Use of L-Arginine without getting Cold Sores

[XMarineRunner]

Hello all,

I have searched and searched for an answer to this question, but have been unable to find one that is satisfactory:

I have used Arginine in one form or another as a pre-workout supplement many times. I love it. Currently my favorite pre-workout supp is NO-Explode. However, it never fails... I use the supplement with Arginine and within a couple of days I have cold sores.

Now, we all know that Arginine is required for replication of the HSV, therefore causing the cold sore. However, what we don't know (or rather what I don't know) is how to reap the benefits of the amino while mitigating the negative side effects.

My thought here has to do with timing. I would like to know the timing required to pull off the following:

1. Blood must be relatively low on lysine to allow for arginine to enter bloodstream.
2. Take Arginine Supplement and allow it to enter bloodstream for working out and remain in bloodstream for an optimal time period.
3. Take lysine supplement within an appropriate time period to shift the balance back in favor of the lysine to prevent getting a cold sore.
4. Rinse / repeat

Does anyone have any knowledge on this front or perhaps know of another way to get similar results without the Arginine?

[mark0s]

Had to bump this thread..

I was wondering the same question. I bought some product with arginine in it and love how it works, but it is causing me to break out in cold sores.

I am aware that lysine is great for extinguishing the sores, but will the lysine I take counteract the arginine?

If i take the prework out stuff before my workout, then take my protein after my workout with extra lysine, will that help?

any help would be great, especially if anyone has tried anything like this.

thanks.

[ocn2000]

Valtrex might help

valtrex.com/coldsores/cold_spread.html

[Dan2riv2]

Lysine (might be spelled wrong) works for cold sores. My wife and I get them and have been using this for years. You can buy the lip balm or you can buy pill form. The pill is what I use and she uses the lip balm becuase she said it works better. We havent gotten cold sores for sometime now. hope this helps!!!

No it wontcounter anything you take. I have been taking supps for years and nothing seemed not to work.

[shadar]

Just as an aside, L-Arg is crap for pre-workout performance and/or gains. But then the OP also likes No Xplode a lot... so I guess liking L-Arg as well makes sense, heh.

[ZachSmash]

lysine!! i bought bulk lysine (1,000g) and i have a few grams a day. problem solved! i add it to my protein shakes.

[bmallen1]

Hello all,

I have searched and searched for an answer to this question, but have been unable to find one that is satisfactory:

I've searched for an answer to this same question. I'm currently taking Muscle Pharm Assault which has an L-Arginine blend. I'm on my second container and I've definitely experienced what you're going through. I'm looking into finding an alternative preworkout supplement that doesn't have or at least doesn't have as much arginine. I also recently started taking an anti viral medication and it helped the initial cold sore i had go away but then a week after healing I start to get another. It sucks.

But, for when you do have one, use Abreeva, use alcohol or peroxide with a q-tip, take lysine orally. Avoid chocolate, nuts, wheat products, oatmeal, soda, or other things containing high amounts of arginine. Also look into anti-viral medication if you can tolerate having the bottle visible in your medicine cabinet. It's such a stigmatizing thing for such a common a problem.

[Zanderini]

why not just skip out on the arginine?

[bmallen1]

why not just skip out on the arginine?

A lot of pre workout supplements contain it. As well as protein supplements. It's hard to avoid. But I'm currently looking into alternatives.

[theproctologist]

never had this problem when I was taking bulk arginine

[Zanderini]

A lot of pre workout supplements contain it. As well as protein supplements. It's hard to avoid. But I'm currently looking into alternatives.

Protein only has arginine in the protein not added. Go with. Psu,vengeance,or others without arginine

[bmallen1]

never had this problem when I was taking bulk arginine

Apparently I have an arginine sensitivity because I'm getting a cold sore 1-2 times per month. luckily they barely stick around a week with the way that i treat them but still getting them none the less.

[theproctologist]

that's pretty weird, I've used it in bulk and in various PWOs and never experienced that. Do you know what causes that?

[bmallen1]

that's pretty weird, I've used it in bulk and in various PWOs and never experienced that. Do you know what causes that?

No I don't know the cause exactly, I've just read numerous articles that say arginine promotes cold sore outbreaks and that lysine can help reduce and/or control outbreaks.

