Safety Profile
Overall safety rating: Generally Safe
L-Lysine Side Effects & Safety
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer
Potential Side Effects
- Generally well tolerated at standard doses
- GI symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps) at high doses
- Theoretical risk of elevated cholesterol with very high chronic intake
- Rare reports of kidney dysfunction at extreme doses
Drug & Supplement Interactions
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics — lysine may increase risk of nephrotoxicity
- Calcium supplements — lysine enhances calcium absorption; monitor total calcium intake
- Arginine — lysine antagonizes arginine; high doses may reduce arginine-related NO production
Maximum Dose
Do not exceed: 3-6 g/day has been used safely; very high chronic doses may increase cholesterol in rare cases
References
- Griffith RS, Walsh DE, Myrmel KH, et al. (1987). Success of L-lysine therapy in frequently recurrent herpes simplex infection. Dermatologica. DOI PubMed
- Civitelli R, Villareal DT, Agnusdei D, et al. (1992). Dietary L-lysine and calcium metabolism in humans. Nutrition. PubMed
- Smriga M, Ando T, Akutsu M, et al. (2007). Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans. Biomedical Research. DOI PubMed