NOW L-lysine 500 mg, 250 Capsules

This is a great product for cats with feline herpes virus, an incurable and unpleasant respiratory illness that causes the cat to continually sneeze and suffer from sores in the mouth, discharge from both eyes and nose, and possibly tooth resorption as well. Although there is no cure for feline herpes and the infection is lifelong, l-lysine does a great job of eliminating the respiratory symptoms since it inhibits replication of the virus. This is well worth the expense of the supplement since feline herpes if untreated can lead to blindness. NOW foods l-lysine is the same strength as Viralys, which the vet prescribed for my ill cat. She did not test for the disease but told me to try Viralys and if it cleared up the symptoms (which it did) then the cat has herpes and needs to take l-lysine every day. She said that l-lysine is harmless to cats without herpes so there is no need to go to the expense of lab tests; just see whether or not the supplement helps reduce symptoms. I open a capsule and mix the powder into a small amount of baby food chicken and the cat eagerly licks it from the spoon. My cat is small and I have found that in the absence of stress, giving the medication once a day is adequate. "Stress, illness, fleas, poor diet, extreme temperatures or anything else which can negatively affect the immune system may cause the feline herpes virus symptoms to re-emerge," so if I notice a runny nose then I step up the dose to twice a day. If you are on a really tight budget you can purchase one-pound containers of l-lysine such as Vitacost L-Lysine Powder 435 mg which has 822 servings for under $10. Viralys costs twice as much (about $22) on Amazon for 100 grams, and it is also loose powder so dosing again is approximate. The Viralys container does not specify how many servings are included so it is hard to compare price with the NOW product. However, I like the convenience of the pre-measured capsules and presume that they stay fresher than a tub of powder does, particularly in a humid climate, plus I am hoping that quality control is higher for supplements marketed for people, so I purchase the NOW product. Here are the dosing directions from Viralys, which is 500mg of l-lysine hydrochloride per rounded scoop mixed into a "palatable" base: Use in cats and kittens as a nutritional supplement for conditions responsive to lysine. The suggested amount for cats over 6 months of age is one rounded scoop (500 mg) given orally twice daily. The suggested amount for kittens under 6 months of age is one-half scoop (250 mg) given orally twice daily. The powder may be sprinkled over dry food or mixed with a small amount of canned food. I am considering taking this supplement myself, since some research suggests that lysine might help prevent bone loss associated with osteoporosis by increasing calcium absorption, although scientific studies are lacking. From UMMC: Most people get enough lysine in their diet, although athletes, vegans who don't eat enough beans, and burn patients may need to take a supplement. For vegans, legumes (beans, peas, and lentils) are the best sources of lysine, although it is also found in nuts, soy products, spirulina, fenugreek seed and brewer's yeast. However, I presume that the marketing for this supplement targets athletes hoping to increase muscle mass rather than vegans or senior citizens, since I find it at the grocery store in the section with protein powders and supplements for athletes.

My kids and I love this supplement. It seems kind of funny to review something like this since it is simply a staple in our house (and has been for years). My kids and I have a tendency towards canker sores (otherwise known as mouth ulcers). When we are consistently taking this everyday, no canker sores! My teen daughters are not great about consistently taking vitamins every day, but when they begin to develop a canker sore, they start taking L-Lysine and the canker sores go away. My younger daughter has a pretty intense orthodontic appliance in her mouth, which can easily cause sores on her cheeks. I think it is only because of consistently taking L-Lysine that she has been able to make it through this orthodontic process. This supplement is very inexpensive, odorless, and effective. All pros and no cons as far as our household is concerned.

Product is just as described. I have been taking Lysine for years. It has been effective at preventing fever blisters on my lips. I rarely get them anymore. I purchased this brand because it is made in USA.

