L-Lysine Against Shingles and Cold Sores

I have been using L-Lysine for years - and only when I feel the first signs of a herpes simplex outbreak, and it has always aborted the outbreak. I realize this is not science - but it is cheap and safe.

I have been under a lot of stress lately as my husband had a stroke and since I had chicken pox as a child thought getting a vaccine would be a good idea, even though the Dr. charged me $200.00 dollars, she said that it was good for life. I've heard of people that have gotten shingles more than once. Is that true and is the vaccine good for life?

I first had shingles in May 1998, and thought the 4-5 inch line of blisters on my hip was from spider bites. Delaying any kind of treatment gave me chronic shingles, which I still have along the sciatic nerve line. Rx and L-lysine only gave me marginal results. The blisters have lessened some with various treatments, but the neuropathic pain is chronic. I am telling my experience because if I had gone to the doctor in May and not waited until October, my outcome would not be that I have chronic pain and shingles blister outbreaks 5 or 6 times a year.

Jeanne, I'm dealing with PHN with my mom. She too realized (or I guess was diagnosed) too late that she had shingles. What are you doing to alleviate the post herpetic pain? We can't find anything that works.

I used to get lots of cold sores, so I too heard that lysine is suppose to help prevent of lessen the effects of cold sores. However, I still get them at times in the fall mostly. What is issue about watching nuts and chocolate?

I eat raw walnuts every day as a dietary. I heard that the walnuts keep you more regular and it seems to be working. I have stopped taking the lysine. I now am using essential oils by Young Living, the lemon oil works the best to dry up the cold sores. I look forward to any comments you may have. Thanks

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WALNUTS AND CHOCOLATE ARE RICH IN ARGININE, AN AMINO ACID THAT COMPETES WITH LYSINE IN THE DIET. IN THEORY, TO MAXIMIZE YOUR EFFECT FROM L-LYSINE YOU NEED TO MINIMIZE YOUR ARGININE INTAKE. THAT MEANS NO NUTS OR CHOCOLATE.

I would also caution that arginine consumption in any form (supplement or foods high in arginine content like those mentioned above) can cause an increase in herpes outbreaks.

Hi - I went to the ER because it was too early to call my doctor - and of course they didn't diagnose it correctly until I went again two days later and finally an astute doctor did - too late or not, but my own doctor messed it up - and I developed the posturepedic misery I am going through right now. I am now with a neurologist who has me on Gabapentin and magnesium which helps me to sleep at night - and B-100 vitamins - and patches which do not seem to keep the pain away - so now I think I'll try alternative medication like L-lysine.

If medicare paid for the shingles vaccination, it would end up spending more money trying to cure those who couldn't afford the $200.00 in the first place.
Good luck to all shingles sufferers - It's like a monkey on your back you can't get rid of and it just keeps biting you over and over again.
.

My dad is still in pain after a week of shingles. He got the anti-viral drug. He got hydrocodine; does not help. Besides trying Lysine, anything to help with the pain? Also, does lysine interfere with any meds? He is on a lot of meds for prostate, heart, diabetes, cholesterol...

I've had so called shingles 3 times this year. It starts off with brown patches and then turns into small pimples.The pain occurs right before the breakout. It is not too severe unless I exercise in hot weather. I'm 51 years old and considering the Shingles vaccine but I hear it's only for those 60 and older. Has anyone had the vaccine that is under 60 and has it worked for them? I will try the L-Lysine. Thanks for the info. PS. I also have the brown scars afterwards.

I used Forces of Nature oils with my 97 year old Mom for her shingles. I was very, very impressed.

My 68 year old husband has his first (and I hope last) bout of shingles. I spotted it, watched it for one day, and about 36 hours into it, he saw his doctor and was prescribed Valtrex. I read the messages from others that they have had some success with L-Lysine. How much should be taken? Is it incompatible with other medications?

Would applying benedryl or calamine lotion to the rash lessen the itching and pain? With all the other problems he has, I would really like to help him get through the shingles as fast as possible. Thanks!
By the way, his doctor suggested getting the shingles vaccine after his current bout clears up.