I am working out pretty hard though, and putting my body through a lot of stress; maybe that has something to do with it.

I'm going to try a different PWO though, maybe body forge or vengeance or who knows. I just know a PWO supplement can make or break my workout. It helps out considerably after a long day's work in the office.

[neddo]

You have the herp.

[allieninja]

If you workout in the morning, take your lysine with dinner. If you work out at night, take it with breakfast. Easy.

[NO HYPE]

I have used Arginine in one form or another as a pre-workout supplement many times.... I love it.

I too love the placebo-mediated effects from arginine-based supplements as well.

[ElMariachi]

Arginine is basically useless as far as working out/building muscle goes. If you're prone to cold sores, there's really no way of taking in arginine and making yourself immune to cold sore appearance. You can try mega-dosing L-Lysine as some others have suggested but that is a crapshoot at best. There's plenty of preworkout products made without l-arginine that can help you get the pre-workout boost you're looking for and not subject you to a crazy looking growth on your face for like a week.

[keegan35]

Hello all,

I have searched and searched for an answer to this question, but have been unable to find one that is satisfactory:

I have used Arginine in one form or another as a pre-workout supplement many times. I love it. Currently my favorite pre-workout supp is NO-Explode. However, it never fails... I use the supplement with Arginine and within a couple of days I have cold sores.

Now, we all know that Arginine is required for replication of the HSV, therefore causing the cold sore. However, what we don't know (or rather what I don't know) is how to reap the benefits of the amino while mitigating the negative side effects.

My thought here has to do with timing. I would like to know the timing required to pull off the following:

1. Blood must be relatively low on lysine to allow for arginine to enter bloodstream.
2. Take Arginine Supplement and allow it to enter bloodstream for working out and remain in bloodstream for an optimal time period.
3. Take lysine supplement within an appropriate time period to shift the balance back in favor of the lysine to prevent getting a cold sore.
4. Rinse / repeat

Does anyone have any knowledge on this front or perhaps know of another way to get similar results without the Arginine?

Hey wondering if you have had any success? I used to have the same problem but stopped taking arginine sups. It's been a few years since I've tried it but don't want to go through the cold sore process. Did you try taking argon pre workout and then lysine post workout? What happened?

[ish82]

Apparently I have an arginine sensitivity because I'm getting a cold sore 1-2 times per month. luckily they barely stick around a week with the way that i treat them but still getting them none the less.

Try taking L-lysine supplement, it def helps!

[lucia316]

Try taking L-lysine supplement, it def helps!

Bro, I hope this guy has figured this out 8 years later...

[FocusBC]

Would you please list some of the non-arginine supplements.

[AZLRS]

bump...

Would love to know the answers myself. Have been taking Arginine for couple of months now.

Thanks!

[brainy22]

From everything that i have read above, please know the following: I was diagnosed w.HSV 2 in 2015 and have done tons of reading and research and agree with what was said above re: L-Arginine....that you need to stay away from the foods said above such as oatmeal, chocolate, processed sugary sweets/foods such as cakes, candy, etc. If you continue having recurring cold stores after ingesting arginine, that means you possibly have HSV 1 which is the herpes simplex virus that is associated with the mouth. Since everyone's bodies are different, the best solution is to go and get tested to see if you have HSV 1. It's a swab test. If the results are positive, as hard as it may be, try and stay away from processed foods and wheat/oatmeal and foods that cause the cold sores which are the ones w.higher arginine. Yes, there is a lysine pill that you can take to counter act the arginine but that at times is not sufficient. When a cold sore appears, that means the herpes virus is flared up and this could be for a variety of reasons, foods consumed, stress... Yes, stress can cause a flare up. When the virus is flared up, the best thing to do is to take valtrex which you can obtain a prescription for. Please know that i am not a doctor and the above is all relayed from experience, research and reading about the HSV herpes virus for some time. You can google to see what foods are lower in arginine and higher in lysine as there is a website that provides that, off hand i dont know it. I've been a competing bbuilder for 6 years and i've had to get off oatmeal, almonds and foods that are high in arginine, mainly foods that all bodybuilders live off of but i've adjusted as best as i can.