols

Lab tested for purity and quality

Packaged in USA

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

L-Lysine by Hard Rhino label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in L-Lysine by Hard Rhino

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

Serving size0.5 Gram(s) Dosage formPowder 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: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

L-Lysine by Hard Rhino Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against L-Lysine?

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 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, from the product label.

Hard Rhino

See all Hard Rhino products
Name
Guardian Wholesale
Street Address
1607 West Whispering Wind Drive
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
ZipCode
85085
Phone Number
(866) 961-8378
Web Address
HardRhino.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

L-Lysine by Hard Rhino: Common Questions

Does L-Lysine by Hard Rhino interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, L-Lysine 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 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 work for cold sores?
Yes—it's rated possibly effective for herpes labialis (cold sores). The evidence supports its use for this purpose, though results vary person to person.
What are the side effects?
L-Lysine is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion, usually at higher doses. Long-term safety of supplement doses isn't well studied.
Is it safe to take during pregnancy?
Lysine from food is fine, but supplement safety during pregnancy is not well studied. Talk with your doctor first before taking a lysine supplement while pregnant.
Is it safe while breastfeeding?
There isn't enough reliable information on supplement use while breastfeeding, so caution is advised. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
Why is this just lysine with no other ingredients?
Hard Rhino's formulation is pure L-Lysine Hydrochloride powder—no fillers, binders, or other active ingredients. You get the amino acid on its own.

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

Not sure if L-Lysine 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.

L-Lysine label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

L-Lysine'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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