This helps so much with fighting viruses. I can't tell if it helps with colds or not, but anything in the herpes family, it helps a lot. I can't have nuts or the CMV (cytomegalovirus, similar to mono) comes back, but if I counter-balance with this lysine, I'm fine. It also has helped in treating shingles, which is unbelievably painful, and in preventing outbreaks. Someone gave me biscotti with only a few walnuts in it, and boom, shingles starting. Since using these with ANY arginine-rich foods, I've been able to avoid getting any more. If anyone else is looking for shingles help, or anything in the herpes family, here is what has helped me the very most: 1. Lysine to compensate for arginine in foods. I use this brand and it's perfect. 2. Durham's bee propolis supplement 3 times a day during an outbreak (but only if you're not allergic to bee stings). Or the queens delight, which contains propolis. 3. Vitamin C (I use this same brand in 1,000mg time release tablets) combined with green or black tea. Vitamin C on its own does not help. Tea on its own may or may not help. But when you combine the two, they help a LOT. If you feel the tingling of an outbreak looming, if you do enough tea & C quickly enough, the lesion will never even form! 4. Durham's "wonder salve" stops lesions from spreading and reduces pain and itching on existing lesions. 5. Vitamin C serum - yes the same kind people use for wrinkles and anti aging - apply this directly to the lesion. I may stop using the wonder salve, as the vitamin C serum seems to work faster. I had an especially stubborn lesion on my ankle that was not responding to the propolis salve ("wonder salve"), so on a whim, I tried the vitamin C serum I normally use on my face to prevent wrinkles. That stubborn lesion/scar had been itching and burning for weeks after the lesion appeared healed. The C serum cleared it the rest of the way in a few days. I hope this information helps someone else. This particular product (Now Foods Lysine) and their time-released vitamin C are invaluable tools in my Arsenal to fight any viruses in the herpes family, all of which stay with you for life.

L-lysine is an amino acid that our bodies can't manufacture but that is essential for human health. Food and/or supplements are our only sources of this amino acid. L-lysine is important for proper growth and it supports other amino acids in converting fatty acids into energy and helping to lower cholesterol. Studies indicate that lysine helps the body absorb calcium and it plays an important role in the ongoing health of bones and connective tissues including skin, tendons, and cartilage. While most people get sufficient l-lysine from their daily diet, there are some people, such as athletes, vegans, and burn patients, who can benefit from supplementation of lysine. The following are some of the potential benefits: - It is thought to improve athletic performance in endurance athletes - It may reduce bone loss associated with osteoporosis - It can help treat the symptoms of angina when accompanied by vitamin C - By preserving calcium, it benefits your teeth, cartilage, and bones - It is thought to help improve mental well-being and ward off fatigue - Regular supplementation of lysine is believed to prevent outbreaks of herpes virus such as cold sores - There may be potential for weight management benefits Daily supplementation of lysine in too high of levels (several thousand milligrams) can lead to gallstone formation or the development of kidney disorders. This amino acid can also react with certain antibiotics to produce toxicity. At 500mg, this lysine supplement from NOW is a good low-dose option. I've been happy with the NOW Natural Products line. They've been producing quality nutritional supplements for 40 years and remain a top-selling US brand.

I have used this brand for awhile now. Seems to help keep cold sores away.

Lysine is a godsend for shingles but when I have an outbreak I have to take A LOT of these. These 500mg capsules are easier to swallow than the 1000mg tablets but I prefer the tablets bc of the larger dose in one pill. I try to take 1-2000mg/day for maintenance and up to 10,000mg/day during a breakout depending on how fast I catch it and how bad it is. Either way Lysine is a must! Aside from that it seems to brighten my complexion and I think it helps a bit with nerves and stress. Tip for taking the larger 1,000 mg tablets: First, drink some water before to ensure mouth and throat is not dry. Then when taking tablet, let it swim around in your mouth for ? 5-10 seconds ? just long enough to dampen the outside of the tablet. Even better, take it with a heavier liquid like juice or milk. Hope that helps. Here’s to your health!!

We are very satisfied with this product. It always come well packaged and on time