I just had 3rd outbreak of singles in my groin area over 2 years. Broken sores and taking Famvir now, not sure if it is doing much. I saw all the positive results from lysine and immediately took 2X500 per meal for next day and half. The pain went to very extreme. I had pains where I did not even have outbreaks, such as: my foot, shoulder, knee... all on the right side of my body, like having a needle stuck in me. I stopped the lysine and it went away. Or back to normal singles pain, which is bad enough.

Has anyone else had such an experience?

Was just diagnosed with shingles, and the itchiness is so intense, it is keeping me up nights and worse to cope with than the pain. Any suggestions?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: IF YOU HAVE HAD THEM LESS THAN A FEW DAYS, YOUR DOCTOR CAN PRESCRIBE ANTI-VIRAL DRUGS THAT HELP.

WE HEAR THAT AMBER LISTERINE APPLIED TO THE RASH CAN BE SOOTHING.

A couple of things.... Raw unrefined coconut oil (Spectrum is one brand, in natural goods section of grocery) is beneficial. Taking 1 tsp. per day, kept cold sores away for 3 years until I ran out and forgot to take it. It also took the pain of shingles away when my adult son had a bad case on his head/scalp. It gave miraculous, immediate relief. It contains strong anti-viral properties.

I love chocolate and it will bring on a cold sore or my recurrent shingles in the facial nerve if I indulge. I am going to try a lysine supplement. Thanks for all the good input.

Hi - I know what your fiance is going through. I went through 3 doctors before I found the right one. She put me on a huge amount of Acyclovir 800 mgs 5 times a day and gabapentin - 400 mgs twice daily. Like a miracle, the horrible bee bites went away - and though I continue to have perepetic soreness on my back I am now able to have a life again after months of agony.

I no longer take acyclovir, and Gabapentin just at night and I sleep beautifully. Also, I'm a veteran of the Korean War and the VA now gives shingle vaccines - I am slated to have mine this coming Thursday and hopefully I'll never get it again..
Good luck.

HI - As I've said before but I would like everyone to know what my new doctor, after three other doctors messed up my shingles - wherein I was in so much pain I was crying and gasping and screaming some times wherein I wouldn't let anyone visit me..

The fourth doctor, this time a woman, who was more sympathetic - prescribed acyclovir 800 mgs 5 times a day and gabapentin twice a day. Like a miracle the horrible stings went away and now I just have some soreness on my back once in awhile. I stopped taking acyclovir altogether and gabapent now just once a night. Great sleep...
PN

I developed shingles over 3 months ago. My doctor diagnosed me with a back problem caused by a long auto trip and tried to send me to a specialist. Instead I waited and when this awful rash appeared I went to a Walk-in clinic and a young female doctor diagnosed me with Shingles but it was too late for anti-viral drugs. I went back to my original doctor and told him I had Shingles and his reply was "Did you diagnose them on the internet"? He put me on Gabapentin, Xanex and a Tens Unit. After three months I am still unable to wear a shoe on the foot the Shingles were on and I continue to have very much pain. Will it ever end and can I go back to walking normally again?

So sorry you're going through this. It just adds insult to injury when a doctor questions how you discover what the TRUE diagnosis is when their diagnostic skill failed. Why do so many physicians dislike their patients being active participants in their own diagnosis and treatment? I find it annoying and that's why I like my physician who typically listens to what I have to contribute. Even then, she and her partner missed the fact that I have had a hiatal hernia for over one year!

I hope you have a good outcome. Do try some of the suggestions here to try to speed your comfort and healing. I don't believe it's ever too late to try Lysine. BTW, did your physician go ahead and offer the shingles vaccine? I believe it can reduce or ameliorate future outbreaks. Also, regular Listerine did comfort the burning pain my fiance experienced with his outbreak. You can buy a generic brand (original formulation) for under $5.00.

