Fever blisters or cold sores can be painful. The crusting sores can split and bleed and are unattractive during the healing process. While prescription medications are available, they can be expensive, so patients may consider other alternatives, such as lysine.
Fever Blisters
Herpes is a generic term for the herpes virus, of which there are a number of varieties. Herpes simplex virus type 1, commonly abbreviated to HSV-1, is the cause of cold sores or fever blisters. Herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2, causes genital herpes. Cold sores are contagious; oral-genital sex can spread either virus, and either virus can cause sores on both the mouth and the genital area. Once you have been infected, the virus becomes dormant in the nerve area near the site of the original infection, and may recur periodically. Stress, sun exposure, fatigue or hormonal changes, such as menstruation, may result in cold sore recurrence. Common symptoms preceding an attack are tingling, burning or itching in the affected area. This is followed within one to two days by the eruption of small painful blisters filled with a clear fluid, and reddened skin surrounding the eruption. Without treatment, the sores usually heal without scarring in about 10 to 14 days, but they are painful and can be unsightly as they scab over during the healing process.
Lysine
Lysine is one of the essential amino acids and is important for the production of carnitine, which helps to convert fatty acids into energy and to lower cholesterol. Lysine also seems to help the body absorb calcium and is important in the formation of collagen, a component of bones and connective tissues. It cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained from food sources; it is also available in oral supplement form. Protein-rich foods such as red meat, cheese--- especially Parmesan -- fish such as cod and sardines, nuts, eggs, beans and dairy products are good food sources of lysine.
Research on Lysine
Lysine has been studied for its role in treating HSV since at least 1978. Frankie A. Tomblin Jr., Pharm.D. and Kristy H. Lucas, Pharm.D., clinical assistant professor at West Virginia University, completed an extensive literature review on the use of lysine to treat HSV. Their study originally was published in the "American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy" in February 2001 and republished in Medscape Nurses News as "Lysine for Management of Herpes Labialis: Clinical Studies." Tomblin and Lucas report in detail on the results of half a dozen studies of varying size, design and duration. According to Tomblin and Lucas, the studies showed lysine tended to be more effective as a preventative for HSV than as a treatment for an outbreak, and that results were dose-dependent. They noted that most of the more rigorous studies --- double-blind, placebo controlled and providing statistical analysis --- were small, and suggested larger, well-designed studies could provide a more definitive answer.
How to Take Lysine
If you suffer from cold sores and would like to try lysine, the University of Maryland recommends 3,000 to 9,000 mg per day in divided doses to treat symptoms. To prevent recurrences, you should take 1,000 mg three times per day. For children aged 2 to 12 years, the recommendation is for 10 mg for each pound of body weight. As an example, a child who weighs 50 pounds should receive 500 mg and a 100 pound child should receive 1,000 mg of lysine.
Considerations and Warnings
While lysine is generally considered safe when taken as directed, the University of Maryland notes some cautions. High doses of lysine have been implicated in the formation of gallstones. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have kidney disease, take arginine -- another amino acid -- or have any health care questions or concerns, you should consult with a health-care professional before taking lysine.
References
- University of Maryland; Lysine; David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; July 2010
- Mayo Clinic Disease and Conditions; Cold Sore; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 2010
- Medscape News for Nurses; Lysine for Management of Herpes Labialis: Clinical Studies; Frankie A. Tomblin, Jr., Pharm.D. and Kristy H. Lucas, Pharm.D.; February 2001
