Does lysine help with cold sores on the mouth?

Answer 1

L-Lysine which is an amino-acid was recommended to me by my Dr. when I had Shingles, which like canker sores, is also a herpes virus. It began to start relieve the systems fairly quickly when nothing else worked. I have a friend who gets canker sores when in the sun and won't leave home without taking the Lysine when she goes to the beach or expects to be exposed to sun excessively. Hope it helps.

Answer

Canker sores are not caused by the herpes simplex virus, and are not contagious; unlike cold sores. Regardless, L-Lysine gives the immune system a boost and so this should help you. You should also try taking a Zinc, but only on a full stomach. The herb, Echinacea, will also give the immune system a boost. L-Lysine is so effective on cold sores, because it prohibits some of the Arginine in your system. Canker sores will only appear when the immune system is weakened, so taking L-Lysine will help you, even though herpes is not the problem. You can buy it in pill form, or you can obtain it through your diet by incorporating proteins like cheese and eggs.

Answer 2

The amino acid lysine has been shown to help with prevention of cold sores as well as shorten the healing time of existing cold sores. Unfortunately, there haven't been many studies and the results of these few studies vary. One study indicates that only a dosage of at least 1250mg per day is effective at preventing cold sores. Another shows that any dosage between 500mg and 3000mg daily is sufficient.

Cold sore sufferers who do not have the money to pay $160 for 16 pills of Acyclovir(an antiviral commonly prescribed by doctors to heal cold sores) would generally rather pay $10 for a 100 count bottle of lysine supplements.

It is best, when taking other medicines, to consult your doctor of physician to discover any adverse reactions with lysine. Most articles recommend experimenting until you find the lowest effective dose to prevent cold sore occurences, and at the appearance of an outbreak, up the dosage to around 3000mg a day until the sore disappears, then return to the preventive dosage.

This is all just information I have collected in my own research to discover a way to reduce the frequency, severity, and length of my outbreaks. I have only just begun taking lysine this very morning, and in the hour since I took it (I got my cold sore last night) the swelling of my lip has already gone down, and the burning has subsided. I'm hoping to continue taking lysine and living a half-normal life again.

Hope this helped.