I'm all about the L-lysine, which I used for cancre sores for years, which I no longer have. When my daughter was very young she had a drug that suppressed chicken pox and I'm sure that's what caused the herpes virus to sequester in her spine. She was one of the less than 1% of kids under ten who suffer a shingles outbreak. It took a lot of internet investigation to find something that worked, unlike the expensive medicine the Dr. prescribed. Popping a vitamin e capsule and carefully dripping it on the outbreak relieved her pain instantly. Add to that oral dosage of vitamin e and l-lysine, and she was a new person.

Right now, I have sciatic irritation coming on. For the first time, my instinct tells me to try L-lysine and vitamin e for it, that it has something to do with the herpes connection. Maybe that's where the cancre sores went, since I've had this for about the same length of time that the cancres have been gone. I'm going to try it. My body always lets me know what it needs.

I am 37 yrs old and was diagnosed this morning with shingles under my breast. I waited 8 days due to lack of insurance and the fact that I thought it was just a rash. That was 8 days of pain and suffering and I recommend to anyone.... even without insurance, go to the doctor !!! I also have bad breakouts of cold sores on my mouth and have found that L-lysine does work. Anyway, I thought shingles were only for the elderly, so how did I get it at age 37 ?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: EVEN THOUGH SHINGLES MAY BE MORE COMMON IN THE ELDERLY, THERE'S NO AGE LIMIT. PERHAPS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ITS PEAK.

Hi - Shingles in any form can be painful. Too bad about the insurance. I had great insurance but the docs at the hospital ER didn't diagnose it correctly - so I suffered like hell for months - After three doctors who were no help, I found a doctor (female) who put me on heavy doses of Aclyvir - and Gabapentin - The worse is over, but I still have post perpetetic pain once in awhile. I also had many lip sores - and I found that Benzodent was the best tonic for it. Try it and sees if it helps.

Good luck and hang in there. You're young and you will get past this. I am a veteran and the VA finally gave shingles vaccine for nothing - a little late for me, but I still went to get the vaccine.

Ah yes. Now they have the vaccine. As I mentioned, my daughter was quite young when she got Shingles - in elementary school, actually. Don't forget to take Vitamin E, too, as well as apply it CAREFULLY, at the outbreak site. No need to suffer these days. God bless.

Hi - I had the same problem as your mother. I take Gabapentin twice a day - and some Tylenol - I find that sometimes my back zings, then goes away and I have some hot spots, but most of the time it doesn't. I go everywhere now and find the little casinos we have here - you can play for 9 cents at a time - and the distraction is wonderful - no pain at all. Put your mother on Gabapentin - ask your doctor for a prescription. It is not expensive, but I do have prescription insurance and 180 pills costs me only $36.00.

Another thing I do is let the cool water run on my back in my morning showers. It really settles them down.

Let me know how your mother is doing after taking Gabapentin.
Good luck. PN

Don't let anyone tell you that shingles aren't contagious. My husband got shingles, that we initially thought we spider bites (that I touched) and within 2 weeks I was in the e.r. with horrible pain on my entire left side. They sent me home and just said I might be dehydrated or was having a panic attack.

After 3 doctors I finally talked one into a prescription that helped me. I still feel the pain at times and the numbness going thru my left side. I also developed red lines on my side that I was told was from nerve damage. I am very interested in trying the L-lysine to see if that helps any post pain I have now.

This virus and its symptoms are very confusing to the medical field. I wish there was a better way for people to get diagnosed without all of the hassle I went thru.

HI - I was also misdiagnosed with shingles and ended up with horrible pain for over six months until I found the right doctor. I now have post herpetic nerve damage on an area in my back. I have been taking Gabapentin 400 mg. twice a day for a year now and the pain is pretty much gone. I have a life now that I didn't have for over a year.

Ask your doctor about Gabapentin. Good luck. I advise anyone who hasn't had Shingles to get the Shingles Shot. I finally got it because the Veterans finally came out with free shots. It was after my Shingles ordeal, but it might help from having a recurring Shingles attack. Perila

By the way I tried Lysine when I was having real pain, and saw no improvement. My new, great doctor, put my on Aclyvir 8,000 mgs. and 'bingo' the hard pain was gone.

First, my new doctor, prescribed 8000mgs of Aclyvir - and the terrible bee bites stopped - but was left with nerve damage on certain areas of my back. I am now on Gabapentin 400 mgs twice a day and the pain is hardly noticeable now. I do everything, shop, dinner out, etc. Ask your doctor.

L-lysine is not for pain. It is used to prevent or treat outbreaks of cold sores and other viruses. When I feel the initial itch of a cold sore, I immediately take 1000 milligrams and then 500mg every 4-6 hours for the next 24 hours or so. Most of the time, the cold sore never materializes. I have also found that if I don't catch the cold sore right away (e.g., it starts while I'm sleeping so there is already a small blister), I still take L-lysine to keep the duration of the sore short.

About 14 years ago, I also began to take it to forestall a common cold I was coming down with. It works great! I had hoped it might help to lessen the impact of shingles but it did not work for my husband.

I am a 31 year old female in the UK and I too have had re-occurring Shingles for the last 11 years.

My consultant gave me the vaccine TWICE... and it has done nothing for me, I still get outbreaks at least 5 times if not more a year.
Oh and I'm a Teacher, so every time I do have it, I have to stay off work for 2 weeks. So as well as being in Isolation, I also have to contend with the pupils new germs.

The school have been very supportive considering my lot of absences :)
I take Acicylovir and I take a dissolvable Vitamin C, I pop it into a glass full of water, topped up with SpaTone (iron water), this helps my immune system and I feel better for it.

I've come to accept that unfortunately, it's one of those things that may never get better, so I manage it the best I can.

Shingles or Herpes? I have reoccurring blisters that often occur at same time in the same 2 spots. On the palm of my hand and middle of my back. Occasionally it only breaks out in one of the areas. But I will usually have that tingle/itchiness or soreness in both. Doctor took sample of actual blister liquid and said it was negative for herpes. He thought it likely herpes zoster (shingles) due to unusual location of outbreaks. I then asked another doctor for a blood test which showed antibodies for herpes simplex, but he said almost everyone has those antibodies due to exposure to oral cold sores, etc. Any OPINIONS?? (hahaha! 4 doctors. 4 different answers.) Just looking for answer/treatment.

My anecdote:
I recently [fall of 2011] had a mild, self-diagnosed outbreak of shingles. (My father had them and I’ve seen plenty of photos.) Since I’ve had success using L-Lysine for cold sore and fever blister episodes I started taking 1000mg twice a day commencing about 3 days after the initial discovery. The lesions never erupted and other than some slight itching in the very beginning, I’ve had absolutely no pain.
I feel very lucky; that L-Lysine works for me, that I had a mild outbreak, and that I didn't have to spend big money on doctors and prescription meds.

I am 81 and have been suffering with shingles for a month. I was certain that I would not get them since I had the shingles shot a little over a year ago. While I just have 3 lesions just to the left of my left breast, the pain has been unbearable at times. I was wondering what you think about getting the shingles shot versus not getting. I wonder if the rash might have been worse, and I cannot imagine the pain being any more severe than I experienced, I would love to hear from you.

I'm 81 years old and was misdiagnosed by my doctor and ER - And yes, it was painful as hell -- I finally got the Shingles shot when the VA paid for it - but the best thing you can do is find the right doctor. After three male doctors who never helped me - I went to a female doctor and immediately she put me on 8000 to 16000 tablets of Aclyvir - the horrible pain bated almost immediately and though I still have some peripatetic spots, it is never very painful and I can go about my business shopping, dinner out with friends, etc.
Good luck.

Directly from the CDC page on the Shingles vaccination: "In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, Zostavax reduced the risk of shingles by about half (51%) and the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia by 67%. While the vaccine was most effective in people 60-69 years old it also provided some protection for older groups.

Research suggests that the shingles vaccine is effective for at least six years, but may last much longer. Ongoing studies are being conducted to determine exactly how long the vaccine protects against shingles."

From WebMD:
"March 24, 2011 - People age 50 and older can now get Merck's Zostavax shingles vaccine, the FDA today ruled.

The vaccine already was approved for people age 60 and older. The approval is based on a Merck clinical trial that showed the vaccine to be about 70% effective in preventing shingles in the younger age group." (I just became aware of this FDA announcement about 1 week ago and I'm going to get the vaccine myself.)

I'm not a physician but I am a Health Psychologist; that being said, my brother had shingles at age 52 and my husband had them at age 59. My brother's "small" case was painful but my husband's covered the upper 1/3 of the right side of his back and chest, his right shoulder and down into his armpit. He had extreme pain that was barely touched by Vicodin. Even gabapentin only gave him light relief. I found (on this site, as I recall) a home remedy to relieve the burning: full-strength original Listerine (I bought the generic brand). Despite its high alcohol content, it actually gave him some relief so that, along with the pain med and gabapentin (for the nerve pain), he was able to sleep quite a bit until the worst was over.

My father also had shingles on his scalp -- in 1991 at age 79. He was literally screaming from the pain. I don't recall if he received an anti-viral but he had to undergo painful injections in the back of the throat at a Pain Management center to deal with the worst of the pain.

I suspect that your rash would have been much worse had you not had the vaccine. If you're still suffering, you might also try what others have and take l-Lysine as a supplement. It's cheap and available widely (I get mine at Wal-Mart). I prefer the 500mg tablet as I have trouble swallowing larger tablets.

Good luck!

I assure everyone, including physicians who have not seen it yet, shingles can and do exist on both sides of body at same time. Mine did NOT for years then as I've aged they do now, both sides having been biopsied.

I am 68-year-old female who had 1st attack of shingles when in 11th grade in my throat. I had them for years on left sciatic nerve, to the point of touching the sciatic never caused foot and leg to jump up in air. As I said, both sides have been biopsied.

CDC advised me that the vaccination is not recommended in my case because I have had shingles for so long and with horrific recurrences... as I am nearly 24/7 365 a year with brief time periods where they go beneath skin that are visible and becoming tired, agitated or any emotional trauma caused them to immediately re-appear sometimes within the same day.

Anti viral drugs were used briefly but they only make the time frame in which the sore has not broken through skin be a LONGER period of time and that time frame for me is actually the most painful... as I type today I have been broken out both sides since the very end of January... today is February 26, 2012. Each new outbreak gives birth to newborns, as I refer to them.

I spend days to weeks mostly bedfast but for daily required functions... nothing outside of house without a cane because I can barely walk, at this time. I treat with pain med, pain patches when not oral pain med, tens unit, Capscaian roll-on liquid especially after the erupt. I think the longest time between eruptions though they were still visible beneath skin has been 1-year. I am in extreme above 10 pain, total exhaustion, frustration.....

I am diabetic, fibromyalgia and heart patient with 37% pumping capability so I am limited as to pain assistance. I would not wish this on the devil himself and let no one tell you you could NOT be experiencing shingles on both sides at same time. My doctor could not believe it... took pictures and documented it.

It could be worse though....At least I am alive to "whine" :) PJ

Lysine has worked for me so far to prevent an outbreak of shingles or herpes simplex cold sores, if I take it at the first suggestion of symptoms (in the case of shingles: that nagging beginning of the nerve pain). And for those suffering shingles pain, I strongly recommend acupuncture. With pain drugs, the pain comes back stronger when they wear off; with acupuncture, you get longer-lasting relief, and when the pain comes back it's easier to deal with. (That was my experience the first time I had shingles, before I knew about lysine.) I'm surprised some people get relief from topical (skin) remedies as my experience was that nothing topical worked at all, since the pain is deep in the nerves.

I was told yesterday I have shingles. I noticed redness two days before that thinking it was spider bites (silly). But went to doctor two days later after it didnt go away. He put me on anti-viral drugs, but a day later there is no improvement, and it seems to have spread (from right side of spine now moving to my stomach).
I dont know what to do. Doctor sait it's not serious just take the pills, however I am now starting to get tingling pain when it gets in contact with my clothes. Today is my day 4 of having it and I am starting to panic. Thanks for any advice.